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Yemen’s exiled president returns to rally forces, over 50 killed

The president’s last attempt to return to his country was in September after six months of exile in Saudi Arabia.

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 Days before Mr. Hadi’s renewed return, his Prime Minister and Vice-President Khaled Bahah announced the return of his government to Aden, which had been declared the provisional capital of Yemen after the Houthis seized Sanaa.

The officials, who are neutral in a conflict that has split the security forces, say the airstrikes and fighting took place mostly in Ibb province into Monday, and near the cities of Mocha and Taiz.

Officials say the president will be staying at the Maashiq presidential palace in the central Crater district of Aden.

A Saudi-led Arab coalition launched an air campaign in March, followed by a ground offensive, to push back the Houthis and reinstate Mr Hadi’s government.

They also reported hearing loud explosions in the Al-Waziyah area to the west of the city, which they believed had been caused by the destruction of Houthi arms depots.

Taiz is seen as a gateway to controlling the rebel-held capital and military officials confirmed the coalition sent major reinforcements, including armoured demining vehicles, before they advanced towards the city.

His arrival came as his supporters made advances amid heavy fighting in the south-western province surrounding Taiz which killed around 45 fighters from both sides on Monday, medical sources said.

“Twenty-five pro-Hadi fighters were killed in an ambush laid for them by Houthi and Saleh forces at the Bab al-Mandeb, and 20 Houthi fighters were killed in fighting and coalition air strikes”, a medic from Taiz told Reuters, adding that a family of eight were killed in an air strike on the city.

Pro-Hadi forces and their coalition allies pushed north toward Taiz overnight, capturing the village of Waziaa, southwest of the city, military sources said.

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Along the coast, coalition troops deployed in Dhubab in a bid to advance onto the Red sea city of Mocha, a part of Taez province which is under rebel control, the sources said.

Yemeni Troops Gain Territory in Battle against Saudi-Backed Militias