Battle of Houthi Militias for Control of Aden

Residents of Aden reported on Wednesday, April 8, that fighting between the Shiite Houthi militias and supporters of Yemen's President is ongoing in the old center of the city. According to Reuters, local residents have noted that dozens of corpses are visible in the streets, and clashes between Houthi militias and local militias are continuing. Meanwhile, mosque loudspeakers in the city are calling on people to rise for jihad against the Houthis. Local residents also told Reuters that tanks and militias loyal to Abdrabbuh Mansur Hadi, the President of Yemen, managed to push the Shiite Houthi militias back from the northern neighborhoods on Wednesday afternoon. The situation in Aden is reported to be very dire, with water and electricity cut off in central areas and hospitals overflowing with the wounded. Maria Calier, a spokesperson for the International Red Cross in Yemen, described the situation in Aden as catastrophic. Meanwhile, local officials and residents reported on Wednesday that Saudi Arabian fighter jets and their allied countries bombed the 'Al Anad' airbase in southern Yemen and areas around the port of Aden. According to Reuters, the Saudi airstrikes, along with four Gulf Arab countries and their regional allies, against Houthi forces, who control the capital Sana'a and are fighting for control of Aden, began two weeks ago. Despite heavy bombardment of their military convoys and weapon depots, Iranian-backed Houthi Shiites have advanced towards Aden. The port of Aden in southern Yemen is the last major city still under the control of forces loyal to Abdrabbuh Mansur Hadi, the Saudi-backed president. Armed groups from southern Yemen, with air support from Saudi Arabia and its allies, have pushed back Houthi fighters from some southern provinces. The Al Anad airbase, which was bombed last night, is located 50 kilometers north of Aden and along the main highway leading north from the port. Forces loyal to former President Ali Abdullah Saleh, who have now allied with the Houthi militias, are still present at this base. Local officials added that Houthi positions in the city of Dalea, north of Aden, were also targeted by fighter jets. Local residents reported that Sana'a, the capital, experienced a quiet night after several nights of heavy bombardment of Houthi positions and their weapon depots.