Despite Saudi bombings, Houthi militants entered the Al-Tawahi area in the city of Aden on Wednesday, May 6, which was the last major stronghold of forces loyal to Abdrabbuh Mansur Hadi, the president of Yemen, in the south of the country. According to Reuters, residents of Aden reported that clashes between Houthi militants and Hadi supporters are still ongoing. Mr. Hadi fled from Aden to Saudi Arabia a month ago. The Al-Tawahi area is home to government organizational housing, the presidential headquarters, security offices, and the main port of Aden. Local residents stated that the fall of this area means complete Houthi control over the entire southern port of Yemen. The Associated Press also published a similar report on the fall of this area to the Houthis. However, with the escalation of the Yemen war, concerns have increased regarding the fate of civilians caught in the midst of the conflict. In this context, John Kerry, the U.S. Secretary of State, announced that during his visit to Riyadh, he would ask Saudi officials to temporarily halt military operations in Yemen to facilitate "humanitarian aid" for war victims. According to AFP, Mr. Kerry told reporters regarding his trip to Saudi Arabia, which takes place on Wednesday night, "We will discuss the possibility of a pause [in airstrikes] and how it can be achieved. We are deeply concerned about the humanitarian situation in Yemen... The crisis that needs to be resolved right now is the humanitarian crisis." He also stated that the United States has allocated $68 million to assist the people of Yemen. Riyadh had previously announced that it was considering the option of halting airstrikes on Yemen to allow humanitarian aid to reach the country. Reports from Yemen have heightened concerns about the fate of civilians. On Wednesday, it was reported that 40 Yemeni civilians were killed while fleeing the southern city of Aden by sea. A Yemeni health official accused Houthi rebels of this massacre and stated that the Houthis injured 67 others during the bombing of a fishermen's pier and a barge. Statistics released by the United Nations indicate that at least 1,200 people have been killed in Yemen since March 18, with nearly half of them being civilians. The organization has also estimated that 20 million people or 80% of Yemen's population are facing food shortages.
Houthis Capture Last Major Stronghold of Mansour Hadi Supporters in Aden
Houthi militants have captured the Al-Tawahi area in Aden, the last major stronghold of supporters of Yemeni President Mansour Hadi. This escalation raises concerns for civilians amid the ongoing conflict, prompting U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry to advocate for a temporary halt to military operations for humanitarian aid. The situation highlights the dire humanitarian crisis in Yemen, with significant civilian casualties and food shortages.
👥 Key Players
📰 What Happened
Houthi militants captured the Al-Tawahi area in Aden, the last major stronghold of forces loyal to Yemeni President Mansour Hadi. This development marks a significant shift in control over southern Yemen.
- The Al-Tawahi area is strategically important, housing government and security offices.
- The capture raises concerns for civilian safety and the humanitarian crisis in Yemen.
💡 Why It Matters
📚 Background
The Yemeni civil war began in 2014 when the Houthis seized the capital, Sanaa, leading to a Saudi-led intervention in 2015. The conflict has resulted in a severe humanitarian crisis.
🏷️ Entities Mentioned
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