Southern Yemeni Separatists 'Besiege' Presidential Palace

According to Yemeni military officials, southern Yemeni separatists have besieged the presidential palace in the port city of Aden, with some reports indicating that they have taken control of the palace. On Tuesday, January 30, the news agency reported that as fierce clashes between the separatists and government forces have reached the presidential palace, Yemen's Prime Minister is preparing to flee the country. Ahmed Obaid bin Daghr, the Prime Minister of Yemen, had recently called on Arab countries to save Aden from falling into the hands of southern separatists. Since the escalation of the war in 2015, the internationally recognized Yemeni government has designated Aden as the temporary capital of the country. Yemeni officials say armed individuals loyal to the separatist group known as the 'Southern Transitional Council' have advanced the battle to the gates of the Maashiq Palace, which is the seat of the Yemeni government recognized by international bodies. According to the Associated Press, unnamed officials have stated that the Yemeni Prime Minister is expected to leave the country quickly. Despite the United Arab Emirates being a member of the regional coalition led by Saudi Arabia to support the Yemeni government against the Houthi Shiite rebels, reports indicate that the separatists engaged with the Yemeni government are being supported by Abu Dhabi. In March 2015, Saudi Arabia and its allies began air operations against the Houthi Shiites in Yemen; at that time, the Houthis, backed by Iran, had taken control of Sana'a, the capital, and a large part of Yemen and were advancing towards the government's base in the south, namely Aden. Meanwhile, the new clashes in southern Yemen reveal a significant rift in the Saudi-led coalition formed to counter the Houthis. Abdrabbuh Mansur Hadi, the President of Yemen, who is currently in Saudi Arabia, referred to the recent actions of the Emirati-backed separatists as a 'coup' against his government on Monday, January 29. The battles in the port city of Aden began on Sunday as the separatists had given the government a deadline to announce its dissolution by Sunday. The intense two-day battle between the separatists and government forces in Aden has left at least 36 dead and 185 injured. In the Khour Maksar neighborhood of Aden, the warring parties exchanged fire with tanks and heavy artillery, and shops and schools have been closed due to the clashes in the past two days. Meanwhile, reports from the Shabwa province in southern Yemen indicate that on Tuesday, a suicide bombing in the area killed at least 15 soldiers. According to the German news agency, the target of this attack was a checkpoint loyal to the government of Abdrabbuh Mansur Hadi, and five others were injured in the attack. The new clashes add a new dimension to the Yemeni civil war, which has already left thousands dead and millions facing hunger. Heather Nauert, spokesperson for the U.S. State Department, expressed concern about the clashes in Aden on Monday, January 29, and urged all parties involved to avoid further bloodshed.