Yemeni Exiled Government: Aden is Liberated

The Yemeni government in exile announced on Friday, July 26, that Aden, the second largest city in Yemen, has been 'liberated' after months of battles between soldiers loyal to the exiled president of the country and Houthi rebels. According to a report by Agence France-Presse on the latest developments in Yemen, despite the announcement of the 'liberation' of Aden, some neighborhoods in the city are still under the control of the rebels, and fighting continues in central areas. The report reflects a statement by Khaled Bahah, the vice president in exile of Yemen, who said: 'The government will announce the liberation of Aden province on the first day of Eid al-Fitr, Friday.' The statement added: 'We are working to resume life in Aden and all liberated cities, to restore water and electricity supplies.' Forces loyal to Abdrabbuh Mansur Hadi, the exiled president of Yemen, launched Operation 'Golden Arrow' on Tuesday against the rebels who captured most of the port city of Aden last winter, leading to Hadi's flight to Saudi Arabia. During this time, Saudi Arabia took the lead of a military coalition against the Houthi rebels and bombarded rebel positions with multiple airstrikes. In recent days, multiple reports have emerged of the rebels' defeat in the port city of Aden, which was considered the last refuge of Abdrabbuh Mansur Hadi in Yemen. The official news agency of the Yemeni government in exile announced on Thursday that forces loyal to this government have broken the last resistance of the rebels in the Mualla area of Aden. However, eyewitnesses say that the rebels still control the Tawahi neighborhood of Aden. According to one of them, Hadi's forces 'are trying to advance towards Tawahi, but they are facing resistance.' The Houthi rebels still maintain their positions in the Dar Saad neighborhood, north of Aden, and are trying to control the northern and eastern entrances to the city. Abdrabbuh Mansur Hadi has referred to Aden as the 'key to Yemen's salvation.' In this context, airstrikes and ground battles in Yemen have left at least 176 dead since the ceasefire began. The ceasefire in Yemen is set from midnight Friday until the end of Ramadan, as reported by the United Nations.