Yemen loyalists make more gains in southern offensive

ADEN: Saudi-backed forces loyal to Yemen’s exiled government announced Monday the recapture of Abyan province in a southern offensive that has seen key gains against Shiite Huthi rebels.

Military officials who back President Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi told AFP that loyalist forces have retaken Loder, the last town in Abyan to fall from Huthi hands.

“Abyan is now completely free” of the Iran- backed Shiite insurgents, one official said.

There was no immediate confirmation from rebel sources that Loder had fallen.

The latest loyalist gain came as seven pro- government activists were handed over in Yemen’s second city Aden as part of a prisoner swap overseen by the International Committee of the Red Cross ( ICRC).

Loyalists had already taken Abyan provincial capital Zinjibar from the rebels and their allies on Sunday as they pressed an advance from second city Aden.

A medical source in Aden told AFP that 16 loyalist militiamen were killed and dozens wounded in Abyan over the past 24 hours, most when mines planted by retreating rebels exploded.

Local government officials said the deputy speaker of parliament and a former interior minister were wounded on Monday in Abyan province.

Mohammed al-Shaddadi and exminister Hussein bin Arab, who are close to Hadi, were leading loyalist forces in Loder at the time, they said without elaborating.

Like Hadi, both men are from Abyan.

Loyalists forces secured Aden in mid- July and Lahj provincial capital Huta on Aug 4 before advancing on Abyan, backed by a Saudi-led Arab coalition waging an air war against the rebels since March. — AFP