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Pro-gov't forces seize key neighborhoods from al-Qaida in Yemen's Aden

Xinhua, March 30, 2016 Adjust font size:

Forces loyal to Yemen's internationally recognized government seized key neighborhoods from al-Qaida militants in the southern port city of Aden on Wednesday, a military official told Xinhua.

The armed forces backed by armored vehicles took full control of the main entrances and key government institutions in Aden's neighborhood of Mansourah, al-Qaida militants stronghold, the local military official said on condition of anonymity.

"After fierce overnight gunfights with al-Qaida gunmen, the government forces successfully regained full control over the Central Prison and other key facilities in Mansourah and the surrounding areas, " the military source said.

About 20 gunmen accused of carrying out terrorist attacks and drive-by shootings in different areas of Aden were captured by government forces during the anti-terror campaign in Mansourah, according to the source.

Witnesses confirmed to Xinhua that several military checkpoints were established and the UAE armored vehicles were deployed across the main streets leading to Mansourah.

Scores of gunmen linked to the al-Qaida and the Yemen-based affiliate of the Islamic State group took control over key government compounds after defeating the Shiite Houthi forces last year.

The port city of Aden, Yemen's temporary capital, has been witnessing a state of chaos and lawlessness during the past months resulted in the assassination of Aden's former governor, several high-ranking security officers and judges.

The turbulent and complicated security situation in Aden and neighboring southern provinces of Lahj and Abyan is one of the biggest challenges for the Saudi-led Arab coalition forces operating in Aden.

The Saudi-led Arab coalition has dispatched thousands of soldiers from Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Sudan and Bahrain into five anti-Houthi southern provinces to support and train local Yemeni security forces there.

Yemen, an impoverished Arab country, has been gripped by one of the most active regional al-Qaida insurgencies in the Middle East and the affiliate of the Islamic State.

The security situation in the country has deteriorated since March 2015 when the war broke out between the Shiite Houthi group, supported by former President Ali Abdullash Saleh, and the government backed by a Saudi-led Arab coalition. Endit