The Saudi-led coalition destroyed a number of Houthi ammunition stores outside the Yemeni capital on Wednesday as violence abated in the southern city of Aden after days of clashes between local security forces and government troops.
Five coalition air strikes targeted rebel stores in the Houthi stronghold of Al Geraf, to the north of Sanaa. The stores supply rebel fighters in Al Geraf, as well as the areas of Shaoub and Bani Hosheish, located north-east and east of the capital respectively.
"Ammunition stores, which were hidden among civilian buildings, caught on fire and stayed lit throughout the day," a resident told The National.
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Read more:
Arab coalition calls for immediate ceasefire in Aden
Beyond the Headlines podcast: In Yemen, a violent week complicates a nuanced war
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The strikes came as local security forces in Aden — Yemen's interim capital — tightened their grip on government offices, the spokesman of the city's police, Lieutenant Abdulrahman Al Nakeeb, told The National.
It follows days of clashes between Aden's security forces and troops loyal to president Abdrabu Mansur Hadi. Mr Hadi's government was forced to relocate to the southern port after the Houthis captured Sanaa in 2014.
“The security forces of Aden are committed to securing everywhere in the interim capital as they hold the responsibility to protect the government as well as the private sectors all over the city," said Lt Al Nakeeb.
Aden's security forces support the Southern Transitional Council (STC), a semi-autonomous body calling for southern Yemen to secede from the north, but have stressed they will continue to support the battle against the Houthis.
"We are a part of the Arab coalition and we will work hard to achieve its goals in the north as we did in the south," former Aden governor and Southern Transitional Council president Major General Aidarous Al Zubaidi said in an interview with France 24 on Tuesday.
Maj Gen Al Zubaidi said forces loyal to the Southern Transitional Council were ready to go further with the coalition to liberate Sanaa of the Houthi presence and restore the internationally recognised government.
But he urged the Saudi-led alliance to “change the current government, which wreaked havoc in the liberated provinces and drove the people to the brink of famine”.
The Southern Transitional Council was formed by the secessionist Southern Movement last year and consists of a president and 25 members from all eight southern provinces, including three women. It aims to be the representative of southern Yemen and to rule the south if the government fails to do so.
Clashes broke out on Sunday when supporters of the council tried to hold protests in Aden calling for government ministers to step down, accusing them of corruption. A day before the government had banned all protests and gatherings in the city.
"People went to raise their voice peacefully but the government of corruption fired at them," Maj Gen Al Zubaidi said. "Such behaviour forced the resistance to protect the protesters and dismiss the government because the president didn't respond to the voice of the people."
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Our legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
2019 Asian Cup final
Japan v Qatar
Friday, 6pm
Zayed Sports City Stadium, Abu Dhabi
Profile of Hala Insurance
Date Started: September 2018
Founders: Walid and Karim Dib
Based: Abu Dhabi
Employees: Nine
Amount raised: $1.2 million
Funders: Oman Technology Fund, AB Accelerator, 500 Startups, private backers
GAC GS8 Specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 248hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 400Nm at 1,750-4,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 9.1L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh149,900
Du Football Champions
The fourth season of du Football Champions was launched at Gitex on Wednesday alongside the Middle East’s first sports-tech scouting platform.“du Talents”, which enables aspiring footballers to upload their profiles and highlights reels and communicate directly with coaches, is designed to extend the reach of the programme, which has already attracted more than 21,500 players in its first three years.
AUSTRALIA SQUAD v SOUTH AFRICA
Aaron Finch (capt), Shaun Marsh, Travis Head, Chris Lynn, Glenn Maxwell, D'Arcy Short, Marcus Stoinis, Alex Carey, Ashton Agar, Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, Pat Cummins, Nathan Coulter-Nile, Adam Zampa
Our legal columnist
Name: Yousef Al Bahar
Advocate at Al Bahar & Associate Advocates and Legal Consultants, established in 1994
Education: Mr Al Bahar was born in 1979 and graduated in 2008 from the Judicial Institute. He took after his father, who was one of the first Emirati lawyers
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MOUNTAINHEAD REVIEW
Starring: Ramy Youssef, Steve Carell, Jason Schwartzman
Director: Jesse Armstrong
Rating: 3.5/5
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Youth YouTuber Programme
The programme will be presented over two weeks and will cover the following topics:
- Learning, scripting, storytelling and basic shots
- Master on-camera presence and advanced script writing
- Beating the algorithm and reaching your core audience
LA LIGA FIXTURES
Friday Valladolid v Osasuna (Kick-off midnight UAE)
Saturday Valencia v Athletic Bilbao (5pm), Getafe v Sevilla (7.15pm), Huesca v Alaves (9.30pm), Real Madrid v Atletico Madrid (midnight)
Sunday Real Sociedad v Eibar (5pm), Real Betis v Villarreal (7.15pm), Elche v Granada (9.30pm), Barcelona v Levante (midnight)
Monday Celta Vigo v Cadiz (midnight)
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Sholto Byrnes on Myanmar politics
A little about CVRL
Founded in 1985 by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, the Central Veterinary Research Laboratory (CVRL) is a government diagnostic centre that provides testing and research facilities to the UAE and neighbouring countries.
One of its main goals is to provide permanent treatment solutions for veterinary related diseases.
The taxidermy centre was established 12 years ago and is headed by Dr Ulrich Wernery.
Company Profile:
Name: The Protein Bakeshop
Date of start: 2013
Founders: Rashi Chowdhary and Saad Umerani
Based: Dubai
Size, number of employees: 12
Funding/investors: $400,000 (2018)
ESSENTIALS
The flights
Fly Etihad or Emirates from the UAE to Moscow from 2,763 return per person return including taxes.
Where to stay
Trips on the Golden Eagle Trans-Siberian cost from US$16,995 (Dh62,414) per person, based on two sharing.
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Drishyam 2
Directed by: Jeethu Joseph
Starring: Mohanlal, Meena, Ansiba, Murali Gopy
Rating: 4 stars
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