Yemen’s Ansar Allah Houthis have moved to about 60 kilometres (40 miles) from Aden, the interim seat of the internationally recognised government, according to military and government sources who spoke on Sunday.
Sources said the group had taken control of the Al-Maqatirah and Al-Madaribah districts and was pushing toward the city. Four military sources within government forces and two government sources provided these details.
Houthi gains in Al-Maqatirah and Al-Madaribah
The Houthis were reportedly stationed at the Al-Kharaz camp in Al-Madaribah, a position 60 kilometres from Aden. Officials also said the group had seized strategic positions in the Maqatera district and large parts of Al-Madhariba and Al-Arah, the largest districts in Lahj province in southwestern Yemen.
Also read: Houthis gain ground near Bab el-Mandeb as Yemen forces withdraw
Government redeploys forces away from Bab al-Mandab
Earlier on Sunday, the government, which is backed by a Saudi-led military coalition, said it had completed its withdrawal from areas near the Bab al-Mandab strait. The troops were being sent to reinforce positions where conditions demanded it, with securing Aden and nearby provinces as the top priority.
Military officials had said on Friday that government forces were building sandbag defences and digging tunnels around Aden as the Houthis moved south.
Attacks on Aden and fighting along the Lahj road
The Houthis have repeatedly attacked Aden in recent weeks. According to government military sources, an assault on October 15 targeted the presidential palace and left four people dead.
The group had also tried to seize Aden early in the 2015 war but failed. Along the road between Aden and Lahj, dozens of buildings were reported destroyed after heavy fighting between the Houthis and local resistance groups, with air support from the Saudi-led coalition.
