Aden witnesses clashes with pro-Yemeni president forces

Violent clashes erupted in Aden yesterday evening between the Special Forces and popular armed groups supporting Yemeni President Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi, the Anadolu Agency reported.

Security sources and eyewitnesses told Anadolu that the clashes took place near Aden International Airport, just two days after the closure of the streets which connect the areas of Khour Maksar and Sheikh Othman, east of the airport. There were no reports about casualties.

The popular armed groups are militias formed after Sanaa was seized by Houthi rebels. They aim to fight Al-Qaeda and stop the Shia expansion.

Last Tuesday, Mansur Hadi issued a republican decision removing Major General Al-Saqqaf from leading the Special Forces and replacing him with Major General Thabet Jawwas. Al-Saqqaf was made deputy chief for the Civil Record in the interior ministry.

He refused to accept the new presidential decisions and the area has been plunged into security chaos ever since.

The Yemeni Special Forces, which were previously known as the Central Security Forces, include approximately 2,000 soldiers.