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Clashes kill six civilians in Yemen’s Aden
ADEN, Aug 10, 2019 (BSS/AFP) – At least six civilians were killed and 12
others wounded Friday during clashes in Yemen’s second city Aden, a security
source said, as violence flares between pro-government fighters and those
seeking an independent south.
The fighting erupted on Wednesday and has continued unabated between the
two sides, who are in effect backers of the Aden-based internationally
recognised government of President Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi.
One faction however is known as the Security Belt, a force trained by the
United Arab Emirates, which is dominated by fighters who seek independence
for southern Yemen.
On Friday, fierce clashes broke out between the two sides during which a
mortar round crashed into a house killing six people, four of whom were from
the same family, a security source said.
Twelve other people were wounded in the fighting, the source said.
Doctors Without Borders (MSF) tweeted Friday that it had treated 75 people
in a hospital run by the charity “since yesterday (Thursday) night” including
seven who were in a critical condition.
“Most of the patients we admitted are civilians and were injured by
shrapnel during shelling on their houses or stray bullets,” MSF said.
Aden is located in southern Yemen, which is largely controlled by loyalist
forces.
Southern Yemen was an independent state until 1990 and the north is
perceived to have imposed unification by force.
The UAE is a key partner in a Saudi-led military coalition which intervened
in Yemen more than four years ago to prop up Hadi’s government in the face of
an uprising by Iran-aligned Shiite Huthi rebels.
The Huthis control parts of northern and western Yemen, including the
capital Sanaa.
BSS/AFP/GMR/0912 hrs