Battle of Aden (2018) explained

Conflict:Battle of Aden
Partof:the Yemeni Civil War (2014–present), Saudi Arabian-led intervention in Yemen, and the Aden unrest (2015–2019)
Date:28–31 January 2018
Place:Aden, Yemen
Result:STC victory
Territory:STC gains control of most of Aden[1]
Map Type:Yemen
Map Relief:yes
Coordinates:12.8°N 45.0333°W
Map Size:290px
Combatant1: Yemen Army (Hadi government)

Supported by:
Saudi Arabia[4] [5]

Combatant2: Southern Transitional Council (STC)

Supported by:
Kuwait (commandos SF)
United Arab Emirates[10]

Commander1: Abdrabbuh Mansur Hadi
Ahmed Obeid bin Daghr
Ali Mohsen al-Ahmar
Commander2: Aidarus al-Zoubaidi[11]
Hani bin Braik
Strength2:Kuwait: 30-60 commandos Thousands
Hundreds of demonstrators[12]
Casualties1:250 killed[13]
745 wounded
Casualties2:94 Yemenis killed[14]
6 commandos wounded[15]
Casualties3:40 people killed[16] [17] [18] (3 civilians)[19] 222 wounded,[20] [21] [22] [23] and 40,000 without aid[24]

The Battle of Aden was a conflict between the Southern Transitional Council (STC) and the Yemeni government around the headquarters in Aden.[25]

Background

In Yemen, separatists have been calling for the independence of South Yemen, which was until 1990 an independent state officially known as the People's Democratic Republic of Yemen, with its state capital as Aden.[26] [27] [28] After its incorporation into the Yemen Arab Republic, there were two major attempts to secede, the Yemeni Civil War of 1994[29] and the South Yemen insurgency (2009–present).

The Southern Transitional Council was created in May 2017. The governor of Aden Aidarus al-Zoubaidi, dismissed from his office on 27 April 2017 by Yemeni President Abdrabbuh Mansur Hadi, became its leader.[30] [31]

The Southern National Assembly, made up of 303 members from every southern province, held its first parliamentary session in Aden on 26 December 2017.[32]

Amid tensions between the UAE-backed Southern Transitional Council and the Saudi-backed Hadi government in Aden, the STC announced on 21 January 2018 that it would overthrow the Yemeni government within a week unless President Hadi sacked his entire cabinet, including Prime Minister Ahmed Obeid bin Daghr for corruption.[33] [34] The STC also declared a state of emergency until its demands were met.[35] The government responded by banning protests in Aden, but the STC organised an anti-government rally for 28 January 2018.[36]

Timeline

Outbreak of fighting

Gun battles erupted in Aden on 28 January 2018 when security forces loyal to the Hadi government attempted to prevent pro-STC demonstrators from entering the city. Districts reportedly affected by the fighting included Khormaksar, al-Mansoura, and Dar Sad, with protests taking place in al-Orouth square. Pro-STC forces were reported to have seized a number of government offices, including the Hadi government's headquarters.[10] [33] [37]

28 January

The STC captured the government headquarters in Aden.[38] [39] The government also ordered its own troops to return to base, following fierce clashes across Aden. The fighting subsided by the evening after Prime Minister Daghr ordered a truce and instructed forces loyal to the government to return to barracks, witnesses said.[40] In the night, the fighting continued.[41] [42]

29 January

New fighting broke out after a brief ceasefire on the day before it collapsed.[43] [44] [45] The STC sent reinforcements from Dhale and Shabwah provinces to Aden.[46] [47] [48] Tank and heavy artillery battles were also fought that day, killing five STC fighters and four Yemeni government soldiers.[49] [50] [51] The Presidential Forces led by Brigadier General Abdullah al-Subaihi began shelling Mount Hadid, which overlooks the 1st brigade for Security Belt Forces and is run by Major General Aidarus al-Zoubaidi.[52] The two sides deployed tanks and began shelling one another in Khormaksar district, where snipers were on the roofs of buildings.[53] The fighting moved into Crater district, and schools were closed for a second consecutive day.

The STC would go on to proclaim victory on the 30 January.[54]

30 January

On the 30 January 2018, the STC claimed it had seized the entirety of Aden.[54] [8] [55] [56] [57] [58] [59]

The members of the Hadi-government present in Aden, including the Prime Minister, were surrounded in the Presidential Palace and "de facto under house arrest"[60] [61] [62] [63] but the STC did not enter the palace.[64] [65] Yemen's prime minister prepared to flee the country for Saudi Arabia after the STC seized the area around the presidential palace in the southern city of Aden in fierce battles overnight.[60] [66] [67]

The charity Save the Children suspended humanitarian work in the city due to the fighting.[68]

The STC seized the Dar Sad District, which was the last pro-Hadi stronghold, having captured the Crater and Tawahi districts earlier.[69] Residents have said that the STC captured most of the city by day's end.[70]

31 January

On the 31 January, separatists took the office of the prime minister's secretary, but fighting no longer took place.[71] The government and the STC exchanged prisoners after the fighting.[72]

Reactions

National

International

See also

References

12.8°N 45.0333°W

Notes and References

  1. Web site: UAE jet enables separatists to seize army base in Aden. Al Jazeera. 30 January 2018.
  2. Web site: Aden clashes subside after coalition calls for calm. 28 January 2018. The National. 28 January 2018.
  3. Web site: المجلس الجنوبي يحسم الوضع في عدن ويستبعد سلطة هادي والإصلاح [Southern Council consolidates its hold over Aden and sidelines Hadi and al-Islah's authority] ]. Al-Arab . 29 January 2018 . 29 January 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180203031647/http://alarab.co.uk/article/1/129896/%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%85%D8%AC%D9%84%D8%B3-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AC%D9%86%D9%88%D8%A8%D9%8A-%D9%8A%D8%AD%D8%B3%D9%85-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%88%D8%B6%D8%B9-%D9%81%D9%8A-%D8%B9%D8%AF%D9%86-%D9%88%D9%8A%D8%B3%D8%AA%D8%A8%D8%B9%D8%AF-%D8%B3%D9%84%D8%B7%D8%A9-%D9%87%D8%A7%D8%AF%D9%8A-%D9%88%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A5%D8%B5%D9%84%D8%A7%D8%AD . 3 February 2018 . dead. dmy-all.
  4. News: Saudi, U.A.E. Move to Quell Clashes Threatening Yemen Alliance. 1 February 2018. Bloomberg L.P.. 1 February 2018.
  5. News: Saudi Arabia and Kuwait & UAE suffer Yemen setback as allies fall out. 2 February 2018. Reuters. 2 February 2018.
  6. Web site: At least 14 killed in Yemen suicide attack as PM reportedly prepares to flee Aden. 28 January 2018. SBS News. 30 January 2018.
  7. Web site: Istana Kepresidenan Dikepung Pasukan Separatis, PM Yaman Bersiap Angkat Kaki. 30 January 2018. okezone.com. 30 January 2018.
  8. Web site: Yemen: UAE-backed separatists 'take control' of Aden. Osama bin Javaid. 30 January 2018. Al Jazeera. 30 January 2018.
  9. Web site: What is going on in southern Yemen?. 29 January 2018. Al Jazeera. 29 January 2018.
  10. Web site: Yemen: Separatists take over government headquarters in Aden. Osama bin Javaid. 28 January 2018. Al Jazeera. 28 January 2018.
  11. Web site: Emirati-backed South Yemen separatists allegedly clash with Saudis in Aden. 28 January 2018. AMN. 28 January 2018. 13 July 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180713043259/https://www.almasdarnews.com/article/emirati-backed-south-yemen-separatists-allegedly-clash-saudis-aden/. dead.
  12. Web site: Yemen civil war: Deadly clashes between separatists and government forces deepens split between Gulf allies. Mohammed Mukhashaf and Stephen Kalin. 28 January 2018. The Independent. 28 January 2018.
  13. Web site: Yemen PM accuses separatists of attempted coup. France 24. 28 January 2018. 28 January 2018.
  14. Web site: Death Toll Rises on Second Day of Clashes in Yemeni Port of Aden. 29 January 2018. The New York Times.
  15. Web site: Yémen: affrontements entre l'armée et des séparatistes à Aden. Le Journal de Montréal. 28 January 2018. 28 January 2018. fr.
  16. Web site: Yemen govt warns of coup as southern separatists take over headquarters amid clashes in Aden. Firstpost. 28 January 2018. 28 January 2018.
  17. Web site: 'Coup ongoing' in Aden as separatists clash with Yemen gov't forces. 28 January 2018. i24NEWS. 28 January 2018.
  18. News: Fighting erupts in Yemen's Aden, several people killed . https://web.archive.org/web/20180128111130/http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2018-01/28/c_136931292.htm. dead. 28 January 2018. Jiaxin. 28 January 2018. Xinhua News Agency. 28 January 2018.
  19. Web site: Scores dead in Yemen's Aden as PM accuses separatists of coup. 28 January 2018. Arab News. 28 January 2018.
  20. Web site: Yemen's president says fighting in Aden amounts to 'coup'. 29 January 2018. CKWX. Ahmed Al-Haj.
  21. News: Deadly Clashes Split Ranks of Gulf Allies in Yemen War . 28 January 2018. Reuters. 28 January 2018. Mohammed Mukhashaf and Stephen Kalin.
  22. Web site: Deadly clashes split ranks of Gulf allies in Yemen war . 28 January 2018. The Hindu. 28 January 2018.
  23. Web site: South Yemeni separatists pin down government in the de facto capital - Kuwait Times | Kuwait Times . News.kuwaittimes.net . 2018-01-31 . 2018-02-05.
  24. Web site: 40,000 displaced Yemenis stranded without aid in Aden: UN. 31 January 2018. France 24. AFP.
  25. Web site: Yémen: les séparatistes sudistes, à la recherche de l'indépendance perdue. 28 January 2018. Le Point. 28 January 2018.
  26. Jemen: Separatisten erobern Regierungssitz in Aden. 28 January 2018. Focus. 28 January 2018.
  27. Web site: Separatisten attackieren Sitz der Regierung in Aden. 28 January 2018. DLF24. 28 January 2018. 27 March 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200327020547/https://www.deutschlandfunk.de/die-nachrichten.1441.de.html. dead.
  28. Web site: Yémen : combats autour du siège du gouvernement à Aden. 28 January 2018. Le Point. 28 January 2018.
  29. Web site: Separatisten sind in Jemen auf dem Vormarsch. 28 January 2018. Neue Zürcher Zeitung. 28 January 2018.
  30. Web site: Separatisten erobern Sitz der jemenitischen Regierung in Aden. 28 January 2018. TAH. 28 January 2018. 13 September 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190913031544/https://www.tah.de/welt/afp-news-single/separatisten-erobern-sitz-der-jemenitischen-regierung-in-aden.html. dead.
  31. Web site: Separatisten kämpfen um Regierungssitz in Aden. 28 January 2018. Die Welt. 28 January 2018.
  32. Web site: Southern National Assembly holds first session in Aden. 23 December 2017. MEMO. 28 January 2018.
  33. Web site: UAE-backed group vows to 'overthrow' Yemen's government. 22 January 2018. Al Jazeera.
  34. Web site: Kämpfe um Regierungssitz im Jemen. 28 January 2018. Tagesschau. 28 January 2018.
  35. Web site: Yemen: Extremely complex crisis. 26 January 2018. Al-Ahram.
  36. News: Yemen government bans protests in Aden ahead of separatist deadline. 27 January 2018. Reuters.
  37. Web site: Yemen crisis: Separatists seize government buildings in Aden. 28 January 2018. BBC. 28 January 2018.
  38. News: Deadly clashes split ranks of Gulf allies in Yemen war. 28 January 2018. Reuters. 28 January 2018.
  39. Web site: Yemen PM accuses Houthi separatists of coup after HQ takeover in Aden . 28 January 2018. Business Standard. 28 January 2018.
  40. Web site: Yemeni president calls for ceasefire in Aden. 29 January 2018. DW.
  41. Web site: Yémen: les séparatistes acheminent des renforts vers Aden. 29 January 2018. L'Orient-Le Jour.
  42. Web site: Saudi-koalisjon ber de krigførende partene i Aden om å forhandle. 29 January 2018. NRK.
  43. Web site: Clashes resume after brief ceasefire in Aden . 29 January 2018. The National.
  44. Web site: Fighting intensifies in Yemen's Aden after separatist 'coup'. 29 January 2018. Al Jazeera.
  45. Web site: Yémen : les combats entre groupes armés rivaux se poursuivent à Aden. 29 January 2018. L'Orient-Le Jour.
  46. Web site: Südjemenitische Separatisten erobern halb Aden . 30 January 2018. Telepolis.
  47. News: South Yemen separatists send reinforcements to Aden. 29 January 2018. AMN – Al-Masdar News المصدر نيوز. 30 January 2018. 13 July 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180713144353/https://www.almasdarnews.com/article/south-yemen-separatists-send-reinforcements-aden/. dead.
  48. News: Separatister skickar förstärkning till Aden. SVT Nyheter . 29 January 2018. svt. Nyheter . S. V. T. .
  49. Web site: Death Toll Rises on Second Day of Clashes in Yemeni Port of Aden. 29 January 2018. The New York Times.
  50. Web site: Blutige Panzergefechte erschüttern Südjemens Hafenstadt Aden. Täglicher Anzeiger Holzminden. 29 January 2018. 29 January 2018. de. 15 September 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190915090850/https://www.tah.de/welt/afp-news-single/mehrere-tote-bei-schweren-kaempfen-in-suedjemens-hafenstadt-aden.html. dead.
  51. Web site: Yémen: au moins neuf morts à Aden, théâtre de violents combats de chars. 29 January 2018. L'Orient-Le Jour.
  52. Web site: معسكر اللواء 39 مدرع يقصف جبل حديد بالسلاح الثقيل [The 39th Armored Brigade is shelling Iron Mountain with heavy weapons]]. 29 January 2018. alomanaa.net. 29 January 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180130091308/https://alomanaa.net/news69902.html. 30 January 2018. dead.
  53. Web site: Lethal Yemen violence exposes divisions inside coalition combating Houthis. lockportpress.com. 30 January 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180130204203/http://lockportpress.com/lethal-yemen-violence-exposes-divisions-inside-coalition-combating-houthis/. 30 January 2018. dead. dmy-all.
  54. Web site: Südjemenitische Separatisten erobern Aden. 30 January 2018. Neue Zürcher Zeitung.
  55. Web site: Yemen's Saudi-backed government 'to flee from Aden'. 30 January 2018. The Guardian.
  56. News: Breaking: Yemeni separatists conquer the city of Aden from Saudi-backed forces after two-day battle. 30 January 2018. AMN. 30 January 2018. 30 January 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180130200629/https://www.almasdarnews.com/article/breaking-yemeni-separatists-conquer-city-aden-saudi-backed-forces-two-day-battle/. dead.
  57. News: Yemen separatists 'capture Aden' from Hadi forces. 30 January 2018. The Irish Times.
  58. News: Yemen separatists capture Aden, government confined to palace: residents. 30 January 2018. Reuters.
  59. Web site: Yemen Separatists Seize Control of Aden. 30 January 2018. VOA.
  60. News: Separatistische Rebellen in Aden umstellen Palast von Jemens Präsident. 30 January 2018. Der Standard.
  61. Web site: Separatisten erobern Regierungssitz des Jemen. 30 January 2018. DW.
  62. Web site: Yemen separatists surround presidential palace in Aden. 30 January 2018. France 24.
  63. Web site: Rebellen in Aden umzingeln Palast von Jemens Präsident. https://web.archive.org/web/20180130101536/http://www.salzburg24.at/mindestens-36-tote-bei-kaempfen-in-suedjemens-hafenstadt-aden/apa-1440376056. dead. 30 January 2018. 30 January 2018. Salzburg24.
  64. Web site: Separatyści zajęli Aden. Reuters: sojusz przeciwko Hutim zagrożony. 30 January 2018. TVN24.
  65. News: Yemen separatists capture Aden, government confined to palace: residen. 30 January 2018. 30 January 2018. Reuters.
  66. Web site: Yemeni premier prepares to flee as separatists take key area in Aden. 30 January 2018. Los Angeles Times.
  67. Yemen's Prime Minister Is Preparing to Flee as Separatists Reach Gates of the Presidential Palace. 30 January 2018. Time. 30 January 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180202160535/http://time.com/5124508/yemen-separatists-storm-government/. 2 February 2018. dead. dmy-all.
  68. Web site: Yemen separatists seize de facto capital Aden as children's charity suspends work. 30 January 2018. SBS News.
  69. Web site: Yemen separatists capture Aden, government confined to palace. 30 January 2018. menafn.com.
  70. Web site: Yemen separatists capture most of Aden, residents say. 30 January 2018. BBC.
  71. Web site: Des forces séparatistes se déploient dans la deuxième ville du Yémen. 31 January 2018. Libération. 31 January 2018. 1 February 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180201075459/http://www.liberation.fr/planete/2018/01/31/des-forces-separatistes-se-deploient-dans-la-deuxieme-ville-du-yemen_1626432. dead.
  72. Web site: Yemen government, 'Southern Council' swap captives in Aden . Menafn.Com . 2018-01-31 . 2018-02-05.
  73. Web site: Yemen PM accuses separatists of coup bid, as deaths in Aden clashes mount . 28 January 2018. Al Arabiya. 28 January 2018.
  74. Web site: Aden clashes: Yemen PM accuses separatists of staging coup. 28 January 2018. The National. 28 January 2018.
  75. Web site: UAE-backed separatists launch 'coup' in southern Yemen. 28 January 2018. Al Jazeera. 28 January 2018.
  76. Web site: اللواء عيدروس الزبيدي يعلن رسمياً دعمه لطارق صالح (فيديو) [Major General Idruss al-Zubaidi officially announces his support for Tareq Saleh (video)]]. 30 January 2018. almashhad-alyemeni.com. 30 January 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180131024144/https://www.almashhad-alyemeni.com/topics/18/01/30/102935.html. 31 January 2018. dead. dmy-all.
  77. Web site: عيدروس الزبيدي: نقف إلى جانب طارق محمد صالح وسندعمه (فيديو) [Aidarus al-Zoubaidi: We stand by Tariq Mohammed Saleh and support him (video)]]. 30 January 2018. bawabatii.com.
  78. Web site: France concerned over fresh fightings in Yemen, urges negotiations. 29 January 2018. KUNA. 29 January 2018.
  79. Web site: Yémen : des forces séparatistes s'emparent du siège du gouvernement transitoire à Aden. 28 January 2018. Le Monde. 28 January 2018.

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