BEIRUT, April 9. /TASS/. Yemen’s military units that sided with Houthi rebels have seized the city of Ataq, the capital of the Shabwah Governorate, Al-Manar TV channel reported on Thursday.
Military and Houthis ousted supporters of the President Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi from the south-eastern oil-rich province rich.
Since August 2014, Yemen has been hit by a severe political and security crisis. In late January, the armed groups of Ansar Allah (Houthi rebels) forced the president and the government to announce resignation.
The rebels later took control of the country’s capital and several northern provinces. They also announced the adoption of the so-called constitutional declaration.
Overnight to March 26, Saudi Arabia launched a military operation in the neighboring country and delivered air strikes at several Houthi positions. The coalition was later joined by Bahrein, Qatar, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, Egypt, Jordan, Morocco, Pakistan and Sudan.
Yemeni President Abd Rabbah Mansur Hadi fled the country to Saudi Arabia.
Houthi rebels are currently fighting pro-government forces over control of Yemen’s second-largest city of Aden. The coalition is currently considering launching a ground operation in Yemen to oust Houthis.