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Battle of Aden (2018)

Coordinates: 12°48′00″N 45°02′00″E / 12.8000°N 45.0333°E / 12.8000; 45.0333
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For other uses, see Battle of Abdurrahman Atosh Ali.

Battle of Aden
Part of the Yemeni Civil War (2014–present), Saudi Arabian-led intervention in Yemen, and the Aden unrest (2015–2019)

Situation in Aden after the STC seized the city
  Southern Transitional Council control
  Hadi Government control
Date28–31 January 2018
Location
Aden, Yemen
12°48′00″N 45°02′00″E / 12.8°N 45.033333°E / 12.8; 45.033333
Result STC victory
Territorial
changes		 STC gains control of most of Aden[10]
Belligerents

Yemen Yemen Army (Hadi government)

Supported by:
 Saudi Arabia[3][4]

Southern Transitional Council (STC)

Supported by:
 Kuwait (commandos SF)
 United Arab Emirates[9]
Commanders and leaders
Yemen Abdrabbuh Mansur Hadi
Yemen Ahmed Obeid bin Daghr
Yemen Ali Mohsen al-Ahmar		 Aidarus al-Zoubaidi[11]
Hani bin Braik
Kuwait Aser Abdullah Al-Anezi
Strength

Kuwait: 30-60 commandos

Thousands[1]
Hundreds of demonstrators[12]
Casualties and losses
250 killed[13]
745 wounded		 94 Yemenis killed[11][14]
6 commandos wounded[15]
40 people killed[16][17][18] (3 civilians)[19] 222 wounded,[20][21][22][23] and 40,000 without aid[24]
Battle of Aden (2018) is located in Yemen
Battle of Aden (2018)
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Location within Yemen

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

Background

[edit]

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).[30]

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.[31][32]

The Southern National Assembly, made up of 303 members from every southern province, held its first parliamentary session in Aden on 26 December 2017.[33]

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.[34][35] The STC also declared a state of emergency until its demands were met.[36] The government responded by banning protests in Aden, but the STC organised an anti-government rally for 28 January 2018.[37]

Timeline

[edit]

Outbreak of fighting

[edit]

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.[38] 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.[9][34][38]

28 January

[edit]

The STC captured the government headquarters in Aden.[39][40] 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.[41] In the night, the fighting continued.[42][43]

29 January

[edit]

New fighting broke out after a brief ceasefire on the day before it collapsed.[44][45][46] The STC sent reinforcements from Dhale and Shabwah provinces to Aden.[30][47][48] Tank and heavy artillery battles were also fought that day, killing five STC fighters and four Yemeni government soldiers.[14][49][50] 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.[51] The two sides deployed tanks and began shelling one another in Khormaksar district, where snipers were on the roofs of buildings.[52] 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.[53]

30 January

[edit]

On the 30 January 2018, the STC claimed it had seized the entirety of Aden.[53][7][54][55][56][57][58]

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"[59][60][61][62] but the STC did not enter the palace.[63][64] 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.[59][65][66]

The charity Save the Children suspended humanitarian work in the city due to the fighting.[67]

The STC seized the Dar Sad District, which was the last pro-Hadi stronghold, having captured the Crater and Tawahi districts earlier.[68] Residents have said that the STC captured most of the city by day's end.[69]

31 January

[edit]

On the 31 January, separatists took the office of the prime minister's secretary, but fighting no longer took place.[70] The government and the STC exchanged prisoners after the fighting.[71]

Reactions

[edit]

National

[edit]
  •  Yemen – Prime Minister Ahmed Obeid bin Daghr stated that "a coup is ongoing here in Aden against legitimacy and the country's unity,"[72] and asked Saudi Arabia for military support.[9]
  •  Yemen – President Abdrabbuh Mansur Hadi ordered his forces to cease fire immediately after fierce clashes with southern separatists broke out in Aden.[73] On 30 January Hadi called the clashes "nothing short of a coup".[20]
  • South Yemen Southern Transitional Council – The Vice President of the STC Hani bin Braik blamed Hadi's government for the fighting in a Twitter post: "They forced us to put on our military uniforms, although we told them we were non-violent. But we were ready."[74] On 22 January, Aidarus al-Zoubaidi accused the Hadi and Daghr-led government of "rampant corruption".[34]
  • South Yemen Southern Transitional Council – The president of the STC Aidarus al-Zoubaidi declared a state of emergency in Aden and that "the STC has begun the process of overthrowing Hadi's rule over the South".[47] On 30 January Aidarus al-Zoubaidi via France 24 announced full military cooperation between his forces and Tareq Saleh to liberate the remaining northern strongholds.[75][76]

International

[edit]
  •  France – France's Foreign Ministry expressed concern over the fighting and urged both sides to negotiate.[77]
  • Saudi Arabian-led coalition called everyone involved to hold back. The protests in Aden were an invitation to turn down mistakes in government work.[78]

See also

[edit]

References

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

12°48′00″N 45°02′00″E / 12.8000°N 45.0333°E / 12.8000; 45.0333

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