Sana’a, Dec 8, (dpa/GNA) – Air traffic was briefly suspended at Yemen’s Aden airport, causing disruption for hundreds of passengers on Monday, amid increasing tensions in the government-controlled parts of southern and eastern Yemen.
Since last week, fighting erupted between a separatist UAE-backed group and the Saudi-backed government.
While the two have been allies for years against the Houthi rebels, who seized northern parts of Yemen more than 10 years ago, the separatist Southern Transitional Council (STC) has repeatedly defied its partner in administration to control larger areas and rally people to demand secession.
On Monday, several flights were cancelled out of Aden, the government’s seat, after the Saudi-led coalition failed to issue landing and take-off permits, an aviation source told dpa.
Passengers waited for hours at the airport before leaving. Sources said air traffic resumed hours later.
A few months after the Iranian-allied Houthis seized the capital Sana’a and other parts in the north, Saudi Arabia started a coalition in March 2015, which also includes the UAE, to support the government militarily and stop the Houthis, who were advancing towards Aden.
Since then, Yemen has been roiled by the devastating power struggle between the government and the Houthis, while occasional infighting between the government and the STC also erupts in the south.
The chaos at the airport comes after widespread demonstrations took place in Aden and Hadramaut provinces, after renewed calls by the STC demanding an independent state.
A government source over the weekend told dpa that Saudi Arabia withdrew its forces from the presidential palace in Aden, however, there has been no official confirmation.
Forces loyal to the STC have recently seized control of large parts of Hadramaut, a massive oil-rich province that makes up around a third of Yemen’s territory. They have also announced that they control several areas in the eastern al-Mahra province.
After these advances, STC forces now control all of southern and large parts of eastern Yemen.
Yemen was divided between 1967 until its unification in 1990.
GNA