Houthis Take Control of Presidential Residence in Yemen

SANAA (Sputnik) – Houthis have taken control of the residence of Yemeni President Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi in the southern city of Aden, with clashes between the rebels and groups loyal to Hadi having killed 15 people, a local source has told Sputnik Arabic.

"Houthis have taken control of the presidential residence [in Aden], clashes are taking place around the residence between Houthis and armed groups that support President Hadi. Civilians who have answered the call of [Yemeni] Foreign Minister Riyadh Yaseen to protect the city and restore control over the residence are also taking part in the clashes," the source said.

The fighting has wounded dozens of people and killed 15, according to the source, who added that a ground operation could be launched in Aden with the aim of pushing Houthis out of the city.

The Houthis, a Zaidi Shia insurgent group, has taken control of vast areas in Yemen. The rebels forced Yemen's government to resign in January and currently control the capital Sanaa. Hadi has fled the country.

On March 25, a Saudi-Arabia-led coalition started conducting airstrikes against Houthi militants in Yemen at the request of Hadi, who asked for military support.

The ongoing Saudi Arabia-led coalition's military operation aims to defeat the Houthis, who are supporters of ex-Yemeni president Ali Abdullah Saleh, and restore Hadi's government to power.

On Tuesday, spokesman of the Saudi-led joint operations command in Yemen Brig. Gen. Ahmed Asiri told reporters that a limited ground offensive might be carried out in parts of Yemen that are under Houthi control.