Advertisement

Airstrikes on Yemen's presidential palace

President Hadi established a provisional government in Aden after fleeing Sana, the capital.

By Ed Adamczyk
Abdrabuh Mansour Hadi Mansour, President of the Republic of Yemen at the United Nations in 2012. File Photo by UPI/John Angelillo.
Abdrabuh Mansour Hadi Mansour, President of the Republic of Yemen at the United Nations in 2012. File Photo by UPI/John Angelillo. | License Photo

ADEN , Yemen, March 19 (UPI) -- Yemeni President Abdrabbuh Mansour Hadi fled his palace in the city of Aden, Thursday after it was attacked by two unidentified fighter planes.

Anti-aircraft guns prevented a direct hit on the building, officials said, adding Hadi was safe and still in Yemen. Aden has been his base of operations since Houthi rebels overtook the capital of Sanaa and the country's government in February.

Advertisement

The planes were believed to have been flown by pilots loyal to the Houthi regime. One pilot in particular attempted to join the raid against the palace but instead crashed into a nearby hill.

No injuries were reported in the attack, which came after pro-Hadi forces attempted to repel an attack on Aden's airport in which four died and 13 were injured, officials said. The hours-long clash closed the airport, and 100 passengers were removed from a plane about to leave for Cairo.

Clashes also occurred throughout Aden, a city dominated by Hadi loyalists. Hadi insists he still is Yemen's legitimate ruler and has lived in Aden since he escaped house arrest in Sanaa.

Advertisement

Latest Headlines