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Houthi rebels driven out of Yemenâ€™s largest airbase

04 August 2015 13:04 (UTC +04:00)

Baku. Turbet Baghirova – APA. Pro-government forces in Yemen have retaken the country's largest airbase in a battle, Nasr Alkaid, a spokesman for the pro-government forces, told the BBC.

He said the loyalists were still battling rebels about 4km (2.5 miles) from the base.

If confirmed, the recapture of the airbase could remove a major obstacle for government forces on the road to Taiz, Yemen's third-largest city, where pro-Hadi militia have been clashing with rebels.\

Al-Anad used to be a base for US troops overseeing drone attacks on al-Qaeda.

The Saudis are leading a campaign to push the rebels back and restore the government, which it is sheltering.

The rebels - backed by forces loyal to the former President, Ali Abdullah Saleh - say they are fighting against corruption and marginalisation of their northern powerbase by Mr Hadi's government.