Yemen crisis: Houthi troops seize presidential palace in Aden

E-Paper | October 10, 2026

Yemen crisis: Houthi troops seize presidential palace in Aden

AFP Reuters Published April 2, 2015

ADEN/RIYADH: Rebel forces on Thursday seized Yemeni President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi's palace in his former refuge of Aden, a senior security official told AFP.

“Dozens of Houthi militia and their allies arrived in armoured troop carriers and entered Al-Maashiq presidential palace,” said the official, who witnessed their advance into the complex.

Hadi fled to Saudi Arabia last week as the rebels bore down on Aden.

Know more: Yemen conflict: Neutrality no longer an option for Pakistan?

Unidentified troops landed in Aden after Houthis seized the center of the city. Dozens of unidentified troops landed by sea in Aden in an apparent last-ditch effort by a Saudi-led coalition to shore up a foothold in the Yemeni port city after Houthi rebels seized control of its center today.

Also read: Pakistan calls on international community to resolve Yemen crisis

The soldiers arrived in a single vessel a few hours after the Houthis and their supporters swept into the heart of Aden despite an eight-day air campaign led by Riyadh to stem their advances.

A Saudi Arabian border guard was killed, and 10 others wounded, when their observation post came under fire from a mountainous area in Yemen, the interior ministry said on Thursday in comments carried by Saudi news agency SPA.

Corporal Salman Ali Yahya al-Maliki, who was killed in the border province of Asir, is the first known Saudi fatality in the week-old military campaign the country has led against Houthi fighters in Yemen.

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kumail

Apr 02, 2015 07:14pm

Do Houthis look like a rebel group. They have do far behaved courageously and at the same time fighting with al qaida.

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Muhammad iqbal

Apr 02, 2015 07:18pm

Same developments took place in Egypt by the brotherhood uprising. After a brief period, the inevitable happened. I mean, uncle Obama came, brotherhood finished, all their leaders finished and now american stooges are running Egypt. Same fate in store for Yemen and saudi rulers also know this that their guest Hadi will soon go back to his palace

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Naseer

Apr 02, 2015 07:32pm

Houthis are Yemenis; if they take over the country, so let it be. Please remember there are a lot of Yemeni Sunnis who are supporting Huthis, so lets not play the sectarian card. Israel and Saudi Arabia, take a chill pill; everything will be alright.

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Shahpur

Apr 02, 2015 07:34pm

Good news. I hope Pakistan see the writing on the wall, what is coming. A long as Pakistanis elect corrupt rulers they will face such consequences.

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Zak

Apr 02, 2015 07:44pm

Avoid war, it's getting worse. Looks like a long protracted war on SA doorsteps.

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Muhammad

Apr 02, 2015 07:46pm

You cannot call Houthi militia and their allies as rebels because they have most of Yemen under their control and majority of Yemeni people are supporting them it is popular uprising it is a revolution not revolt

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Sudhanshu Swami

Apr 02, 2015 07:47pm

does that mean more pressure on Pakistan to join KSA ?

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prada

Apr 02, 2015 07:48pm

That's why they need pak army

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Hadi

Apr 02, 2015 07:49pm

What media is trying to hide is that its only the Houthi rebels that has stood against the puppet government of West/Saudi but the local troops are also fighting alongside of Houthis. So this speaks of some volume i.e. the locals are against the corrupt/tyrant government as well. The western/Saudi media will never tell us the truth as expected. On that note, our troops should not be sent to someone else war. We should be negotiating the peace and not war.

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CYRUS

Apr 02, 2015 08:06pm

Rebels in Aden won't hold out against the probable commitment of the British and American navies. Egypt will not allow a blockade of the Suez Canal and will most probably commit it's troops alongside Saudi troops. Pakistani soldiers might not be needed, but a peace settlement is ridiculous. France imports oil, goods and commodities through the Red Sea and Suez Canal as well. They are a manufacturer and exporter of jet fighters and Exocet missiles; and have some of the best special forces groups in the world training in French Guiana and the Sahara desert. The Yemeni rebels can celebrate now while they are able. Yemen is not in any way Somalia. It is more important to European world trade and security.

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Aziz

Apr 02, 2015 08:15pm

It looks like the whole population of Yemen have rebelled. Pakistan MUST AVOID getting involved. It is clearly the Royal families versus the ordinary Yemenis.

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guddu

Apr 02, 2015 08:27pm

Pakistan is more worried than any other nation ...like YEMEN

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Babay

Apr 02, 2015 08:27pm

War against revolutionary forces is not the solution of the internal disturbance of the country. Foreign aggressors are intervening in the internal unrest a sovereign country which amounts illegal encroachment.

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rony

Apr 02, 2015 08:28pm

till now usa has fought saudi wars

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rony

Apr 02, 2015 08:29pm

@Zak they have started it its high time arabs solve their own problems as usa now seems least bothered

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MAlvi

Apr 02, 2015 08:30pm

I am against this Saudi attack on poor people of Yemen. Saudis are afraid of spread of insurgency. They are thinking of Iraq, Syria, Libya. Yemen has not attacked Saudia. I don't think Pakistan should jump into this war. Pakistan should, instead, try to mediate.

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Gerry dcunha

Apr 02, 2015 08:36pm

I fail to understand why the west and America and the united nation quiet over this dangerous conflict

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अमित

Apr 02, 2015 08:46pm

Situation is out of control now pakistan must join KSA and enter in Yemen. For normalcy only pakisan is responsible for this, only chance for Pak to become brother Of Arabs .go Pak go.

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Shamsher Singh Bajwa

Apr 02, 2015 08:59pm

Good! Saudis will fail to gain control of Yemen!

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Czar

Apr 02, 2015 09:01pm

Pakistan is thinking of jumping into the foray. That's why the session of the parliament has been called. Bad idea to join the war.

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M. Asghar

Apr 02, 2015 09:03pm

There is a civil war in Yemen and the SA is backing one side there for the obvious reasons . In this situation, Pakistan must not get involved in this conflict apart from going for a strong multi-lateral mediation.

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Ramesh Krishnan

Apr 02, 2015 09:22pm

Instead of amicably resolving the problem by holding peace negotiations Saudi and its allies created another war in Middle East...By the way where are the save Gaza campaigners..? Life of Yemeni people have no value..?

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Joe FL

Apr 02, 2015 09:22pm

@rony: "till now usa has fought saudi wars" Wrong. 'Til now the USA and other nations have defended themselves against religious terrorists who reject democratic life and would rather kill than talk about it. People who could accept peaceful dialogue have tried to escape and emigrate to North America or Europe. Those who do not talk, but would rather kill, have had no hesitation in doing so in New York, Washington, London, Frankfurt, Madrid, Mumbai, Madrid, Buenos Aires, Bali, Nairobi, and elsewhere. The main difference now is that they are turning their guns against each other.

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Apr 02, 2015 09:33pm

Saudi Arab should have been an inspiring nation to unite ummah but unfortunately it has played a bad role since 1990. Personnel rivalries or friendship is no matter. Leaders must see the Overall benefit of ummah

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Sekhar, India

Apr 02, 2015 09:34pm

No Pakistani boots on the ground of Yemen please. Pak is already engaged in a winning battle against the terrorists. It would be difficult for the Pak Govt. to say "no" to SA because Pakistan and the PM in particular is heavily indebted to the SA.

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Gaz

Apr 02, 2015 09:35pm

Keep out of this war. We can see why Saudis are asking for help. Their own forces seem to be useless.

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Abbas Syed

Apr 02, 2015 09:43pm

It looks like to the ruling establishments, both civil and military, interests of their paymasters are more close to them than interest of the country. This had landed Pakistan more than once on the wrong side of the history.

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M. Asghar

Apr 02, 2015 09:46pm

SA financed left and right over the years the societal tension for its so-called sectarien interests and now it is boomranging back to it. They have to face the conséquences.

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Lucky Star

Apr 02, 2015 09:53pm

@Zak To avoid war, Huties have to back down, because they are the aggressors.

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Lucky Star

Apr 02, 2015 09:53pm

@Aziz Not true.

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Tong

Apr 02, 2015 10:13pm

They are not friends. They are relatives and relatives have rights. They are demanding and you jump.

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Dekh Magar Pyaar Se

Apr 02, 2015 10:18pm

Iran: 2 Saudi Arabia: 0

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HAIDER

Apr 02, 2015 10:32pm

It seems Yemani Sunni and Shia join hand against foreign aggression...

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Ali

Apr 02, 2015 10:38pm

When a small number of people stands against any govt it is REBELLION. But when whole of country stand then it's REVOLUTION.

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Farrukh

Apr 02, 2015 10:41pm

Pakistan must not join this war, it is not Sunni or Shia war. Yemen is a very poor nation because Saudi royals had planted their "pittho" there and never let Yemen to explore and dig for oil in their region. When KSA started this war because rebels are fighting for their rights, all other big oil players in gulf joined KSA because they also do not want another competeter for their global market share for oil. These rebels have the public support in Yemen for the right reson. If KSA will send in the ground troops in, it will be gorilla war and it will be a Vietnam for KSA, they will not win this. For west, it dose'nt matter, weather they get their oil from KSA or Yemen.

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alihbilgrami@msn.com

Apr 02, 2015 10:42pm

We should keep out of this war and allow the debauch kings and princes to fight their own battles. We have our own war to take care of.

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kumail

Apr 02, 2015 10:50pm

Do Houthis look like a rebel group. They have do far behaved courageously and at the same time fighting with al qaida.

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Zak

Apr 02, 2015 10:53pm

@guddu that's only seems like it to indians, who seem to be addicted to pakistani newspapers.

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jose

Apr 02, 2015 11:15pm

Please stop calling them rebels militia. They are local people. Saudi's fighting to preserve their kingdom as they consider them as treats to their monarchy.

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alihbilgrami@msn.com

Apr 02, 2015 11:18pm

The Saudis are about to get a good beating in Yemen. Let us keep out as it is not our war.

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saeed

Apr 02, 2015 11:20pm

Hadi's tenure is over. He was a caretaker president for three years. Hothis are not rebels, they have majority and dislodged an illegal govt of hadi. Lets see, whether Pakistan Saudia and UAE recognize Hothis govt or not after their control of Capital city as these three countries recognized Taliban govt in Kabul saying that Taliban have captured capital city

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Viking Star

Apr 02, 2015 11:42pm

@ZAK Your comment does not make any sense. You are suggesting to avoid war at one place and on the other hand admitting the war is long one at Saudi doorstep. United Arab Forces must crush rebels and Pakistan should assist KSA. Its NOT a Shia/Sunni war, rebels have overthrown a legitimate govt in Yemen and irrespective of their ethnicity, they should be targeted with full might.

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Javed Arshad

Apr 03, 2015 01:02am

Time to carefully reflect and ponder the next steps. Full transparent fact based discussion are the need of the hour. It seems a local political upheaval more than anything else. Seems to have potential to get very nasty. Pakistan will be well advised to stay out of it militarily and play its role as an arbitrator for a peaceful resolution.

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Fahim Khan

Apr 03, 2015 01:04am

dictators and illegitimate rulers hiding beind harmain shareefain

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Mirza

Apr 03, 2015 01:17am

Houties are Yemenis not foreign aggressors. This is a civil war and popular uprising against the agents of foreign powers. Ex-president Hadi has no place to hide in the whole of Yemen. Saudi Royals and totalitarian Sheikhs want to bring Hadi back just like the US brought back Shah against democratically elected PM in Iran. Why should the rich Saudis fight their aggressive battles when they can hire cheap help from their poor friends? They can start the war but not end it by themselves.

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vinay

Apr 03, 2015 01:44am

@Abbas Syed YUP You are absolutely right.

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raj

Apr 03, 2015 02:18am

@Lucky Star it is their country and they know what is best for them. how can you suggest they back down. Any good would come out of the puppet govt.

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Wasim

Apr 03, 2015 02:51am

The fact that America is about to sign a Nuclear deal with Iran clearly signals a change of strategy in American foriegn policy as to who it wants to support on upcoming years ...Saudi agenda of overthrowing governments in IRAQ, Egypt, Syria is failing and Iran is well on course to be the regional power in Middle East. I smell trouble for the kie ngdom.. There says are numbered !! Pakistan Needs to be very careful Here ..

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L.Ahmad

Apr 03, 2015 03:23am

Now Houthis should aim to capture the Saudi palace and bring this war to an end.

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Khan

Apr 03, 2015 03:25am

Saudi is playing a role in Yemen like Israehi in Ghaza.

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Guddu

Apr 03, 2015 06:29am

This is the future of pakistan,even pakistan helps to Saudi no peace will come till the democracy introduced there or make middle east the hell on this planet.

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KMK

Apr 03, 2015 08:00am

The conflicts among two super powers now landed in Yemen with the assistance of regional powers can be seen as another uprising.

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KMK

Apr 03, 2015 08:01am

The conflicts among two super powers now landed in Yemen with the assistance of regional powers can be seen as another uprising.

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rehan

Apr 03, 2015 09:01am

Finally, Saudi Arab is going to have a fight at it's very own door step . Arabs are about to find out what it is like to be part of a conflict and unlike a lot of the other Armies in other Muslim countries , Saudi Arab has a completely inexperienced Army that is up against fighters that are really skilled !

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sajed

Apr 03, 2015 10:05am

very bad

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Fawad

Apr 04, 2015 05:16pm

@अमित yes Amit exactly

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Watching You

Apr 04, 2015 11:42pm

@L.Ahmad . Keep on dreaming brother. It is not that easy to Capture Saudi Arabia.

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