Yemeni defector says 4000 soldiers joined Hadi govt

Approximately 4,000 soldiers have joined the “legitimate” government of Yemeni President Abdrabbu Mansour Hadi, head of Brigade 135 in the coastal city of Hadhramaut, said, Al Arabiya News’ sister channel Al Hadath reported Thursday.

Lieutenant Yahya Abu Oja, who heads the brigade in Hadhramaut, 794 kilometers away from the capital Sanaa, said he expects other military units to join Hadi’s government and announce defection from former President Ali “Saleh’s militias.”

The head of Brigade 123 in the eastern Al-Mahrah province also announced his allegiance to Hadi and his support for the Saudi-led Operation Decisive Storm, a statement published Thursday by Hadarem Net reported.

Meanwhile, Lieutenant Thabit Qassem Abdullah, who leads the military air base chief in Al-Mahra, also expressed support to Hadi.

Lieutenant Qassem said Decisive Storm came to : “Save the Yemeni people and the constitutional legitimacy from gangs and militias who are outlaws,” read a letter received by Al Arabiya and Al Hadath News Channels.

Meanwhile, clashes renewed between Houthi militias and the pro-Hadi Brigade 35 in the southwestern Taiz city near the famous Mocha port on the Red Sea, amid reports of casualties on both sides.

Local sources said: “Clashes took place in the west side of the special security forces camp in the city” and “dozens of militants from Taiz suburbs came with their arms to support Brigade 135 and the popular resistance, vowing for legitimacy.”

However, in al-Makla city in Hadhramaut, al-Qaeda seized al-Rayan Airport and clashes between the terrorist group and pro-Hadi Bridge 27 and its supporters ensued.

Saleh, who has loyalists in the Yemeni army, has long used the Houthis, the Shiite militias, as a political front against Hadi.

Yemeni Vice President Khaled Bahah on Wednesday “thanked” Russia after it did not stand in the way for the United Nations Security Council to vote and impose an arms embargo against Houthi leaders in Yemen and blacklisted Saleh’s son, accepting a proposal by six Gulf Arab nations.

Bahah said there will be no peace talks unless Houthis ceasefire and Hadi be able to return to the seaport city of Aden, his stronghold.