Yemeni forces retake al-Qaida held city

(27 Apr 2016) Forces loyal to Yemen's internationally recognised government have retaken the southern coastal city of Mukalla, driving out al-Qaida militants a year after they captured it, security officials said. The Yemeni forces entered the city late on Monday and established control on Tuesday following days of heavy air strikes by a Saudi-led coalition fighting on the side of President Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi's government. The air strikes targeted al-Qaida positions in and outside Mukalla, the officials said, speaking on condition of anonymity because they were not authorised to talk to reporters. Al-Qaida's local branch captured Mukalla last year amid the chaos caused by Yemen's civil war, which pits forces loyal to Hadi's government against Shiite rebels, known as Houthis, and their allies. The offensive to retake the city started on Saturday and was the latest operation against al-Qaida in southern Yemen. Security officials and witnesses said earlier that many of al-Qaida's fighters in Mukalla left the city to escape the heavy Saudi-led coalition air strikes and shelling by government forces. All officials spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of reprisals. Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork Twitter:   / ap_archive   Facebook:   / aparchives   ​​ Instagram:   / apnews   You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...