Egypt's ambassador to Yemen, mission leave war-torn Aden

Wednesday 25-03-2015 05:12 PM
Egypt's ambassador to Yemen, mission leave war-torn Aden

Yemeni police troopers secure the perimeter of the Egyptian embassy in Sanaa May 15, 2014. REUTERS/Khaled Abdullah

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Egypt's Ambassador to Yemen along with the rest of country's diplomatic mission left Aden to Cairo on Wednesday, as Houthis Shia militants advance on the Southern Yemeni city, state news agency MENA reported.

News outlets have reported earlier on Wednesday that Yemen's President Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi has fled Aden with members of the Saudi diplomatic mission in the country as Houthi militias close in on the city.

In February, Egypt shut down its embassy in the capital Sanaa, evacuating its diplomatic mission over security concerns as Houthi rebels took over the city. 

The Egyptian mission returned a month later to Yemen, but relocating in Aden which the Cairo-backed Yemeni President  chose as a base after fleeing Sanaa.

Earlier on Wednesday, Houthis forces started a major operation to capture Aden, announcing that they overpowered Hadi forces at an air base near the city before later arresting the Yemeni minister of defence Major-General Mahmoud al-Subaihi.

Several Arab diplomatic missions including Saudi diplomatic have reportedly left Aden as well.

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