Saudi-led coalition airdrops weapons to Yemeni forces battling Shiite rebels in the south
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Yemenis drives their truck with their belongings in Sanaa, Yemen, Thursday, April 2, 2015. People in the capital have fled from their houses to their hometown villages and towns in fear of crashes between the Saudi-led coalition and Shiite rebels. (AP Photo/Hani Mohammed) (The Associated Press)
Yemeni military officials say the Saudi-led coalition has airdropped weapons to fighters battling Shiite rebels in the southern port city of Aden.
The airdrops came as the Houthi rebels have pushed deeper into Aden despite the airstrikes campaign, now in its ninth day, which is meant to halt their advance.
The officials say that weapons were dropped early on Friday above the port of Aden — the country's economic hub. They spoke on condition of anonymity because they are not authorized to speak to the media.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Aden was also the last seat of power of embattled President Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi before he fled to Saudi Arabia last week.
Local pro-Hadi fighters, who are poorly armed, have been trying to keep the Houthis from overrunning Aden and the surrounding province.