Yemeni forces take back coastal city from al-Qaida

Published April 26, 2016

Yemeni officials say forces loyal to the country's internationally recognized government have retaken the southern coastal city of Mukalla, driving out al-Qaida militants a year after they captured it.

The officials say the forces entered the city late on Monday, following dozens of airstrikes against al-Qaida positions in and outside the city by a Saudi-led coalition fighting on the side of President Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi's government.

The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they weren't authorized to speak 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 Mukalla began on Saturday. It's the latest operation against al-Qaida in southern Yemen.

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