Yemen government reclaims key southern city from separatists

Internal rivalry boiled over between government forces and the UAE-backed separatists leading to clashes across the south

Yemeni officials and local residents say forces loyal to the country’s internationally recognized government have wrested control of the capital of southern Abyan province from separatists backed by the United Arab Emirates.

They say government forces on Wednesday pushed the UAE-backed militia, known as the Security Belt, out of Zinjibar after clasher that left at least one dead and 30 wounded fighters. They say the militia fled to nearby Aden province.

The separatists had seized Zinjibar earlier this month. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the fighting while the residents spoke anonymously, fearing reprisal.

The government forces and the UAE-backed separatists are allies in the Saudi-led coalition that’s been battling Iran-aligned Houthi rebels since 2015.

But recently, internal rivalry boiled over, leading to clashes across the south.