Loyalists retake biggest airbase

Pro-government forces backed by a Saudi-led coalition retook Yemen's biggest airbase from Iran-backed rebels yesterday in a significant new gain after their recapture of second city Aden last month.

Hailing victory in the battle for Al-Anad, the defence ministry vowed there would be no let-up in the war against the Shia Huthi rebels and their allies until the authority of exiled President Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi was restored over the whole country.

The Al-Anad base, 60 kilometres north of Aden, is strategically located on the main road north towards both the battleground third city of Taez and the rebel-held capital Sanaa.