Saudi-Led Planes Hit Yemen Rebels as Gunfire Kills Five

Saudi-led warplanes hit rebel positions in southern Yemen Monday including the rebel-held presidential palace in Aden as gunfire killed five people in the port city, medics and residents said.

The palace complex in the main southern city was President Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi's last refuge before he fled to neighbouring Saudi Arabia as the coalition air war began on March 26 and has been repeatedly targeted by air strikes.

Coalition aircraft also hit rebel positions and checkpoints at the entrances to Aden in the sorties that continued until 6:00 am, residents said.

Two civilians and three militiamen loyal to Hadi were killed by gunfire in the city, a medic said.

The Huthi Shiite rebels and their allies in army units loyal to former president Ali Abdullah Saleh clashed with Hadi supporters in several neighbourhoods during the night, residents said.

Further east, coalition air strikes hit Huthi positions in another southern province, Shabwa, witnesses said.

Armed tribesmen in the province seized a rebel army brigade base in the coastal town of Al-Nashima, tribal sources said.