Riyadh, May 5 (IANS/EFE) Yemeni Foreign Minister Riad Yasin confirmed on Tuesday that between 50 and 60 Yemeni special forces troops, trained by the Saudi-led Arab coalition, have arrived in the southern Yemeni city of Aden.
In statements published by Saudi Al-Watan newspaper, Yasin said the deployed troops, which landed in Aden two days ago, were trained by the coalition for the "war in the streets" and had successfully regained control of the international airport in Aden.
There was some confusion on Sunday regarding the arrival of the contingent, which southern officials confirmed belonged to the Arab coalition.
Yet the coalition denied that it had sent ground forces to Yemen and assured that its operations were limited to airstrikes against Houthi rebel positions, so it was thought that the soldiers were Yemeni but trained by the coalition.
Yasin also confirmed that the Arab coalition was still considering supplying the resistance with medium weapons, which proved effective on the ground as many Yemeni areas had been successfully recovered.
In light of the fighting in Aden, resistance troops have also captured several members of the Iranian Republican Guard, which delivered support and assistance to Houthi rebels, according to Yasin.
Yemeni authorities and the Arab coalition have accused Iran of supporting the Shia Houthi insurgents with arms and fighters.
Several soldiers among the ranks of forces loyal to former Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh have defected, Yasin pointed out, and speculated that even Saleh's son, Ahmed, defected as well.
Various Yemeni parties have been in daily contact to prepare for an international conference to find a solution for the crisis, the minister affirmed.
Yemeni President Abd Rabbu Mansour Hadi announced on Monday night in a press conference held in Riyadh that the international conference will be held on May 17.
--IANS/EFE
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