Fighters from the separatist Southern Transitional Council and their supporters parade around the area of the presidential palace in the government’s de facto capital Aden, moving closer to taking full control of the southern city, on Tuesday (AFP photo)

ADEN — Separatists in war-ravaged Yemen have surrounded the presidential palace in the government’s de facto capital Aden, moving closer on Tuesday to taking full control of the southern city. Fighting between southern separatists, backed by the United Arab Emirates (UAE), against forces loyal to Saudi-based president Hadi, risk crippling their once united campaign against the Iran-aligned Houthi movement in Yemen’s north. Residents said forces loyal to the Southern Transitional Council (STC), formed last year to push for the revival of the former independent state of South Yemen, seized the last stronghold of Hadi’s Presidential Protection Forces in the Dar Saad area of northern Aden, in battles that at times involved heavy artillery and tank fire. Fighters loyal to the Southern Transitional Council fought all way to the gates of the Palace of Maashiq in the district of Crater in Aden, officials said, adding that Prime Minister Ahmed Obaid Bin Daghar is to leave the country imminently. Sunday’s fighting broke out after the expiry of a deadline set last week by separatists from the STC for Hadi to dismiss the bin Daghr government, accusing it of corruption and mismanagement.
The Southern Transitional Council (STC) takes control of the Yemeni port city of Aden following two days of fierce fighting in the city which has left dozens dead. Yemeni Prime Minister Ahmed Obeid bin Daghr, and members of the President Abdrabbuh Mansur Hadi-led government are confined to the presidential palace which has been surrounded.