Aden (AFP)

Government forces in Yemen resumed on Wednesday in the southern city of Aden, inflicting a heavy blow on the separatists who had sought in recent weeks to seize several areas of the south of the country bruised by a complex and devastating conflict.

Since 2014, the power of President Abd Rabbo Mansour Hadi has been at war with Houthi rebels who have seized vast areas of the North including the capital Sanaa. But since early August, a new front has opened with the fighting against the separatists who claim the independence of the South of the country.

Hidden 18 days ago from Aden, the "provisional capital" of the Hadi government after the loss of Sanaa, loyalist forces have overtaken the southern separatist troops of the "Cordon de sécurité", dependent on the Southern Transition Council (TCC).

"The officers and soldiers of the presidential guard have managed to completely secure the palace (presidential) and its surroundings" in Aden, Twitter Minister of Information Muammar al-Iryani wrote on Twitter.

"The national army and the security forces exercise full control over the districts" of the port city, he added.

Fighting between power and separatists broke out on 7 August in Aden, before moving into the neighboring province of Abyane and Chabwa, further north.

Both sides had previously fought together with the Houthi rebels.

A few days after the start of hostilities in Aden, the separatists seemed to have strengthened their grip on the city. But in recent days, they have not resisted a government operation that sent important reinforcements.

- "Return of the State" -

"This victory could not have been possible without the sincere will and solidarity of the men of the southern provinces and without the support of our brothers in the Saudi-led military coalition," said Iryani.

Before the announcement of the resumption of Aden, street fighting had opposed the two camps. An AFP correspondent witnessed clashes in the east.

Prime Minister Mouïn Abdel Malek said that "the return of the state" to Aden was "a victory for the entire Yemeni people". He said he ordered "to protect public and private property and to prevent any disorder".

Earlier, security officials said Loyalist forces had taken over the southern province of Abyane, which last week was under the control of separatists who had seized two headquarters of the security forces.

- Important reinforcements -

According to security sources, the success of the government forces was favored by the arrival of important reinforcements.

The same scenario occurred Saturday in the province of Chabwa, where separatists withdrew from a surge of government forces.

The defeat of the separatists accelerated with the defection of several of its battalions in Abyane and Chabwa and their decision to join the government forces, according to sources of security.

Despite the loss of Chabwa, the head of the STC, Aidarous al-Zubaidi, promised Tuesday night to rebuild the separatist units of Chabwa province and make them "stronger units".

STC has traditionally been supported by the United Arab Emirates, while the Hadi government is supported by Saudi Arabia. These two countries are, however, allies in the military coalition that took place in Yemen in 2015 to support power against the Houthis.

Coming from their stronghold in the North, the Houthis, perceived as close to Iran, seized large swathes of the territory thanks to their offensive launched in 2014.

On Monday, Riyadh and Abu Dhabi reiterated their call for dialogue between the government and southern separatists.

"The only way for our brothers in Yemen is to overcome their differences through dialogue and work together to counter Iran's influence," said Adel al-Jubeir, Saudi Minister of State for Foreign Affairs. Foreign.

The conflict in Yemen, a poor country in the Arabian Peninsula, has claimed tens of thousands of lives since 2014, including many civilians, according to NGOs, and plunged the country into the worst humanitarian crisis in the world according to the UN.

© 2019 AFP