Small Arab coalition 'Special forces' ground troops deployed in Aden.

Small  Arab coalition 'Special forces' ground troops deployed in Aden. (RT).

News agencies are reporting that Saudi-led Arab coalition ground troops have been deployed to Aden. The Anadolu Agency said Arab soldiers, probably special forces, reached the coast of Al-Buraiqeh by inflatable boats. AP said the black-clad and masked troops landed Sunday in a central area between the city’s al-Mansoura neighborhood and the airport. The witnesses said helicopter gunships hovered above the landing area.

Reuters quoting a spokesman for the Southern Popular Resistance, the anti-Huthi militia force in Aden, reported that 40-50 Arab special forces are deployed and are now engaged in fighting in the area around Aden airport.

Yemen’s Aden al-Ghad newspaper reported that an Arab ground force arrived in Aden on Sunday and started fighting Huthi forces. “The first push of Arab ground force arrived on Sunday morning in Aden and began to take part in battle,” the newspaper said.

AFP reported that a limited number of Saudi-led ground troops deployed in Aden on Sunday, with another force on its way.

This is the first deployment of ground troops in Yemen since the coalition launched its campaign against the Huthi insurgents in late March.

The Saudi-led forces "will start helping us in fighting" the Houthi rebels, a leading member of the popular committees, a locally recruited militia loyal to expelled President Abd Rabbu Mansour Hadi, also told the agency.

Similar reports appeared in the local Al-Ghad daily, which claimed the ground forces have entered the airport. The newspaper is linked to southern separatists, who demand the restoration of the southern state that merged with North Yemen 15 years ago.

Between 40-50 Arab special forces soldiers have arrived in the city, Ali al-Ahmed, spokesman for the Southern Popular Resistance, anti-Houthi group said.

However, AP reported 20 troops deployed by Saudi-led coalition in Aden.

A spokesman from the Saudi-led coalition, Brigadier General Ahmed Asseri, denied the information, saying the Arab states haven’t stared any major ground operation in Aden. He then added there are no foreign troops in the port city, but the coalition continues to battle Houthi rebels.

“There are no foreign forces in Aden but the coalition continues to help fight against the Houthi militia,” Asseri said in a statement. Read the full story here.