ADEN, Yemen, Aug. 10 (Xinhua) -- Forces aligned with Yemen's government said Monday they were confronting several drones that attempted to approach vital and public service facilities in the southern port city of Aden, amid rising tensions in the country's conflict.
The pro-government Southern Giants Forces said in a statement that they were "dealing with a number of hostile drones" approaching key facilities in Aden, while local residents reported drone activity near the presidential palace compound, a major government base in the city.
The statement did not identify the drone operators or specify the facilities targeted. No casualties or damage were reported.
The incident came hours after government forces vowed to respond to a Houthi missile and drone attack on Sunday that struck the Red Sea port city of Mocha, killing eight people and wounding 32 others.
Yemeni military spokesperson Majid al-Nuzaili said the attack hit civilian infrastructure, residential areas, power facilities and military positions in and around Mocha, a government-held city near the strategic Bab al-Mandab Strait.
The military accused the Houthis of targeting the armed forces and pledged continued operations against the group while protecting civilians and property.
Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Sarea said the group had launched a large-scale missile and drone attack on troop positions and weapons depots in Mocha, claiming it caused heavy damage and casualties.
Yemen has been mired in conflict since late 2014, when the Houthis seized much of northern Yemen, including the capital Sanaa, prompting a Saudi-led coalition to intervene in 2015 in support of the internationally recognized government. ■
