Yemen president returns to Aden from Saudi exile

Yemen's president returned from exile to southern city Aden Tuesday as his troops and allies in a Saudi-led coalition press one of their most important offensives yet against Iran-backed Huthi rebels.

After landing in the provisional capital, Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi went straight to the palace to "supervise" the offensive aimed at retaking Taez province, mostly-controlled by the rebels, a presidential source said.

His return comes just days after Prime Minister Khaled Bahah announced the return of his government to Yemen.

The president has tried to return before.

In September, after six months of exile in Saudi Arabia, Hadi and Bahah returned toAden but had to go back to Riyadh after a deadly attack on the provisional seat of government.

Hadi declared the southern port city Yemen's temporary capital after he escaped house arrest in the rebel-held capital Sanaa in February.

The following month, he fled into exile as the rebels and their allies entered Aden, prompting a Saudi-led coalition to launch a military intervention in support of his internationally recognised government.

The UN says that some 5,000 people, more than half of them civilians, have been killed in Yemen since the intervention began.

The president will be staying at the Maashiq presidential palace in the central Crater district of Aden.

The palace was severely damaged in the fighting that gripped Aden until July but was recently repaired by the United Arab Emirates, which along with Saudi Arabia is taking a lead role in supporting Hadi's government.

The coalition sent ground troops to Yemen in early August after months of air strikes.