Asian News from UK

Tag: airport

  • Second cop investigated over Manchester Airport incident

    Second cop investigated over Manchester Airport incident

    In a press conference earlier this week, the family’s lawyer claimed that the men’s mother, Shameem Akhtar, 56, was hit in the face with a Taser by an officer…reports Asian Lite News

    A second officer is under criminal investigation for assault after an incident at Manchester airport, the police watchdog has said.

    Video footage that showed a police officer kicking and stamping on the head of Muhammed Fahir, 19, as he and his 25-year-old brother were restrained by officers led to protests in Rochdale and Manchester city centre after it emerged last month.

    More footage, obtained by the Manchester Evening News, emerged days later that showed the lead-up to the disturbance on 23 July, when two female police officers were knocked to the ground before Fahir was Tasered.

    In a press conference earlier this week, the family’s lawyer claimed that the men’s mother, Shameem Akhtar, 56, was hit in the face with a Taser by an officer.

    In the days after the incident, the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) announced that a Greater Manchester police (GMP) constable was under criminal investigation for assault in connection with the arrests of the brothers.

    The watchdog said in an update on Thursday that a second officer had been advised that they were also under criminal investigation for assault, relating to an incident shortly afterwards, when two other men were arrested.

    The officer is also being investigated for potential gross misconduct for alleged breaches of police professional standards, including their use of force.

    An IOPC spokesperson said it had received a further referral from GMP of a complaint, detailing several allegations, from one of the people involved.

    The IOPC regional director, Catherine Bates, said: “It is clear the situation at Manchester airport was complex and escalated rapidly. The incident, which resulted in injuries to police officers and members of the public, has caused understandable concern and we are working hard to piece together all of the relevant events on that day. In parallel, Greater Manchester police is investigating whether any criminal offences were committed by members of the public during the initial altercation and the subsequent arrests. These investigations are separate, and we are liaising with the Crown Prosecution Service to establish how they can progress in parallel.”

    The IOPC spokesperson said its investigation would consider whether discriminatory behaviour might have influenced the treatment received. It will look at the force used against six members of the public in two incidents, the first involving the arrests shown in footage and the second, shortly afterwards, when two other men were arrested and one was sprayed with Pava, an incapacitant chemical.

    It will also consider allegations about the level of care provided to a woman who reported that she had received an injury during the arrests, and to a young child present at the time; the language and level of force used by police towards two of the men arrested; and the men’s subsequent detention in custody.

    Four men were arrested on suspicion of affray and assault after the incident and were later bailed.

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  • Police officer suspended after airport kicking video

    Police officer suspended after airport kicking video

    The footage showed a uniformed male officer holding a Taser over the man who was lying on the ground at Terminal 2 before kicking him twice at about 20:30 BST…reports Asian Lite News

    A police officer has been suspended after a video circulated online of a man being kicked and stamped on the head at Manchester Airport.

    An officer had been removed from all duties after a “thorough review of further information” of the incident, which took place on Tuesday, Greater Manchester Police confirmed.

    The footage showed a uniformed male officer holding a Taser over the man who was lying on the ground at Terminal 2 before kicking him twice at about 20:30 BST.

    Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham, who has met the home secretary over the incident, has appealed for calm. After the meeting, Yvette Cooper said she understood the “the widespread distress” the footage had caused, adding she had spoken to police about the “urgent steps” they are taking.

    She said it was “essential” police had the trust of communities, and the public “rightly expect high standards from those in charge of keeping us safe”. Greater Manchester Police (GMP) said it understood the “deep concerns” that had been “widely raised”.

    The footage sparked a protest outside Rochdale police station on Wednesday night, with hundreds of people gathered, and chants of “shame on you” heard. In the build-up to the incident shown in the clip, a police spokesman said that firearms officers had been punched to the ground after trying to make an arrest following a fight in the airport.

    There was a “clear risk” their weapons could be taken from them, the police spokesman said, adding all three had been taken to hospital, one with a broken nose. Four men were later arrested on suspicion of assault and affray, and all have since been bailed. It remains unclear what led to the incident, but Burnham said he thought there had been “an issue on a flight coming into Manchester”.

    “When the flight landed, two individuals were waiting for their mum, who said there had been an issue,” he said. “She pointed somebody out and there was an altercation in the arrivals hall.”

    He said those involved had been “followed by camera through the airport and then we get to the scene that people have seen in the car park area”. Burnham said he had seen “the full footage” that showed a “fast-moving and complicated situation in a challenging location – it’s not clear cut”.

    “Time has been taken to get a clearer picture of what has happened,” he said, adding that an investigation needed to proceed now “in a thorough and measured way”. Anderson remarks on airport video irresponsible – Burnham Amar Minhas from Leeds was travelling through the terminal with his family when he saw officers approach the man to arrest him.

    “They pinned him up against a wall”, he told the BBC, before another man tried to intervene and a fight broke out, with the pinned man throwing punches until he was Tasered to the floor, when the officer kicked him.

    Prime Minster Keir Starmer has said he “completely understands” the public’s concern over the footage. Starmer said the home secretary was being kept updated. Former chief superintendent of the Met Police, Dal Babu, said the police actions were “appalling and unnecessary” and in his opinion racism played a part in the incident.

    He said the men were arrested for affray and assault, not offences at the “serious end” like attempted murder, gross bodily harm, or malicious wounding.

    “I think racism played a significant part in this,” he said, adding GMP had been “slow out of the block in understanding the seriousness” of the incident at a time when trust in police was “so low”. Outside view of Rochdale police station. A blue sign with a police badge says Rochdale Divisional Headquarters.  Crowds gathered to protest outside Rochdale police station on Wednesday night

    The force said in its latest statement that it would “continue to meet” with Greater Manchester residents and elected representatives to discuss concerns raised about the footage.

    It said it had referred itself to the Independent Office for Police Conduct over the incident.

    The MP of the man who was filmed being kicked told the House of Commons the video was “truly shocking and disturbing”.

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  • Hostage freed 18 hours after gunman broke into Hamburg Airport

    Hostage freed 18 hours after gunman broke into Hamburg Airport

    A gangway allowed the passengers to exit the airplane, unharmed at the time of the incident…reports Asian Lite News

    The hostage situation that caused all flights to and from Germany’s Hamburg airport to be suspended has now resolved as the male suspect who drove his vehicle to the tarmac has been arrested, according to CNN.

    According to Hamburg police on X (formerly Twitter), a 35-year-old male suspect has now arrested from his car with his 4-year-old daughter. According to the cops, the girl appears to be unharmed and the man did not revolt to the arrest.

    Notably, the man drove his car through airport security on Saturday and parked underneath an aircraft. The man and his daughter were still in the car as of Sunday at midnight, CNN quoted a police spokesperson as saying.

    According to the spokesperson, there were “substantial amounts of special forces” on the ground attempting to address the issue.

    The man’s wife had already alerted Hamburg-police about her child’s disappearance.

    The spokesperson said that when he parked his car on the tarmac, he heard some sounds, which may have been of gunshots.

    A gangway allowed the passengers to exit the airplane, unharmed at the time of the incident.

    On Saturday night, the airport’s official website declared that all takeoffs and landings were suspended because of the police operations. According to the German newspaper, an unidentified man was seen in a car in front of Terminal One.

    “Due to a police measure on the apron of Hamburg Airport, there will be no take-offs and landings today, November 4. All affected passengers should contact the airline directly,” the airport had said on its website.

    The gunman broke through a gate at about 8pm (19:00 GMT) on Saturday and drove onto the apron of the airport, where aircraft are parked, unloaded and refuelled, Al Jazeera reported citing federal police spokesperson Thomas Gerbert, who spoke to the dpa news agency. (ANI)

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  • Airport Spas: Revitalize Your Journey with Relaxation

    Airport Spas: Revitalize Your Journey with Relaxation

    Travellers can enjoy a stress-free journey as they are guided through the airport and ensure a seamless transition to their destination…reports Asian Lite News

    Airports are increasingly becoming destinations in their own right, offering a wide range of hospitality services to cater to the needs of passengers. Here are four trends that are redefining travellers comfort at airports.

    Meet and greet services

    With travellers becoming more aware and open about their needs and requirements, Encalm’s Atithya services provide exclusive meet and greet services that are specially curated to ensure travellers’ well-being and luxury. These services offer travellers a hassle-free and personalized experience taking care of everything starting from baggage handling to buggy service, porter service, and exclusive lounge access. Travellers can enjoy a stress-free journey as they are guided through the airport and ensure a seamless transition to their destination

    Airport lounges are becoming more luxurious and exclusive

    In recent years, there has been a notable transformation in airport lounge services. Airport lounges have evolved significantly over the years, transforming from simple waiting areas into luxurious havens of comfort and convenience for travellers. If you travel frequently, be it for business or leisure, you must spend some hours availing the benefits of airport lounges. These luxurious lounges have premium lounging facilities, Wi-Fi services, gourmet food, drinks, spa treatments, newspapers and magazines. Flyers can just sit back and relax in luxury and home-like comfort while they wait for their flights. Encalm is India’s premier lounge service provider, boasting lounges at key airports such as Delhi, Hyderabad, and Goa Mopa Airport.

    Business Centers: Catering to the Needs of Business Travellers

    To cater to the needs of busy professionals on the go, there are business centers available at airports. If you are a business executive, freelancer, entrepreneur, or want a comfortable and convenient space to work or do meetings while travelling, then business centers are the perfect thing for you. These business centers provide an array of facilities like workstations, high-speed Wi-Fi, tea and coffee, printing, photocopy, scanning services, and a boardroom.

    Enhancing Airport Experiences: Spa Services by Airport Hospitality Brand

    These days, airport hospitality brands have been providing spa services at the airport in order to give a calming and pleasant experience to the guests. Travellers who are more engaged with their personal and mental well-being should definitely try these spa services as they are a getaway for individuals who are looking for ways to rejuvenate themselves during their travel. A few minutes of massage and therapy can nurture, heal, detox, cleanse, and rejuvenate the mind and body. It helps to disconnect from the external world and reconnect with your inner self with a few moments of calmness.

    These are just a few of the trends that are redefining travellers comfort at airports. As airports continue to evolve, we can expect to see even more innovative and exciting hospitality services in the years to come.

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  • German airport staff kick off countrywide strikes

    German airport staff kick off countrywide strikes

    “This is bitter news for all air travellers,” ADV CEO Ralph Beisel told the news agency on Thursday…reports Asian Lite News

    Aviation security staff in Germany kicked off a countrywide wave of strikes, bringing operations at Dusseldorf, Hamburg, and Cologne/Bonn airports to a virtual standstill.

    At least 100,000 travellers have been affected by the cancellation of 700 flights, Xinhua news agency reported, citing the German Airports Association (ADV).

    “This is bitter news for all air travellers,” ADV CEO Ralph Beisel told the news agency on Thursday.

    Ground staff at airports, together with other public sector workers in Germany, are demanding 10.5 per cent more pay, with a minimum increase of 500 euros ($548) a month. “Work at airports must become more attractive,” said Wolfgang Pieper from the trade union Verdi.

    A proposal by an arbitration commission, which includes inflation compensation of 3,000 euros and a wage increase of 5.5 per cent, has so far been ignored by both sides. Nevertheless, it will be the basis for a fourth round of negotiations on Saturday.

    Traffic disruptions in Germany are expected to intensify: Stuttgart airport will be hit by strikes on Friday while rail traffic will also be restricted by walkouts until at least midday. Rail operator Deutsche Bahn expects “massive disruptions,” with trains affected nationwide.

    Traffic in Germany has already been hit several times by collective bargaining strikes in recent months. At the end of March, a nationwide strike paralyzed train, bus, and air traffic, and also affected freight services.

    Germany’s energy sector will also be affected by collective bargaining strikes on Thursday. Employees are demanding 13 per cent more pay, or at least 550 euros more a month.

    The strikes are mainly directed at Germany’s largest energy supplier E.ON. According to Verdi, there will be no power cuts, nor is the safety of nuclear power plants at risk. “We have concluded emergency service agreements for every sector,” said the union.

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  • Travellers from G20 can use UPI for payments at airports

    Travellers from G20 can use UPI for payments at airports

    The governor also said to further enhance transparency, reasonableness and consumer protection, draft guidelines on levy of penal charges will be issued to obtain comments from stakeholders…reports Asian Lite News

    As payment transactions through UPI continues to grow in India, the Reserve Bank on Wednesday allowed travellers arriving at select airports in India from G20 nations to use the facility for making payments during their stay.

    Later, the central bank also proposes to rollout the facility to visitors from all countries.

    Unified Payments Interface (UPI) is a system that powers multiple bank accounts into a single mobile application, merging several banking features, seamless fund routing & merchant payments into one hood.

    “UPI has become hugely popular for retail digital payments in India. It is now proposed to permit all inbound travellers to India to use UPI for their merchant payments (P2M) while they are in the country,” RBI Governor Shaktikanta Das said while unveiling the latest monetary policy.

    To begin with, the facility will be extended to travellers from G20 countries arriving at select international airports, he said.

    India has assumed the presidency of G20 for one year from December 1, 2022 to 30 November, 2023.

    The G20 or Group of 20 is an intergovernmental forum of the world’s major developed and developing economies.

    It comprises Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Mexico, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Turkey, the UK, the US, and the European Union (EU).

    Payment transactions through UPI rose 1.3 per cent on-month to a high of nearly Rs 13 lakh crore in January.

    The governor also announced that the Reserve Bank will launch a pilot project on QR Code based Coin Vending Machine (QCVM) in 12 cities.

    These vending machines will dispense coins against debit to the customer’s account using UPI instead of physical tendering of bank notes.

    “This will enhance the ease of accessibility to coins,” Das said and added that based on the learnings from the pilot, guidelines will be issued to banks to promote distribution of coins using these machines.

    The governor also said to further enhance transparency, reasonableness and consumer protection, draft guidelines on levy of penal charges will be issued to obtain comments from stakeholders.

    At present, regulated entities are required to have a policy for levy of penal interest on advances. They, however, follow divergent practices on levying of such charges.

    In certain cases, these charges are found to be excessive, the governor said.

    The central bank also proposes expanding the scope of TReDs by providing insurance facility for invoice financing; permitting all entities/institutions undertaking factoring business to participate as financiers in TReDS; and permitting rediscounting of invoices.

    For the benefit of MSMEs, the RBI had introduce a framework in 2014 to facilitate financing of MSMEs’ receivables through Trade Receivables Discounting System (TReDS).

    Meanwhile, as part of RBI’s gradual move towards normalising liquidity and market operations, the central bank has decided to restore market hours for the Government Securities market to the pre-pandemic timing of 9 am to 5 pm.

    “Moreover, as part of our ongoing endeavour to further develop the government securities market, we propose to permit lending and borrowing of G-secs,” Das said.

    This, the governor added will provide investors with an avenue to deploy their idle securities, enhance portfolio returns and facilitate wider participation. This measure will also add depth and liquidity to the G-sec market; aid efficient price discovery; and work towards a smooth completion of the market borrowing programme of the Centre and states.

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  • Doha’s main airport opens extension with over 25,000 plants

    Doha’s main airport opens extension with over 25,000 plants

    The airport plans to expand further to augment its capacity to well over 70 million passengers and construct two new concourses within the existing terminal…reports Asian Lite News

    Doha’s Hamad International Airport (HIA) has opened a leafy extension to its airport with thousands of plants just as the country gears up to receive more than a million fans for the FIFA World Cup to kick off on November 20.

    The extended section includes a tropical garden located at the centre, named Orchard. It is an indoor tropical vegetation area with a water feature meant to be a focal point for visitors at HIA. With different flora — the ‘orchard’ includes over 300 trees and over 25,000 plants sourced from sustainable forests from around the world.

    The unique design allows trees and plants to easily adapt to the internal conditions and grow throughout the life of the airport — with natural light to create a calming ambience and promote a sense of wellbeing to all who venture inside, a statement by the airport said.

    Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive Akbar Al Baker said: “We are very pleased to be launching the expansion of Hamad International Airport, an airport that has truly grown to become the ultimate example of a successful, sustainable global facility. HIA continues to impress with its innovative planning, execution and investment — enhancing its position as the preferred hub for global travellers and reinforcing HIA’s position amongst the top leaders of this industry.”

    Talking about the project, HIA Chief Operating Officer Badr Mohammed Al Meer, said: “We are immensely proud to officially launch our airport expansion. Our growth plan will see us welcome over 58 million passengers annually — offering global travellers the best services the industry has to offer. From world-class services to endless F&B and retail offerings, the expansion further strengthens our ambition as we look towards maintaining our status as the best airport in the world.”

    Consisting of one expansive terminal, the two-time world’s best airport will enable travellers to seamlessly transfer from one area to another, exploring the wonders that HIA has to offer with its infused warmth and hospitality, a HIA statement said.

    The extended airport is designed to significantly reduce waiting time, thanks to the new transfer hall on concourse C (Transfer Hall C). It includes curated Duty Free shops and food and beverage outlets, including first Fendi Cafe and first Ralph’s Coffee Shop in an airport. The North node also houses the world’s first airport Oreo Cafe.

    As part of the expansion, HIA also launched the second airport hotel within its transfer area. Located in the north plaza, the 100-room Oryx Garden Hotel is located moments away from boarding gates.

    The airport plans to expand further to augment its capacity to well over 70 million passengers and construct two new concourses within the existing terminal.

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  • EU-wide mask rules for flights, airports eased from Monday

    EU-wide mask rules for flights, airports eased from Monday

    Despite the new guidance, Germany as the EU’s most populous country and top economy said it had no plans to lift the mask mandate for flights…reports Asian Lite News

    EU-wide guidance on requiring masks for air travel will be lifted from next week, the bloc’s aviation safety agency said on Wednesday, as the pandemic eases in Europe.

    The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) said that under the new guidelines developed with the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), masks were no longer considered essential for all flights and airports.

    Nevertheless national regulators and airlines will still have scope to demand face and nose covering by passengers and staff, it noted.

    “From next week, face masks will no longer need to be mandatory in air travel in all cases, broadly aligning with the changing requirements of national authorities across Europe for public transport,” said EASA executive director Patrick Ky in a statement.

    “For passengers and air crews, this is a big step forward in the normalization of air travel.”

    Despite the new guidance, Germany as the EU’s most populous country and top economy said it had no plans to lift the mask mandate for flights.

    “The mask requirement on airplanes continues to be in place for all domestic routes as well as on flights that take off or land in Germany,” health ministry spokesman Hanno Kautz said in an emailed statement.

    EASA said after Monday, “rules for masks in particular will continue to vary by airline beyond that date.”

    It stated that “flights to or from a destination where mask-wearing is still required on public transport should continue to encourage mask wearing.”

    Vulnerable passengers with compromised health “should continue to wear a face mask regardless of the rules,” it added.

    The EASA said passengers were also encouraged to observe social distancing at the airport but that operators should adopt a “pragmatic approach,” meaning avoiding measures that would “lead to a bottleneck in another location in the passenger journey.”

    The Geneva-based International Air Transport Association (IATA) welcomed the new guidance for the EU but acknowledged the picture was more complex in an international context.

    “Although the European protocol comes into effect next week, there is no globally consistent approach to mask-wearing on board aircraft,” said Willie Walsh, IATA’s director general, in a statement.

    “Airlines must comply with the regulations applicable to the routes they are operating. The aircraft crew will know what rules apply and it is critical that passengers follow their instructions.”

    He added that the IATA asked all passengers to “be respectful of other people’s decision to voluntarily wear masks even if it not a requirement.”

    The European aviation sector has predicted a return to near pre-pandemic traffic levels this summer despite soaring fuel prices, the war in Ukraine and inflation.

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  • Gaza Airport Turns Gallery

    Gaza Airport Turns Gallery

    Palestinian artists express nostalgia about Gaza airport through art works  …. Writes Sanaa Kamal, Xinhua

    Mohammed Qureiqa, a Gaza-based artist stood in front of the remains of the destroyed Gaza International Airport terminal in the southern Gaza Strip, overwhelmed with feelings of sadness and astonishment over the fate of this “dream place” for Gazans.

    “I have heard a lot about the airport in Gaza, but I have not been here before,” the 23-year-old artist told Xinhua.

    “I had imagined what would this place look like and in my imagination, there was an elderly woman waiting for her turn to board the plane.”

    So far, the Gaza airport remains dysfunctional and it makes the young man outraged.

    “It is not fair that Gazans are deprived of their legitimate right to have their own airport, which gives them freedom of travel,” he said.

    Qureiqa translated his feelings towards the “destroyed airport” into paintings that describe the situation of the besieged Palestinians in the Gaza Strip.

    In one of his works, He painted three stacked suitcases surrounded by large slabs with thorns.

    The construction of Gaza International Airport began at the end of January 1996 when the late President Yasser Arafat decided to lay the foundation stone for this national edifice, and it was opened in 1998.

    The airport, sitting on an area of 2,350 dunums (235 hectares), is located in the Rafah Governorate in the southern Gaza Strip.

    It was designed to receive large Boeing 747 aircraft, and includes a terminal with an area of four thousand square meters, accommodating more than 750,000 passengers per year with the possibility of expansion.

    However, it stopped operating in 2001, after the Israeli army damaged it as a result of military tensions with the Palestinian factions. It was completely destroyed in 2006, following the capture of the Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit in 2005.

    Qureiqa is not the only artist who expresses nostalgia about Gaza airport through paintings. Jihad Jarbou, also embodied her feelings by creating an iron sculpture of a tightly closed travel bag.

    “For many years, when someone planned to travel, I heard my relatives saying that take me with you in the bag, to express the difficulty of traveling from Gaza,” Jarbou, 22, told Xinhua.

    “I used to travel a lot, and when I landed at the airports in other countries, I was heartbroken because we were deprived of being in our own airport,” Jerboa added.

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    “We (Gazans) suffer a lot in our trips, as we take many hours before we reach Egypt, which is our gateway to the outside world,” she said, expressing her hope that the Gaza airport will be built again in the near future.

    Both Qureiqa and Jerboa were among the artists who participated in the exhibition “Gaza International Airport” organized by the Tamer Foundation for Community Education, which aims to document “the Gaza artists’ vision of the destroyed Gaza airport and their wishes to re-establish it,” said Bissan Nadim, the project coordinator at the foundation.

    “It is very difficult to paint the airport by pure imagination, where is just rubble and columns. The airport is a civilian entity before it is political or military, as it gives us freedom of movement, which is included in all international laws,” she told Xinhua.

  • Yemen ready to reopen Sanaa International Airport

    Yemen ready to reopen Sanaa International Airport

    Yemen’s internationally-recognised government declared its readiness to reopen the Sanaa International Airport controlled by the Houthi militia…reports Asian Lite News

    Foreign Minister Ahmed Awad Bin Mubarak said that his government is ready to deal positively with the proposals suggesting the release of prisoners, reopening of the airport, and release of oil ships at the port of Hodeidah, reports Xinhua news agency.

    In light of the constructive atmosphere created by the Yemeni negotiations in Riyadh, the government firmly support any initiative to alleviate the humanitarian suffering of people, he said in a statement posted on Twitter.

    “I received clear instructions from President Hadi to take all necessary actions to facilitate all arrangements for the release of all prisoners, the opening of Sanaa airport, the releasing of oil ships via Hodeidah, and the opening of roads in the besieged Taiz to alleviate the suffering caused by the Houthis,” he noted.

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    The government’s declaration comes as the UN Special Envoy for Yemen Hans Grundberg announced a two-month ceasefire agreement, which is scheduled to come into force on Saturday evening.

    Yemen has been mired in a civil war since late 2014 when the Iran-backed Houthi militia seized control of several northern provinces and forced the Saudi-backed Yemeni government of President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi out of the capital Sanaa.

    The Saudi-led Arab coalition intervened on March 26, 2015, to support the Yemeni government.