(MENAFN- Arab News) Approximately 4000 soldiers have joined the 'legitimate' government of Yemeni President Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi head of Brigade 135 in the coastal city of Hadhramaut Al-Hadath channel reported Thursday.
Lt. Yahya Abu Oja who heads the brigade in Hadhramaut 794 km from the capital Sanaa said he expects other military units to join Hadi's government and announce defection from former President Ali 'Saleh's militias.'
The head of Brigade 123 in the eastern Al-Mahrah province also announced his allegiance to Hadi and his support for the Saudi-led Operation Decisive Storm a statement published by Hadarem Net reported.
Meanwhile Lt. Thabit Qassem Abdullah who leads the military air base chief in Al-Mahra also expressed support to Hadi.
Lt. Qassem said Decisive Storm came to 'save the Yemeni people and the constitutional legitimacy from gangs and militias who are outlaws.'
Meanwhile clashes renewed between Houthi militias and the pro-Hadi Brigade 35 in the southwestern Taiz city near the famous Mocha port on the Red Sea amid reports of casualties on both sides.
Separately Shabwa Gov. Ahmad Ali Bahaj said Houthis started to withdraw from Dihan because they faced resistance from the tribes there. He confirmed that the second military legions and marine units affiliated with the Houthis amounting to between 2500 and 3000 soldiers surrendered to tribes in Shabwa giving up their arms and equipment.
He said Saleh would not be given free exit out of Yemen after he committed so many crimes against the Yemeni people destroying land and displacing people.
He said Saudi Arabia and other Arab countries strove to deliver a message to the Yemeni people and re-establish the legitimacy of the Yemeni state.