Aden

The developments came as Shiite rebels known as Houthis launched new attacks, after weeks of retreating as pro-government troops pushed north out of Aden. Yemen's fighting, which escalated in March, pits the Houthis and troops loyal to former President Ali Abdullah Saleh against southern separatists, local and tribal militias, Sunni Islamic militants and troops loyal to President Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi.

Aden's airport chief Tarek Abdu Ali says Yemen Prime Minister Khaled Bahah landed in Aden with six ministers on Saturday.

A Yemeni official says Bahah will chair a Cabinet meeting later Saturday that will be attended by seven other government ministers already in Aden. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to brief journalists.

The witnesses, speaking on condition of anonymity for fear of retribution, said al-Qaida made the captured Houthi fighters, who were in their early 20s, kneel and kiss their hands before shooting them Wednesday afternoon in Dar Saad.

A witness said one of the rebels begged to be spared, saying he was the sole supporter of his family. But the witness said an al-Qaida fighter responded "Shut up, you dog," before he and the others shouted Allahu Akbar (God is greatest) and opened fire.

This was disclosed by the head of an international aid group, who described it as "the worst day" for the city and its surroundings in over three months of fighting.

The rebels, known as Houthis, and their allies started shelled the town of Dar Saad on Sunday after earlier losing control of some of Aden's neighborhoods. 

The violence highlighted the bloody chaos of the civil war gripping the Arab world's poorest country, which also has been the target of Saudi-led, U.S.-backed airstrikes since late March.

A leader with the Shiite rebels, known as Houthis, denied shelling Dar Saad, a town just north of Aden and long home to fighters resisting their advances. But Yemeni medical officials and a doctor with an international aid organization said the shelling clearly came from the north and east of Dar Saad — areas under rebel control.

Spokesman Ragah Badie said Friday that Aden was under a security lockdown as troops try to capture a senior rebel leader, Abdul-Khaliq al-Houthi. Military officials also said government forces will begin pushing north with two days into territory controlled by the Shiite rebels known as Houthis.

Meanwhile, an exiled official in Saudi Arabia denied reports that exiled Yemeni ministers had landed in Aden, adding that the situation is still "too fragile" to set a return date now.

A military official said fighting intensified Wednesday in Crater and Mualla, neighborhoods that house the presidential palace, government offices and ports. The official said the rebels are putting up a fight at the presidential palace in Crater. He said an airstrike hit a government building used by the rebels as a base.

The official spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss ongoing military operations. He said the anti-rebel offensive was coordinated with the Saudi-led coalition.

A military official said fighting intensified Wednesday in Crater and Mualla, neighborhoods that house the presidential palace, government offices and ports. The official said the rebels are putting up a fight at the presidential palace in Crater. He said an airstrike hit a government building used by the rebels as a base.

The official spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss ongoing military operations. He said the anti-rebel offensive was coordinated with the Saudi-led coalition.