Oman Says 'No, Man' to Ousted Yemeni President

Yemen's ousted president Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi has been denied entrance to neighboring Oman, a local border police source told Sputnik on Thursday.

SANAA, March 26 (Sputnik) — Another local source told Sputnik earlier on Thursday that Hadi's motorcade of 20 vehicles had arrived in Al Mukalla, the capital city of the Hadhramaut coastal region in the center of the country, and could be heading to either Oman or Saudi Arabia.

Yemeni President Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi has left the country for neighboring Oman as battles intensify between Western-backed government forces and the Yemeni ethnic Houthi militia in the port city of Aden, media reported Thursday.

"President Hadi has returned to Yemen after being denied entrance to the Sultanate of Oman," the source said, adding that negotiations between Hadi's representatives and Omani authorities are underway.

On Wednesday, Saudi Arabia and its allies launched airstrikes against sections of the Houthi militia, in control of parts of Yemen, including the capital Sanaa. Earlier on Thursday, pro-government forces backed by airstrikes reportedly regained control of the Aden airport.

Local sources have told Sputnik that about 65 people have been killed in the airstrikes.

The Houthis allegedly offered a $100,000 bounty for the arrest of President Hadi, who had fled to the southern seaport of Aden, after Houthis captured the presidential palace in Sanaa in January.

Saudi Arabia is reportedly using around 100 fighter jets and 150,000 personnel in the military operation.