Saudi Arabia denies it deployed a “limited” ground force to Yemen’s southern port city of Aden on Sunday

The spokesman for Saudi Arabia's military operation in Yemen, Brigadier General Ahmed al-Asiri, has denied any deployment of ground troops to Yemen’s southern port city of Aden.

Asiri made the remarks on Sunday in a telephone conversation with the Saudi news channel, al-Arabiya, saying the troops deployed there belong to forces loyal to Yemen’s fugitive former president, Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi.

The remarks by the Saudi spokesman came after reports said earlier in the day that Riyadh has deployed a “limited” ground troops to Yemen’s southern port city of Aden.

“A limited coalition force entered Aden and another force is on its way” to the southern port city, said an official who requested anonymity.

A leading member of a militia loyal to fugitive President Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi, told AFP that the force "will start helping us in fighting the Houthis and (former president Ali Abdullah) Saleh's forces".
  
He said the troops will mainly back 'Pro-Hadi' militants around the international airport, which was the focus of renewed heavy fighting overnight.
  
Other militia commanders confirmed that a few dozen coalition soldiers, mostly Saudis and Emiratis, were on the ground in Aden.

  
The Saudi-led coalition has been conducting an air aggression on Yemen since March 26 but this is the first reported ground deployment inside the country. The strikes have claimed the lives of many civilians, mostly women and children.
  
In a recent report, Human Rights Watch said evidence shows Saudi Arabia has used cluster munitions in the northern province of Sa’ada in recent weeks.