The airport has reopened at the Yemeni coastal city of Mukalla which was recaptured by government and Emirati soldiers in April after a year-long occupation by al Qaeda

The airport has reopened at the Yemeni coastal city of Mukalla which was recaptured by government and Emirati soldiers in April after a year-long occupation by al Qaeda, local officials said.

The first flight in on Sunday was a plane carrying relief supplies from the United Arab Emirates (UAE), the officials said. The UAE claimed the consignment was carrying 20 tons of medicines and medical accessories from the UAE Red Crescent.

The southeastern town's Riyan airport halted regular services a year ago after al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) took over the town and made it the center of a rich mini-state along the Arabian Sea coastline.

Around 2,000 Yemeni and Emirati troops advanced into Mukalla in the last week of April, taking control of its maritime port and airport. Al Qaeda alleged it withdrew to save the city from destruction. Al-Qaeda claim came to evade announcing its defeat.