Flights resume at Aden airport after deadly Yemen rocket attack

Ministers in new government welcome first arrival since 26 people were killed in strike

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Flights to and from Aden airport resumed just four days after a rocket attack killed 26 people as Yemen's new Cabinet arrived there, the government said on Sunday.

The decision was made to resume normal service after the Minister of Transport, Dr Abdul Salam Humeid, and Minister of Interior, Brig Ibrahim Haidan, inspected the airport with Aden’s Governor, Ahmed Lamlas.

“The ministers welcomed the first air flight operated by Yemenia airways coming from the Republic of Sudan,” the state-owned Saba news reported.

Yemenia flights "officially resumed starting from Sunday", said the airline's executive manager, Abdullah Saleh.

“We welcomed the first flight on Sunday evening. Flight 633 returned from Khartoum to Aden airport instead of Khartoum-Sayoun airport in Hadramawt,” Mr Saleh said.

Wednesday's attack, which Yemeni Prime Minister Maeen Saeed said involved three precision-guided missiles launched by the Iran-backed Houthi rebels, wounded more than 100 people.

The rebels denied responsibility.

“It’s a major terrorist attack that was meant to eliminate the government," Mr Saeed said.

“It was a message against peace and stability in Yemen.”

The Saudi Development and Reconstruction Programme for Yemen  finished essential repairs to parts of the airport damaged by the blasts.

Last Thursday, a team of engineers started work reconnecting water and power, and clearing debris.