First commercial ship since March arrives in Yemen’s Aden: port official

A commercial ship docked Friday in Yemen’s Aden, a port official said, the first vessel of its kind to reach the city since it was overrun by anti-government rebels in March.

The Venus, operated by United Arab Shipping Co., had a cargo of 350 containers of products ordered by businesses in Aden, which was retaken by pro-government forces last month, said port deputy director Aref al-Shaabi.

“This signals the return of life to the port of Aden and this will benefit the city and southern provinces” also retaken by loyalist troops in recent weeks, Shaabi told AFP.

He said other ships were expected in Aden, Yemen’s main port, in the coming days.

Since Aden’s recapture, several transport planes carrying humanitarian aid have landed at the city’s repaired airport.

The United Nations says the war in Yemen has killed nearly 4,500 people, many of them civilians.