The commander of the 1st Military Zone based in Yemen's southern province of Hadhramaut on Sunday announced support for the legitimacy of President Abd Rabbuh Mansour Hadi, a military source said.

Brigadier General Abdulrahman al-Halily of the First Military District announced today his support for constitutional legitimacy as represented by President Hadi, one of the officials told.

Hadhramaut's 1st Military Zone – which is commanded by Maj. Gen. Abdul Rahman al-Halili – comprises of seven military units, all of which have expressed full support for the legitimacy of Hadi, the source, requesting anonymity, told.

The announcement puts at least 15,000 troops in the desert border area on the same side as the kingdom, the world's top oil exporter, after three weeks of an inconclusive bombing campaign it has led against Iran-allied Houthi rebels.

The source's assertion comes 23 days after the launch of an aerial military campaign by Saudi Arabia and its Arab allies on locations belonging to Yemen's Houthis.

PHOTO CAPTION

Followers of the Houthi group raise their weapons as they demonstrate against an arms embargo imposed by the U.N. Security Council on the group in Sanaa April 16, 2015.

Worldbulletin