[1] After the Houthi takeover of Sana'a and a monthlong detention by militants, Hadi escaped to Aden in February 2015, followed some weeks later by his defence minister, Major General Mahmoud al-Subaihi.

[4] In Aden, where Hadi was working to establish a rival government with international backing, clashes erupted earlier in March when he tried to dismiss Brigadier General Abdul-Hafez al-Saqqaf, a Saleh loyalist with command over two army units and special security forces.

[4] In apparent retaliation for the fall of the al-Sawlaban base, at least one warplane reportedly controlled by the Houthis attacked Hadi's presidential palace later on 19 March in the al-Maasheeq district of Aden, firing missiles.

[10] Two days after the battle at the airport, the Houthi Revolutionary Committee declared a "state of general mobilisation" against "terrorist elements" in southern Yemen.

[11] The declaration heralded the start of a military offensive by Houthi fighters and pro-Saleh army units against forces of then-president Hadi and a coalition led by Saudi Arabia.

[13] The Houthi Supreme Security Committee in Sana'a issued a statement calling for an end to the clashes, saying both sides "are obliged to keep the peace and return to the negotiating table".