AKIPRESS.COM - Yemen’s Aden airport saw heavy fighting between rival factions on Thursday, forcing all air traffic to be canceled, local officials said.

At least five people died in the clashes, according to AFP.  The fighting took place between forces loyal to Aden-based Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi, who is internationally recognized as the country's legitimate president, and those loyal to former ruler Ali Abdullah Saleh.

The fighting took place near a base used by forces loyal to Saleh and the allied Islamist Houthi movement that currently holds power in the capital of Sanaa.

The fighting later spread to encompass residential districts and the airport area, leading to nearby roads being closed, reports said.

Over 100 passengers, including an Associated Press (AP) reporter, who had boarded a flight to Egypt, were ordered to evacuate after machine gun fire and explosions were heard nearby, AP reported.

At least two shells reportedly hit the airport’s grounds, anonymous security officials said.