Native of southern Yemen and former field marshal of the Yemeni Armed Forces, Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi, became president on February 27, 2012 when Ali Abdullah Saleh, who had ruled Yemen for 33 years, handed him power after a year of protests. In September 2014, northern-based Huthi rebels completed their takeover of the capital, Sanaa, and much of the north, prompting President Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi to flee to the second city Aden, the former southern capital. In March 2015, a Saudi-led Sunni Arab coalition launched operation "Decisive Storm" with air strikes on the rebels to defend Hadi and his internationally recognised government. SHORT PROFILE OF YEMEN'S PRESIDENT ABEDRABBO MANSOUR HADI