Aden, << AHD uhn or AYD uhn >> (pop. 800,000), is the second largest city of Yemen. Only Sanaa has more people. Aden lies on a small peninsula that extends into the Gulf of Aden. Aden has served as an important port and trading center since ancient times.
Aden has both broad streets lined by Western-style buildings and winding, narrow streets bordered by old, thick-walled Arab buildings. The city serves as the trading center for its region and as a refueling place for ships. It has a large oil refinery. Manufactured products include cooking oil and textiles.
Aden became an important Roman trading center during ancient times. In 1839, British forces took over the city. In 1967, Yemen (Aden) became an independent nation with Aden as its capital. In 1990, Yemen (Aden) and Yemen (Sanaa) merged and became the country of Yemen, with Sanaa as the capital.
In 2013, fighting between Islamic extremists, southern rebels, and government forces erupted in parts of Yemen. In 2015, the violence escalated and spread to Aden, damaging large parts of the city. Many people died in the fighting and many more fled the city.
