Monday 31 August 2009

Yemen to take decisions against Iran for supporting the Al Houthi rebels


By Nasser Arrabyee/31/08/2009


The Yemen Foreign Minister Abu Bakr Al Querbi said Monday his country would take "hard decisions" against Iran if it did not stop supporting Al Houthi rebels.

The Minister said he handed a memo to the Iranian ambassador to Sana'a and one to the Iranian Foreign Ministry in which he informed them about Yemen's protest over Iranian support for the rebels.


"We brought it to the notice of the Iranian government that their media discourse does not serve the interest of the bilateral relations between the two countries," said Al Querbi in a press interview published Monday by the ruling party paper Al Methaq.

"And if the Iranian media wishes to keep as a tool in the hand of the Sa'ada saboteurs, this will have negative reflections on the Yemeni-Iranian relations, the matter which may push Yemen to take hard decisions," he added.

Meanwhile, the military officials denied Monday Al Houthi allegations that they captured the post of Taiban in Al Malahaidh at the borders with Saudi Arabia where the rebels try to block the highway between the two countries.

"The allegations are untrue and baseless and they come only in the framework of the lies and propaganda which aim to cover the defeats inflicted on the rebels…," said statement by the Ministry of Defense.


The rebels' leader, Abdul Malik Al Houthi had said in a statement Sunday that the rebels captured the military post of Taiban in the Al Malahaidh area in Sa'ada and his fighters seized the weapons and ammunition there.


The army says it defeated the rebels in many areas as it adopted a new military tactic which matches with the guerrilla war of Al Houthi rebels.

"The army used this tactic and defeated the rebels and inflicted heavy damages on them in Thuaib, Shada, Kuzan, and Farwah," the military statement said.

The aircrafts continued to bomb the main strongholds of the rebels in Dhahyan, Mutrah, Naqa'a and Saqeen in Sa'ada for the last 20 days.

In a new development in this scorched earth operations, a total of 20 people were killed including 13 rebels when Al Houthi rebels attacked the house of the tribal Sheikh Hussein Al Ahmar in Khamer, south of Harf Sufyan, Amran province, tribal sources said.

Sheikh Hussein Al Ahmar dismissed the attack as untrue and baseless. Al Ahmar's tribal army is coming from Hashed tribe, the most influential tribe in Yemen.

"This is untrue information, there was no confrontation around my house, the tribal army is fighting with the State against the rebels, and it does not settle accounts with any one," said Hussein Al Ahmar who is leading a tribal army against the rebels,

Al Houthi rebels accused Al Ahmar of using the war to settle tribal accounts with them.

To this end, military sources said Monday that new enforcements have arrived in Harf Sufyan in Amran area where the army tightens the noose on the rebels to secure the road between Sa'ada and Sana'a. The army says dozens of Al Houthi fighters surrendered themselves over the last two days.






Friday 28 August 2009

Yemen denies Saudi air strikes on Al Houthi rebels



By Nasser Arrabyee/28/08/2009

Yemen denied Friday allegations that Saudi Arabia fighters are participating in the ongoing air strikes on Al Houthi rebels in Sa'ada north of the country.

The leader of the rebels, Abdul Malik Al Houthi said in statement Thursday they saw Saudi fighters striking on his supporters in Al Malahaidh, west of Sa'ada, where the rebels try to block the highway between Saudi Arabia and Yemen.

Al Houthi said the alleged Saudi air strikes made him to prepare for long-run depleting war with the Yemeni government.

In an official denial, Yemeni government said Al Houthi allegations are "untrue and baseless" and aim only to plunge Saudi Arabia into the ongoing confrontations with the rebels.

In unprecedented attacks, the air strikes continued on the main strongholds of the rebels in Dhahyan, Mutrah, and Naqa'a, in addition to the raids carried out in the areas of fighting in Haraf Sufyan and Al Malahaidh, local sources confirmed Friday.

These developments came after President Ali Abdullah Saleh his army would change tactics to match with Al Houthi's guerrilla's war, expecting that troops would cleanse Sa'ada from rebels in a matter of weeks.

Meanwhile, the Secretary General of GCC, Abdul Rahman Al Atyah, said in statement to the Yemen official news agency (Saba), that the foreign ministers of GCC will discuss the developments of the war in Sa'ada in their meeting in Riyadh next Tuesday.

On his part, the Yemeni Foreign Minister Abu Bakr Al Querbi said Thursday that his government would take appropriate procedures against any foreign body proved to be supporting Al Houthi armed rebellion.

He told the Defense Ministry 26 September weekly that Yemen now is collecting evidences about the external support for Al Houthi.




Tuesday 25 August 2009

Be or not to be battles with rebels in Yemen


By Nasser Arrabyee/25/08/2009


It's been more than two weeks now since the war erupted between Al Houthi Shiite rebels and the government troops in Sa'ada, north of Yemen.

Hundreds of people have been killed and injured and tens of thousands displaced their houses as a result of the ongoing war in which tanks, artillery, and fighter jets are used.

The leader of the rebels, Abdul Malik Al Houthi refused an offer for peace announced by President Ali Abdullah Saleh on the advent of the month of Ramadan on August 22nd.

It seems that the rebels became stronger than they were in 2004 when they started their armed rebellion to establish a clerical state. And they know now that Saleh's government is facing three major challenges other than this war with them.

The government faces an increasing secessionist sentiment in the south, growing activity of Al Qaeda all over the country, and economic deterioration because of the fall of prices of oil on which the government mainly depends in its expenses.

Al Houthi rebels appear to exploit this difficult situation and keep refusing to recognize the State.

The President Ali Abdullah Saleh, however, seems to be determined this time to rid Yemen of what he called cancer of Al Houthis by rushing their revolt by force. The new in this round of war, which is the sixth round since 2004, is Saleh's full mobilization of the support of the tribesmen from all over the country to fight against the rebels.

The chiefs of the Yemen's two most influential tribes (Hashed and Bakil) declared this week clearly in letters to President Saleh that they would fight with the army against the rebels. Tribesmen have started to send convoys with assistance and volunteers to support the army and help the displaced.

The troops secured the road between Sa'ada and the capital Sana'a where the rebels used to ambush the army supply. After the army's complete control of the mountainous area of Harf Sufyan earlier this week, eyewitnesses said they saw dozens of dead bodies on the sides of the road.

Local sources estimated that more 100 rebels including two field leaders were killed in the battles of securing the roads in Harf Sufyan, about 140 km north the capital Sana'a.

As the air strikes continue on the main strongholds and hideouts of the rebels in Dhahyan, Mutrah, and Naqa'a, close to the borders with Saudi Arabia, the military officials say the army is closing in on these remaining places and the end of conflict "has become imminent".

The rebels, however, depend in their confrontations on the high and rugged mountains of their areas in Sa'ada and also on using tactics of gang wars and ambushes against the troops. Their young fighters are ideologically brain-washed.

Although they deny support from Iran, heavy weapons, like artillery and missiles, and hi-tech communication equipments raise questions where they get such things from. The army seized 6 stores of different weapons this week in Harf Sufyan and some of them were Iranian made.

Yemen and Iran media have been exchanging accusations and denials since the war erupted.

The official Spokesman for the Yemeni government, Minister of Information, Hussan Al Lawzi said Yemen would settle accounts one day with Iran for supporting Al Houthi rebels politically and financially.

"Some media have revealed there is financial and political support for the rebels and saboteurs of Al Houthi especially some satellite channels like Al Alam and Al Kawthar and Tehran radio, and unfortunately everybody knows who finances these channels," the spokesman told reporters.


"These channels commit crime against Yemen, they interfere in our internal affairs, and we will settle accounts with the States responsible for them," Al Lawzi said.

Yemen also denied Iranian allegations aired by Al Alam channel that Saudi Arabia and Yemen had established a joint operation room for running the war against the Shiite rebels.


The Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Hassan Qashqavi denied the accusations and called for a political solution in Yemen saying, "What propaganda or media say is not true."

"We believe the issue ... is Yemen's internal issue and we think there should be a political solution. Bloodshed can not help solve the problems there," Qashqavi told a news conference on Monday.

Qasqavi said: "We have always respected Yemen's territorial integrity and national sovereignty and we want to see peace, stability and calmness in that country."


On their part, Al Houthi rebels said they respect Saudi Arabia and they have no hostile intentions against it and they are not doing a proxy war for Iran in Yemen.

"We are not fighters with any party in the world, and we defy any one to prove the contrast of that, what we are doing is defending ourselves against unjust aggression," said Al Houthi in a letter which was addressed to the people and leadership of Saudi Arabia.

"What's being said in the media are only rumours aiming to make the Saudi regime participate in the war," said the letter which was sent by email from Al Houthi office.


Al Houthi rebels answered to President Saleh's offer for peace on the advent of Ramadan by insisting on saying they want only to return to the Qatari-sponsored deal which was signed early last year in Doha.

President Saleh said in his offer he would stop the war if the rebels withdraw from all districts they're controlling and removing all check points, they established. And they should go down from mountains, and stop blocking the roads and sabotages acts.

The rebels also should hand over all military and civil equipments they seized. They also should clarify the fate of the six kidnapped foreigners, and handing over the kidnapped people from Sa'ada, and stop interfering in the affairs of the local authority.

Saleh said the army would confront the rebels decisively if they refused these six conditions, which are similar to those of the Doha deal. The main conditions of the Doha deal are the rebels going down from mountains and handing over heavy and medium sized weapons and the three top leaders leaving Yemen for Qatar.

Earlier, President Saleh said Al Houthi is racial and willing to rule Yemen by "a divine right" , and that he (Al Houthi) forced the government to build fortifications instead of schools in Sa'ada.

The government has been taking tight security measures in the capital Sana'a since the war erupted in fearing of any possible attacks from Al Houthi sympathizers in the capital.

Two Al Houthi supporters were arrested in Sana'a on Friday while distributing leaflets calling for fighting with Al Houthi .

Al Houthi ignored Saleh's offer for peace and supported a call by the opposition parties for a cease-fire.

The main opposition parties called Tuesday for a cease-fire and for allowing relief organizations to go to the war affected areas to help the displaced. They also said, in the first statement since the beginning of the war, they are ready to participate in any "national efforts" to solve the problem and end the conflict.
















Sunday 23 August 2009

Two Al Houthi field leaders killed


By Nasser Arrabyee/23/08/2009

Two field leaders of Al Houthi rebels were killed in confrontations between the rebels in government troops in Harf Sufyan, Amran province, local sources said Sunday.

Muhsen Hadi Al Kaoud, and Saleh Garman who are filed leaders of Al Houthi, were killed and some others were arrested, said the sources who asked not to be named.

The sources added that about 100 dead bodies most of them of Al Houthi supporters were found in and around the town of Harf Sufyan where the rebels tried to block the road between Sa'ada and the capital Sana'a. Harf Sufyan is about 140 km north of Sana'a.

Over the last 24 hours, the air fighters have been continuously bombarding the strongholds and hideouts of the rebels in Dhahyan, Mutrah, Naqa'a, Al Mahather,Talh and Makash.

On their part, the sources said, Al Houthi rebels used artillery to bombard the city of Sa'ada.

The sources added, Al Houthi rebels tried Saturday to attack the city of Sa'ada from two directions, but army drove them back after dozens were killed and injured in fierce confrontations.


Meanwhile, the Yemeni government denied Iranian media allegations aired by Al Alam channel that Yemen and Saudi Arabia had established a joint operation room against Al Houthi rebels.

These allegations reveal that those who spread such lies are supporting the rebels of Al Houthi, said official statement.

Lebanese ship drown off Yemeni coasts


By Nasser Arrabyee/23/08/2009

A total of eleven sailors were rescued by the Yemeni coast guards after their Lebanese ship drowned off the eastern Yemeni coasts, official sources said Sunday.

The coast guards official said that two sailors went missing after the drowning of the ship about 30 miles off the Nashtoon Harbour of Al Mahra province at the far east of Yemen.

The coast guards found a dead body for one of the two missing sailors and they are still searching for the other one, the official said.

The official made it clear that the stricken Lebanese ship, named Sara Hanem, was in its way to Somalia coming from the Emirate of Sharjah in UAE carrying about 4800 tons of goods.

Thirteen sailors were on the board of Sara Hanem, nine of them Indians, three Syrians and one Egyptian, the Defense Ministry website quoted the unidentified official as saying.

Saturday 22 August 2009

WFP helps 17,000 displaced persons from Sa'ada war



By Nasser Arrabyee/22/08/2009

Sana'a- The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) said Saturday it helped 17,000 people who fled the on going war in Sa'ada north of Yemen.

WFP provided high-energy biscuits and dates to 7,000 people in Hajjah governorate last week and today it began distributing a full one-month ration of cereals, pulses, vegetable oil, salt and sugar to 10,000 people, said a statement by WFP sent to media.

WFP airlifted an additional 40 metric tons of high energy biscuits from the UN humanitarian depot in Dubai last week and is planning another airlift in the next few day, it added.


“WFP responded rapidly to this sudden crisis, providing life-saving assistance to thousands of homeless and hungry people who are reliant on our help,” said Gian Carlo Cirri, WFP Country Director in Yemen. “But we are very short of funds for our operations, especially now that the situation is deteriorating and the needs are increasing."

US calls for cease -fire in Yemen


By Nasser Arrabyee/22/08/2009

The US embassy in Sana'a called upon the Yemeni government and Al Houthi rebels to return to the cease-fire that was announced by President Ali Abdullah Saleh last year.

"The United States Embassy in Sana'a views with deep concern the continuation of the armed conflict between the government of Yemen and Al Houthi rebels in the Sa'ada governorate in north Yemen," said a statement by the embassy Saturday.

"We call upon both parties to return to the cease-fire that was established last year," the said the Statement.

The battles on the ground intensify as military commanders say, "They are closing in on the rebels and the end of the conflict has become imminent."

The embassy also urged the conflicting parties to avoid any action that would endanger the civilian population in the affected area.

"We also call on both parties to ensure the security of the local and international relief workers in the region and the safe passage of emergency relief supplies to camps housing internally displaced persons," the statement concluded.


The American statement came after the President Ali Abdullah Saleh granted Al Houthi rebels another chance for peace on the occasion of the advent of Ramadan.

"We grant the Saboteurs a chance for peace on the basis of unconditional commitment to the six conditions set by the Supreme Security Committee," Saleh said in a speech on occasion of Ramadan.

"If the rebels refuse the peace and compliance with the constitution, we will confront them decisively," Saleh said.

President Saleh will stop the war if the rebels withdraw from all districts they're controlling and removing all check points, they established. They should go down from mountains, and stop blocking the roads and sabotages acts.

The rebels also should hand over all military and civil equipments they seized. They also clarify the fate of the six kidnapped foreigners, and handing over the kidnapped people from Sa'ada, and stop interfering in the affairs of the local authority.









Friday 21 August 2009

President Saleh gives Al Houthi rebels peace chance on Ramadan


By Nasser Arrabyee/21/08/2009


The Yemeni President Ali AbdullAh Saleh granted Friday Al Houthi rebels another chance for peace on the occasion of the Advent of Ramadan.

"We grant the Saboteurs a chance for peace on the basis of unconditional commitment to the six conditions set by the Supreme Security Committee," Saleh said in a speech on occasion of Ramadan.

"If the rebels refuse the peace and compliance with the constitution, we will confront them decisively," Saleh said in the speech which was read by the Minister of Endowment.

The conditions which Saleh wants Al Houthi rebels to meet include the withdrawal from all districts and removing all check points, they established. And going down from mountains, and stopping blocking the roads and sabotages acts. Handing over all military and civil equipments they seized. Clarification the fate of the six kidnapped foreigners, Handing over the kidnapped people from Sa'ada, and non-interference in the affairs of the local authority.










Army closing in on Al Houthi rebels


By Nasser Arrabyee/21/08/2009

The Yemeni army said Friday it is imposing a complete control on Al Houthi rebels in Sa'ada and Harf Sufyan, as the air fighters continue bombing the strongholds of the leadership of the rebels in Mutrah and Naqa'a.

"The heroes of the armed forces took control over Taba Hamra (Red Hill) and cleansed it from rebels, and eagles of the air force are landing successful and painful blows on the strongholds of the saboteurs in Mutrah and Naqa'a," said an official statement.

A number of rebels were arrested and some others surrendered in the battles going on now in Maran, the statement added.

Tribesmen from Sa'ada, and the neighbouring provinces of Amran and Al Jawf are participating in the fight against Al Houthi rebels according local sources.

Meanwhile, a total of 6 stores of weapons belonging to Al Houthi rebels in Harf Sufyan were found by the army, said military sources Friday.

The weapons stores were found after controlling over Harf Sufyan, Al Mahather, and Al Malahaidh. Some of the weapons, which include automatic riffles and short-run missiles, were Iranian made, the sources said.

Al Housthi spokesman, however, denied that the troops took control over Harf Sufyan, saying "The army is positioning in Al Jabal Al Aswad in Harf Sufyan and it made no progress.

"The army is losing a lot of human and material resources," added the spokesman, Mohammed Abdul Salam.

Al Houthi leaflets in Sana'a

Fearing of any possible attacks from Al Houthi sympathizers, the government has been taking tight security measures in the capital Sana'a since the war erupted on August10th.

In the framework of this campaign, two Al Houthi supporters were arrested on Friday while distributing leaflets calling for fighting with Al Houthi in Bani Hushaish areas at the northern outskirts of the capital Sana'a, said an official statement.


Seeking regional sympathy

Al Houthi rebels said they respect Saudi Arabia and they have no hostile intentions against it.

They said they are not doing a proxy war for Iran in Yemen.

"We are not fighters with any party in the world, and we defy any one to prove the contrast of that, what we are doing is defending ourselves against unjust aggression," said Al Houthi in a letter which was addressed to the people and leadership of Saudi Arabia.

"What's being said in the media are only rumors aiming to make the Saudi regime participate in the war," said the letter which was sent by emails from Al Houthi office.

Relief efforts

In an attempt to prevent a humanitarian disaster, local and international efforts are being exerted to provide shelter and food for tens of thousands who flee the war.

A ministerial committee chaired by Minister of Health, Abdul Kareem Rase, decided Thursday to give 30 million YR (150,000US$) to the local authority of Hajja for helping the people displacing from the war areas mainly from Al Malahaidh.

The committee, which met Thursday in Haradh district in Hajja province, appointed Dr. Omar Mujali as a coordinator between the government bodies and the local and international relief organizations.

The committee decided to establish a camp for the displacing people in Al Marzak area and discussed the mechanisms of providing it with all food and shelter requirements.

The international organizations working in Yemen such UNICEF, WHO, ICRC, FAO, UNHCR are playing key roles in assisting the war victims.

The government said Friday it opened bank accounts in the central Bank and its branches for raising money and donations from the people to assist those displacing from the armed conflict areas in Sa'ada and Amran (Harf Sufyan).

Thursday 20 August 2009

Top tribal chief calls for removing Al Houthi


By Nasser Arrabyee/19/08/2009

Sana'a- The tribal chief of the most influential tribe in Yemen said clearly he and his tribe would fight with the army against Al Houthi rebels in Sa'ada, north of the country.

Sheikh Sadeq Abdullah Al Ahmer called for striking Al Houthi rebels with iron fist and eradicating them permanently.


"The Hashed tribe confirms once again that it would stand with the armed forces against Al Houthi and his supporters wherever they are, and the State has the right to eradicate whoever violates the constitution, laws and the constants of the nation, " said Al Ahmer in a letter addressed President Saleh.

Al Ahmer and other tribal chiefs accompanied Tuesday the President Saleh in a swift visit to the site of the ongoing battles between rebels and troops in Haraf Sufyan.


President Saleh on his part, said Al Houthi rebels forced the State to build military fortifications instead of schools in Sa'ada, vowing to uproot them permanently in this war.

" Your armed forces along with all nobles of Sa'ada are now giving the rebels unforgettable lessons in Sa'ada, Haraf Sufyan, and Al Malahaidh, and we are determined to remove the cancer wherever it exists,"

Saleh addressed new graduates from various military colleges in a graduation ceremony held in Sana'a Wednesday.

"They (Al Houthis) forced us to build military fortifications instead of schools," Saleh said in the ceremony which was attended by senior State officials and Arab and non-Arab diplomats.

President Saleh counted previous failed attempts to foil the revolution which overthrew the clerical rule in 1962, saying Al Houthi rebellion is one those failed attempts.

He said Al Houthi believes that all the rulers since 1962 took the power by force, and that Al Houthi wants to restore it because it's only him who has the divine right to rule.

Meanwhile, local Sources from Haraf Sufyan said that battles intensified shortly after Saleh's swift visit on Tuesday and they are still going on until now.

According to emails sent from Al Houthi's office, the rebels took over the area of Al Malahaid, North West of Sa'ada, close to the borders with Saudi Arabia.

Wednesday 19 August 2009

Al Houthis racial and want to rule by divine right, President Saleh


By Nasser Arrabyee/19/08/2009

Sana'a- The Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh said that Al Houthi rebels are racial and claim to have a divine right to rule.

"They disclosed an ugly racial face which claims a divine right to rule," President Saleh told the troops battling with AlHouthi rebels in Haraf Sufyan where he visited Tuesday.

"The armed forces are determined to crush the rebels and saboteurs and outlaws of Al Houthi," he said.

Prominent tribal Sheikhs from Hashed and Bakail tribes, the most influential two tribes in Yemen, accompanied the President in his swift visit to Haraf Sufyan where rebels tried to block the road between Sana'a and Sa'ada.

Earlier, the official Spokesman for the Yemeni government, Minister of Information, Hussan Al Lawzi said Yemen would settle accounts one day with Iran for supporting Al Houthi rebels politically and financially.

"Some media have revealed there is financial and political support for the rebels and saboteurs of Al Houthi especially some satellite channels like Al Alam and Al Kawthar and Tehran radio, and unfortunately everybody knows who finances these channels," the spokesman told reporters.

"These channels commit crime against Yemen, they interfere in our internal affairs, and we will settle accounts with the States responsible for them," Al Lawzi said.


A security official said Wednesday that 100 Al Houthi rebels were killed and 300 were arrested as government troops continue fierce battles with the rebels in Sa'ada.

The official said the troops widely combing the areas which were occupied by the rebels. "No option now for the remaining rebels except to surrender," the official said.

"More than 100 rebels and saboteurs were killed and 300 were arrested in Haraf Sufyan, Al Malahaid,Al Mahadher, Al Talh and other areas over the last few days," The government-run media quoted the unidentified security official as saying.

The army may and may not crush Al Houthi rebellion


By Nasser Arrabyee 18/08/2009

Yemen is in war again after one-year-old of shaky truce with rebels. The government has decided to strike the Al Houthi rebels in the north of the country with "an iron fist" after they posed a big threat to its sovereignty this time.
This time the war is deferent from the previous five wars. Al Houthi Shiite rebels tried earlier this month not only to block the road connecting the capital Sana'a with the province of Sa'ada where they are based but also blocking the highway between Saudi Arabia and Yemen in Al Malahaid area.

Hundreds were killed and injured and tens of thousands displaced from their houses in the wide offensive launched by troops over the last 10 days.


The Shiite armed rebellion erupted for the first time in June 2004, when the rebel leader Hussein Badr Al Deen Al Houthi entered into confrontation with the army.

The government accused Al Houthi rebels of wanting to restore a clerical and royal rule that was overthrown in 1962 after ruling different parts of Yemen for about 1000 years.

Al Houthis keep saying they only defend themselves despite the fact that they obviously try to establish what can be called "A state inside a state" . They have their own courts; they hold trials and issue verdicts, and they levy money from the citizens for running their system, for example. They teach students in tens of schools their own thoughts which clearly say the rulers must be from the descendents of the Prophet Mohammed such as Al Houthi's family.

The armed conflict is not far from the regional political conflict. After the breakout of the war on August 10th, 2009, Iran accused Saudi Arabia of participating in the air strikes on the Shiite rebels, who are also accused by Yemeni government of receiving support from Iran.

Internal and external mediations have failed to end the five-year old conflict. In February 2008, representatives of Al Houthi rebels and those of the Yemeni government signed a Qatari-brokered deal in Doha. The deal mainly required the rebels to descend from mountains and lay down the weapons in addition to the three main leaders leaving Yemen for Qatar.

The government was mainly required by the deal to reconstruct the war-torn areas in Sa'ada. An ongoing reconstruction process worth $US 50 million was stopped by this round of war, which the sixth round since 2004.

Unlike the previous campaigns, the government troops use all kind of weapons against the rebels focusing mainly on the air strikes in an obvious attempt to destroy the fortifications and weapon stores in the strongholds of Mutrah and Dhahyan where the leadership is based.

Although the government seems to be determined to crush the rebellion and restore its solemnity and prestige, it says it will stop the offensive if the rebels withdraw from all areas they occupied before this round of war, and remove all check points they established in different places in Sa'ada. Also the rebels should hand over the military and civil equipment they seized from the army and from the government's utilities. And going down from mountains, and stopping blocking the roads and sabotages acts .And they should also release the kidnapped people from Sa'ada and stop interfering in the affairs of the local authority.

The sixth condition set by the government to stop the war was asking Al Houthi rebels to clarify the fate of the six foreigners who were kidnapped last June.

The government said it had information that Al Houthi rebels were behind the kidnapping of the six foreigners (five-member German family and a British man).

Al Houthis rebels rejected the government's conditions and threatened to react in an unexpected and stronger way than the previous wars. They also denied they kidnapped the foreigners.

"The kidnapping was only a conspiracy to launch a war as we said from the beginning, using this issue now is the evidence it was a conspiracy," Mohammed Abdul Salam, Al Houthi spokesman, told Al Ahram Weekly over phone from Sa'ada.

So, why the war has erupted now for the sixth time although the President Ali Abdullah Saleh announced on July17th, 2008, it will stop for ever?

And will the military option end the conflict, and who is supporting Al Houthi?


The Ahram Weekly has tried to find answers for these questions from experts and people in the field.

Najeeb Ghallab, researcher and political analyst at Sana'a university says, the war has erupted now because Al Houthi had an expansion strategy, big dominance over Sa'ada, new supporters in some other areas like Al Jawf, Amran and Sana'a.

" Before this war, Al Houthi rebels blockaded military camps and arrested a lot of soldiers, so, it was either to let them expand until they attack on the capital Sana'a or to strike them with an iron fist and impose the sovereignty of the state," Ghallab said.

The military option, however, may impose the control of the State, but it will not necessarily solve the problem, he said.

After imposing the control of the State, he said, the solution will be from the tribesmen of Sa'ada having a unified position against the rebels.

"The tribesmen should tell the rebels clearly in a tribal conference, for instance, we will all be against you, if you do not lay down the weapons and descend from mountains," he said.

For who is behind Al Houthi, the researcher said Iran Mullas have the big hand in supporting Al Houthi rebels.

"Iran has strategic goals from that support. They believe an army will come from Yemen to support the long-awaited 12th Imam Al Mahdi," he said.

"The collapse of the State in Yemen will threaten Saudi Arabia, the only force that can confront Iran. So, Iran wants this collapse to happen."

The lawyer Yahya Al Mukhtafi from Sa'ada disagrees with the researcher Ghallab saying Al Houthi rebels receive the support from inside Yemen not from out side.

"The strength of Al Houthi comes from the weapons he captured from the previous wars, and also from the sympathy of a lot of people all over the country, especially from the Hashemites, because the war was declared against the Hashemites at the beginning," said Al Mukhtafi who is Hashemite and close to Al Houthi family.

"I do not think there is an external support, and if there is any, it is from sympathetic organizations and individuals."
On his part, the Sana'a University professor, Ahmed Al Daghashi, author of the book "Al Houthi phenomenon" says, the problem in Sa'ada has very complicated dimensions, ideological, political, geographical and developmental.

"Although the military option is very important at the moment but it will not end the problem without treatment of those dimensions," Al Daghshi said.

He believes there is internal and external support for the rebels. "There is external support from some officials of the State," he said.

For external support, he said, it is more political than ideological.

"I mean the regional political conflict is the main reason behind the external support," he said.

"I think there is only some coordination and cooperation, because of the similarity, but this does not mean there is concurrence between Al Houthism and Iranian Shiite which is based on the belief of the 12th Imam, Twelver Shiite."

Compulsory warrant to arrest 55 leading rebels


By Nasser Arrabyee/18/08/2009

Sana'a- The Yemen General Prosecutor issued Tuesday an order for compulsory arrest of the top leading rebels of Al Houthi in Sa'ada and some other provinces.

Earlier in the day, the Ministry of Interior asked the General Prosecutor to issue the compulsory order to arrest 55 Al Houthi rebels including the top three leaders.

The Ministry said it asked the prosecutor in an official letter to order the compulsory arrest of 55 men of the "leading rebels, saboteurs and terrorists" in Sa'ada and other provinces.

The rebel leader Abdul Malik Al Houthi, his father Badr Al Deen Al Houthi, and Abdullah Al Ruzami were at the top of the wanted list

"The 55 rebels participated in armed rebellion, and broke the law and order ,kidnapped people , destroyed farms and attacked public and private installations, blocked the roads, attacked check points and security people and obstructed the development projects," said the Ministry in a statement.

Meanwhile, the Al Houthi rebels and government troops have been clashing since early morning Tuesday at the outskirts of Sa'ada city where several people were killed and injured from both sides, sources said.

Al Houthi rebels tried to attack the city from three directions but the troops forced them to retreat, the sources said.

To this end, the confrontations are still going on in Haraf Sufyan areas in the neighboring province of Amran where the rebels try to block the road connecting between the capital Sana'a and Sa'ada. Tens of people most of them from the rebels were killed and injured over the last two days.

In a televised statement, the Ministry of Defense said the army had cleansed several areas in Sa'ada from the rebels and that their end "has become imminent"

The local sources said that tribesmen from Sa'ada and other places of Yemen were participating with the army against the rebels.

On his part, the spokesman of Al Houthi, Mohammed Abdul Salam said Tuesday Al Houthi did not start the war yet.

"The real confrontations did not begin and our military plans are not implemented yet," said Abdul Salam who speaks over mobile phone despite the government's phone disconnections from Sa'ada.


Yemen denies participation of Iraqi officers in the war
By Nasser Arrabyee/18/08/2009

The Yemeni government denied Iranian allegations that Iraqi officers are participating in the war against Al Houthi rebels in Sa'ada, north of the country.

"The Iranian official media have turned to a podium for the rebels, saboteurs and terrorists of Al Houthi," State-run media quoted an unidentified official as saying Tuesday.

The official called the Iranian official media to pay attention to the internal affairs in Iran instead of defending the "rebels and outlaws".

"That inciting and hostile language reveals a suspicious agenda for targeting the security and stability of Yemen," the official said.

The Iranian media including Al Alam Satellite channel have keenly covering the war between the Al Houthi Shiite rebels and government troops since it erupted earlier this month.

Sunday 16 August 2009

Yemen denies allegations of Saudi participation in Sa'ada war


By Nasser Arrabyee/16/08/2009

Sana'a- The Yemen Ministry of Defense denied Sunday as untrue and baseless the Iranian allegations aired by the Iranian official radio that Saudi Arabia had participated in air strikes on Al Houthi rebels in Sa'ada.

"The Yemeni armed forces alone are strong enough to do their constitutional duty to maintain security and stability," the Ministry said in a statement.

It added, "It was better for the Tehran radio station to adhere to objectivity and impartiality and not to put itself in such a situation which raises questions over the goals behind such news."

Earlier, the Ministry denied also Al Houthi allegations that phosphoric bombs were used in those aerial attacks.

"That is untrue and baseless, the armed forces do not have such bombs, we target the positions and check points established by the rebels to attack and terrify the citizens."Said the Ministry's statement.

The battles between the Yemeni government troops and Al Houthi rebels are continuing for the seventh consecutive day in Sa'ada where the government is apparently determined to crush the five- year old rebellion by "iron fist"

Local sources said, the troops are tightening the noose on Haraf Sufyan area where Al Houthi rebels tried to block the road connecting Sa'ada with the Yemeni capital Sana'a.

About 40 rebels and 10 soldiers' were killed over the last 24 hours only in the battles of Haraf Sufyan, the sources said.

Aerial attacks continued early Sunday on the strongholds of the rebels in Mutrah and Naka'a at the borders with Saudi Arabia.


On their part, the rebels threatened to do unexpected reaction.

The option of peace is still there, we did not do any reaction until now, but our reaction will be strong and unexpected," Said Mohammed Abdul Salam, the spokesman of Al Houthi rebels.


Thursday 13 August 2009

Six conditions to stop the war in Yemen

By Nasser Arrabyee/13/08/2009

Sana'a- The Yemeni government demanded Thursday Al Houthi rebels to disclose the fate of the six foreigners who were kidnapped last June, and it would stop the war on them.

The revealing of the six kidnapped foreigners (five-member German family and a British man ) was one of six conditions the government put to stop the all-out war it is now launching on Al Houthi rebels in Sa'ada, north of the country.

In a statement issued by the Supreme Security Committee, the government said it had information that Al Houthi rebels were behind the kidnapping of the nine foreigners. Three women of them, two German and a South Korean nurses were found dead in Saa'ada two days after the kidnapping on June 12th.

The spokesman of Al Houthi said it is the government who is responsible for the kidnapped foreigners.

"The kidnapping was only a conspiracy to launch a war as we said from the beginning, using this issue now is the evidence it was a conspiracy," Mohammed Abdul Salam told Gulf News over phone from Sa'ada.


The other conditions the government put for stopping the war are : Withdrawal from all districts and removing all check points .Going down from mountains, and stopping blocking the roads and sabotages acts. Handing over all equipments, civil and military, they seized. Handing over the kidnapped people from Sa'ada. Non-interference in the affairs of the local authority.

For the other conditions, Abdul Salam said, "We demand the local authorities to be in all districts, every district is open for the local authority."

For the kidnapped people from Sa'ada, he said," We do not have hostages, we have war prisoners, we were in war with them."

If the government is serious, it should stop the war and start solves the problem, we want peace, he said.


Meanwhile, the opposition parties refused and condemned the war and called the conflicting parties for dialogue.

"The conflicting parties seem to be unable to solve the problem, so it should be solved through a national dialogue," said Hasan Zaid the chairman of the Supreme Council of the five main opposition party.

The war should be stopped, added Zaid, who is the head of Al Haq party, the party from which the slain Hussein Al Houthi dissented before he formed the group of the rebels

Tareqk Al Shami, spokeman of the ruling party, said the State must maintain the stability and security in Sa'ada and protect the citizens from "the saboteurs and rebels and terrorists"


On his part, director of education office in Sa'ada province, Mohammed Al Shamiri said that Al Houthi rebels have controlled a total of 63 schools and turned them to barracks for their militant.

He said many teachers were kidnapped from schools because they did not agree to teach Al Houthis hand-sheets that call for disobedience of the State. For example, teacher Saleh Rezk was kidnapped two weeks ago while in his way from Haidan to Al Dhaher area, he said.

Al Shamiri said some schools were turned to forums where Shiite lectures are delivered for Al Houthi supporters.

"They tried to bring students by force to these forums and they dismissed those who refused to attend as unwanted," he said.




Tuesday 11 August 2009

Curfew imposed in Sa'ada


By Nasser Arrabyee/11/08/2009

Sana'a- The Yemeni government said late Tuesday that it would strike with iron fist until Al Houthi rebels surrender themselves.

In an official statement aired by the TV, the government said it would protect the citizens and their properties in Sa'ada province and would liberate citizens kidnapped by the gangs of Al Houthi rebels and saboteurs.


It also said that it had received an appeal from the local authority in Sa'ada for protecting the citizens and their properties from the Al Houthi rebels.

The spokesman of Al Houthi, Mohammed Abdul Salam said that missiles and artillery bombardment targeted Tuesday afternoon the stronghold of the rebels in Matrah, Dhyan, Bani Muath, Al Khmais, Sahar and Al Mahather where dozens of people were killed and injured.

A curfew state was imposed in the Sa'ada city from 8:00 PM according to local sources.

The sources added that police patrols were calling in the streets of Sa'ada city with loudspeakers for the people to close their shops and stay and homes.

The two Yemenis released by US received as heroes


By Nasser Arrabyee/11/08/2009


Sana'a- The two Yemenis, Mohammed Al Moayad and Mohammed Zaid, who returned home after about seven years in US prisons for terror charges, were received as heroes in the streets of the Yemenis capital Sana'a on Tuesday.

The Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh received the two men at the Presidential palace in Sana'a.


A big official and popular welcome ceremony was organized at the international airport of Sana'a.

Clerics, tribal sheikhs, senior officials, and supporters and members of the Islah party, the Islamic party to which the two released men belong, received the two men as heroes and newborns.


The cleric Abdul Majeed Al Zandani, tribal sheikh Sadek Abdullah Al Ahmar, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Abu Bakr Al Querbi, Minister Human Rights, Hada Al Ban, Minister of Endowment, Hamoud Al Hetar, and the General Prosecutor Abdullah Al Olofi, were the most prominent of the thousands of receivers at the airport.

The receivers were carrying pictures of Al Moayad, Zaid, and President Saleh and many placards reading warming welcome to the two men. Al Moayad and Zaid were waving with their hands from inside a long bus that took them from the airport to a hospital before they went to the Presidential palace to meet President Saleh.

The organizers, mainly from Islah party, distributed posters and badges with the photos of the two men and written on them the "Day of Freedom"

The three American lawyers who accompanied the two men to Yemen were also warmly welcomed and cared for especially by the family members of the two men.

The oldest son of the Al Moayad, Ebrahim took the three lawyers, Tina Foster, Lamis Al Daik, and Robert Boyle to his luxurious car and drove them in the procession.

Some of the receivers who queued along the road to the airport were beating drums and dancing to express their joy with the return of Al Moayad who they described as the father of the orphans.

They also burnt incense in the streets as a sign of good reception and hospitality.

The tribal sheikhs of Khwalan where Al Moayad comes from, topped by sheikh Mohammed bin Naji Al Ghader, and Sheikh Ali bin Ali Shulan, demanded compensation from the American government for the two men.


Generally speaking, people in the street are very happy with the return of the two men and they can not hide their joy and thanks for the new American administration that, they think, played a key role in the release. But they also wonder why the two men were jailed.

"I would like to thank the President Obama who deserves thanks and who returned the hope to us, but I'm not completely satisfied until the two men are compensated," said shiek Abdullah Abdul Azeez Al Daba, tribal sheikh from Khawlan.

The government and all political parties and civil society organizations expressed their joy and happiness with the return of the two men.

The return, however, was sometimes politically employed by the media of the ruling party and the Islah party, the largest Islamist opposition party, to which the two released men belong.

President Saleh warns the Al Houthi rebels

By Nasser Arrabyee 10/08/2009


Sana'a- The Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh warned Monday the Al Houthi rebels and held them responsible for continuation of breaching the cease-fire that he announced last year.

"The rebels continue their frequent breaches and assaults against citizens, their properties, burning farms, destroying houses, schools and mosques as well as hindering the development projects in the governorate," President Saleh said in a meeting held late Monday with the supreme security committee and leaderships of Defense and Interior Ministries and the field military leadership of Sa'ada.

President Saleh said that the rebels also hindered the reconstruction process in Sa'ada for which, he said, 50 million dollars was allocated.

The Saleh's meeting with military and security commanders called upon the citizens of Sa'ada to cooperate with "their brothers in the military and security forces to encounter the saboteurs and rebels of Al Houthi."

Saleh's warnings came after failure of a cease-fire truce reached yesterday Sunday between the rebels and government.

Mohammed Abdul Salam, the spokesman of Al Houthi said that field military commanders violated the truce today Monday by attacking on them.

"Yes, we reached a truce yesterday Sunday of many points including a cease fire, and that troops withdraw from the new positions, but military commanders in some areas like Maran violated the truce today," the spokesman told Gulf News over phone from Sa'ada.

Sunday 9 August 2009

Al Moayad and Zaid to arrive home on Tuesday


By Nasser Arrabyee/09/08/2009


The two Yemenis released by United States after dropping their terror convictions, will arrive in the Yemeni capital Sana'a Tuesday August 11th, early morning, official sources said.

Mohammed Al Moayad and Mohammed Zaid left Washington Sunday late afternoon with the Emirates airline and will spend all Monday in Dubai for medical check ups, the state-run news agency (Saba) quoted officials at the Yemeni embassy in Washington as saying.

Sources close to the families of the two men said they were arranging for a big welcome ceremony which will begin at the airport of Sana'a on Tuesday.

The families of the two men are very happy to see their loved ones after about six years of sufferings.

Both families expressed their gratitude and thanks for all efforts exerted by the Yemeni government, American lawyers, and human right groups for returning the two men to their homes.

"We are all extremely happy, we can not believe we'll see them after tomorrow here in the house," said the 18-year old Zakaria, the younger son of Al Moayad.

"The credit for the return of my father and his companion Mohammed Zaid goes to Allah Almighty first, and then to President Ali Abdullah Saleh and all lawyers and human right activists and journalists and every one who made efforts for their release," Zakaria told Yemen Observer.


On July 28, 2005, Al Moayad and Zaid were sentenced by a Brooklyn court to 75 and 45 years in prison and fine about two million dollars for charges of supporting terrorism.

On October 2008, an appeal court overturned the primary court, but the American government challenged and demanded retrials of the two men.

Last Friday August 7th, 2009, an American judge sentenced Al Moayad, 70, and Zaid 35, to their six years time served and ordered their return to Yemen.

The two men were lured by a Yemeni agent to Germany where they were arrested in Frankfurt airport in January 10th, 2003, and handed over to the American authorities on November 16th.





















Friday 7 August 2009

US released two Yemenis convicted of terror

By Nasser Arrabyee/07/08/2009

The American authorities have decided to release two Yemenis after spending about seven years in prisons for terror charges, Yemeni official sources said Friday.

The Yemeni embassy in Washington was informed by American officials that the American authorities had decided to release Sheikh Mohammed Al Moayad ,70, and his companion Mohammed Zaid, 35, after considering the period they served in prison sufficient for their charges, said an official statement .

On his part, lawyer Khaled Al Ansi who participated with an American lawyers in defending the two men in United States, said the American decision of releasing the two Yemenis was very brave and good initiative by the new administration.

“The decision of releasing Al Moayad and Zaid is very brave to correct the mistakes committed by the Bush administration,” Al Ansi told Gulf News.

He expected the two men to arrive in Yemen next week.

The official sources said that President Ali Abdullah Saleh had instructed to transfer the two men to Yemen immediately after the procedures of release are done.

On July 28, 2005, Al Moayad and Zaid were sentenced by a Brookline court to 75 and 45 years in prison and fine about two million dollars for charges of supporting terrorism.

The two men were lured by a Yemeni agent to Germany where they were arrested in Frankfurt airport in January 10th, 2003. And November 16th, 2003, they were handed over to the American authorities who put them on trials.

On October 2008, an appeal court decided to cancel the primary court, but the American government demanded retrials of the two men.

Yemen threatens to strike Al Houthi rebels


By Nasser Arrabyee/06/08/2009


Sana'a- The Yemeni government said Thursday it would take a military actions to liberate schools and government buildings used as barracks by Al Houthi rebels in Sa'ada, north of the country.

"The security agencies and armed forces along with the citizens of Sa'ada will perform their constitutional duties to protect the citizens and their properties and cleansing the schools and health centers and governmental buildings from the criminals," said the country's highest security committee in a warning statement.

The statement came after information about fierce battles between the rebels and government troops in which dozens were killed and injured from both sides over this week.

"Since President Ali Abdullah Saleh ordered the halt of the military operations, the saboteurs and terrorists continued their attacks on the citizens and security forces, committing heinous crimes against everyone including elders, children and women, in addition to kidnapping, cutting roads, destroying houses," the statement added.

On July 17th, 2008, Saleh ordered the halt of the war which raged on and off since 2004.


The Al Houthi rebels said, however, they were only defending themselves and they do not want a new war.

"We only confronted aggressions on us, and we returned to our places. We do not want to go to a new war," said a statement sent to local media by Al Houthi.

"What we complain about is that the army is in the villages and farms, and the natural place for army is the camps not houses," the statement added.

"Many of us were killed and injured, the mediation committee did not do anything, the society did not do anything, and then we were forced to defend ourselves."

On his part, Mohammed Al Emad, deputy governor of Sa'ada called the State to protect the citizens from Al Houthi rebels.

"The State must protect its citizens and spread its influence all over the country, and it must secure the roads and cleanse the schools from the saboteurs and terrorists," Al Emad said.

" Al Houthi saboteurs stopped the education process by turning the schools to barracks and they cut roads causing farmers to lose millions and millions, and misled the young people to battles under illusive slogans."

The official also accused Al Houthis of stopping the reconstruction process in Sa'ada.

"The saboteurs of Al Houthi threatened the engineers and contractors who were reconstructing houses and schools, causing a halt of the reconstruction process," he said.

The official also denied that Al Houthis took control over the areas of Shada, Ghamer, and Sakain, west of the city of Sa'ada, where confrontations erupted over the last few days.

Yemen, GCC facing drugs war, official


By Nasser Arrabyee 04/08/2009

Yemen and Gulf Council Countries (GCC) are facing a hidden drugs war aimed at undermining their security and stability, said a Yemeni official Tuesday.

"Yemen and GCC are facing now a hidden war by the international mafia of drugs which aims to undermine the security and stability in these countries," said Colonel Mutahar Al Shuaibi, director of the Sana'a Central Prison.


There are more than 210 men in the prison now, who were arrested while trading drugs inside Yemen and trafficking to the neighbouring countries, he said.


The official made it clear that most of the accused are Syrian nationals, and the others are Yemenis, Saudis, Kuwaitis, Pakistanis, and Iranians.


The reasons behind the increasing activity of drug dealers in Yemen and its borders with the GCC are the lack of control over the 2500 km long coast, lack of resources, training, and equipments with the Yemen security agencies, the official added.

Director of the country's largest prison called for establishing a centre for treating and rehabilitating the addicts in the framework of combating drugs and addiction in Yemen.

Earlier this year, the officials at the Ministry of Interior said that more than 27 tons of Hashish and about 14 million capsules of various drugs were confiscated by the security agencies during 2008.

While during 2007, about five tons of Hashish and five million capsules were confiscated, according to official statistics.

Some 256 killed and 1816 injured in traffic accidents


By Nasser Arrabyee /02/08/2009

Sana'a - A total of 256 people were killed and 1816 others injured in about 1339 traffic accidents all over Yemen during the month of July, 2009, said the Ministry of Interior Sunday.

And 9 people were killed and 57 others injured during the first day of August, the Ministry added in an official statistics.

Some 95 people (from both sixes and different ages) were killed and 868 were injured in 667 collision accidents, while 62 were killed and 490 injured in 496 run over accidents, said the statistics statement.

About 92 people were killed and 468 injured in about 207 turn over accidents, while 13 were killed and 27 injured in 37 falling down accidents, the statement added.

The high speed, ignorance of the drivers and pedestrians, overtaking, using mobiles, chewing qat, sudden breakdowns, and rainfall were the main reasons behind that traffic accidents, statement concluded.