Yemen says, it arrests 257 terrors suspects this year, Sa'ada the only safe haven for them now

By Nasser Arrabyee/18/10/2009

A total of 257 terror suspects were arrested during the first half of 2009, said the Yemen Ministry of Interior on Sunday.

Those suspects were arrested in about 142 terror-linked activities all over the country, the Ministry said in a statement posted in its website.

The anti-terror forces hunted down the terrorists everywhere in the country they are now completely isolated in their hideouts, the statement said.

However, said the statement, the terrorists found a safe haven in some areas of Sa'ada where Al Houthi rebels fight the government troops.

Therefore, the imminent end of Al Houthi armed rebellion will be ' the last straw that broke the camel's back' for Al Qaeda activity in Yemen, said the statement.

For the field battles with Al Houthi rebels, the military officials keep saying nowadays that the rebels in their final days as army tightens the noose on them in the three main frontline of Al Malahaid, Harf Sufyan, and the areas around the Sa'ada city.

A military statement said Sunday that a total of 18 rebels were killed late Sunday in combing operations or suicide attacks they made against troops in various areas in the two frontlines of Sa'ada and Harf Sufyan.

A group of 7 rebels were killed west of Muthalath Barat where troops blockade the rebels' supply from the south of Sa'ada of Sa'ada.

Four rebels were killed in a suicide attack they made against the troops in Harf Sufyan, the statement said.

Five rebels were killed while they tried to cut the road of Kutaf Sa'ada, east of Sa'ada city.

Two rebels were killed when their hideout was destroyed in Al Kadam area, the statement said.
A car laden with weapons, ammunitions, and explosives was destroyed in Al Jubara area, the statement added.

Lack of communications over phones and internet with Al Houthi side, made it very difficult for journalists to have regular statements from Al Houthi side. At the beginning of the war, the rebels statements were regular and almost every day.