By Nasser Arrabyee/01/11/2009
The secretary general of the Organization of Islamic Conference, Akmal Eddine Ihsan Oglo said his organization is supporting the unity, security and stability of Yemen.
Oglo, who is currently in a visit to Yemen, refused any external interference in the ongoing war between Al Houthi rebels and the government troops.
The international official expressed his support for the five conditions set by the Yemeni government for stopping the war. "The five conditions are very good basis for peace," he said.
The five conditions include the rebels going down from the mountains and handing over the weapons.
Oglo said that sectarian conflict should not justify the violence, killing people and disobedience of the State.
He said the OIC would support the refugees with 3 US million dollars. He also that a convoy of eleven Lorries laden with relief materials will come very soon from the Saudi coastal city of Jeddah to help the refugees.
For military developments, the army says it is making progress in the three main frontlines of Al Malahaid, Harf Sufyan, and areas around the city of Sa'ada.
The spokesman of the army, Askar Zuael, denied Sunday the death of the second man in Al Houthi armed rebellion, Abdullah Al Ruzami. Reports said Saturday that Al Ruzami was killed in an air strike.
The military official Zuael said that Al Ruzami is participating in the current war because he disagrees with the top leader of the rebels Abdul Malik Al Houthi.
No denial or confirmation from Al Houthi side regarding the death of Al Ruzami.
Saturday, 31 October 2009
Two journalists jailed and banned from writing for insulting President Saleh
By Nasser Arrabyee/31/10/2009
Two Yemeni journalists were sentenced to 1-2 years in prison and were banned from writing for insulting the Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh.
Chaired by Judge Mansour Shayeh, the special press court sentenced the Yemeni-American journalist Munair Al Mawri, based now in US, to two years in prison and banned him from writing for ever after being convicted of insulting the President.
Al Mawri wrote an article earlier this year in the independent weekly Al Masdar under the title "The mass destruction weapons" which was considered as insults and offences to President Saleh.
The court also ordered a suspended year in prison for the journalist Sameer Jubran, the editor-in-chief of independent Al Masdar weekly and banned him from writing and running his paper for the same period one year.
Jubran, who appeared in the court Saturday, asked for an appeal and said he would appoint another colleague run Al Masdar during the period of his punishment.
After pronouncing the verdict, Jubran said he expected such a verdict, describing it as stiff and political.
The secretary general of the Yemeni Journalists Syndicate, Marwan Dammaj, said the verdict was a shock to all journalists.
Dammaj called the rights group to condemn such verdicts.
The deputy minister of legal affairs, Mamoon Al Shami, said the verdict was fair, and President Saleh set a good example for other officials by resorting to judiciary.
The ministry of legal affairs filed the suite case against the paper for the President Saleh.
Two Yemeni journalists were sentenced to 1-2 years in prison and were banned from writing for insulting the Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh.
Chaired by Judge Mansour Shayeh, the special press court sentenced the Yemeni-American journalist Munair Al Mawri, based now in US, to two years in prison and banned him from writing for ever after being convicted of insulting the President.
Al Mawri wrote an article earlier this year in the independent weekly Al Masdar under the title "The mass destruction weapons" which was considered as insults and offences to President Saleh.
The court also ordered a suspended year in prison for the journalist Sameer Jubran, the editor-in-chief of independent Al Masdar weekly and banned him from writing and running his paper for the same period one year.
Jubran, who appeared in the court Saturday, asked for an appeal and said he would appoint another colleague run Al Masdar during the period of his punishment.
After pronouncing the verdict, Jubran said he expected such a verdict, describing it as stiff and political.
The secretary general of the Yemeni Journalists Syndicate, Marwan Dammaj, said the verdict was a shock to all journalists.
Dammaj called the rights group to condemn such verdicts.
The deputy minister of legal affairs, Mamoon Al Shami, said the verdict was fair, and President Saleh set a good example for other officials by resorting to judiciary.
The ministry of legal affairs filed the suite case against the paper for the President Saleh.
8 Al Houthi rebels sentenced to death, 13 jailed
By Nasser Arrabyee/31/10/2009
A total of 8 Al Houthi rebels were sentenced to death and 13 others were sentenced to jail terms ranging between 3 to 15 years for fighting against the State last year.
"Death to America, death to Israel, curse to Jews, and victory to Islam," the rebels shouted from behind the bars as the Judge of the State Security Court, Redhwan Al Namer pronounced the verdict Saturday.
The 21 defendants did not ask for an appeal, as they do not recognize the legitimacy of the court. The described the court and the verdict as American.
The court acquitted two defendants after they they were proved mentally ill by the court's doctors.
The 21 defendants were convicted of forming an armed gang for fighting the State and killing citizens and soldiers in the middle of 2008.
Earlier this months, 51 rebels were convicted by the same court of participating in the same armed gang, 16 of them were sentenced to death.
The 72 defendants are among a group of more than 150 Al Houthi rebels currently being tried for forming an armed gang and fighting the State and killing citizens and soldiers during the period from May to July 2008, in Bani Hushaish area, the northen outskirt of the capital Sana'a.
A total of 8 Al Houthi rebels were sentenced to death and 13 others were sentenced to jail terms ranging between 3 to 15 years for fighting against the State last year.
"Death to America, death to Israel, curse to Jews, and victory to Islam," the rebels shouted from behind the bars as the Judge of the State Security Court, Redhwan Al Namer pronounced the verdict Saturday.
The 21 defendants did not ask for an appeal, as they do not recognize the legitimacy of the court. The described the court and the verdict as American.
The court acquitted two defendants after they they were proved mentally ill by the court's doctors.
The 21 defendants were convicted of forming an armed gang for fighting the State and killing citizens and soldiers in the middle of 2008.
Earlier this months, 51 rebels were convicted by the same court of participating in the same armed gang, 16 of them were sentenced to death.
The 72 defendants are among a group of more than 150 Al Houthi rebels currently being tried for forming an armed gang and fighting the State and killing citizens and soldiers during the period from May to July 2008, in Bani Hushaish area, the northen outskirt of the capital Sana'a.
Friday, 30 October 2009
Some 30 rebels killed, 30 arrested
By Nasser Arrabyee/30/10/2009
A group of 30 Al Houthi rebels were killed and 30 others were arrested in different places around the city of Sa'ada, said a senior security official Friday.
The deputy minister of interior, Mohammed Al Kawsi, said those 30 were killed in Al Sama, Al Okab, and Wahban areas around the city of Sa'ada where the rebels implement suicide attacks almost every day in an attempt to control the city.
The official Al Kawsi also said that the 30 who were arrested were coming from various places outside the city.
A group of 30 Al Houthi rebels were killed and 30 others were arrested in different places around the city of Sa'ada, said a senior security official Friday.
The deputy minister of interior, Mohammed Al Kawsi, said those 30 were killed in Al Sama, Al Okab, and Wahban areas around the city of Sa'ada where the rebels implement suicide attacks almost every day in an attempt to control the city.
The official Al Kawsi also said that the 30 who were arrested were coming from various places outside the city.
Thursday, 29 October 2009
Air strikes Intensify on rebels
By Nasser Arrabyee /30/10/2009
At least 35 rebels were killed and 25 injured in air strikes on Al Nazeer area in Razeh, west of Sa'ada where Al Houthi rebels failed to open a new front, local sources said Friday.
The air strikes continued almost all the day of Thursday forcing the rebels to leave their posts in Razeh and get back to Al Malahaid, the sources said.
The spokesman of Al Houthi rebels, Mohammed Abdul Salam, confirmed the air strikes saying it was a "massacre against civilians".
The Defense Ministry said in a statement that a number of hideouts of the rebels were destroyed Thursday by air strikes in the three frontlines of the areas around Sa'ada city, Harf Sufyan, and Al Malahaid. The air strikes inflicted heavy damages in lives and materials on the rebels, the statement said.
At least 10 rebels were killed and 20 others were arrested only in the areas around the city of Sa'ada city, according to military sources in these areas.
A 10-year old boy working with the rebels was arrested Thursday at the gate of old city of Sa'ada with 20 mine detonators wrapped on his waist, the sources said.
A total of 13 people from one family were injured in Hashish area when Al Houthi rebels fired mortars on the house of Mohammed Bakri Hashish for refusing to fight with the rebels, the sources said.
The rebels also fired mortars on the refugee camp of Sam in the outskirts of Sa'ada city injuring two refugees at least.
At least 35 rebels were killed and 25 injured in air strikes on Al Nazeer area in Razeh, west of Sa'ada where Al Houthi rebels failed to open a new front, local sources said Friday.
The air strikes continued almost all the day of Thursday forcing the rebels to leave their posts in Razeh and get back to Al Malahaid, the sources said.
The spokesman of Al Houthi rebels, Mohammed Abdul Salam, confirmed the air strikes saying it was a "massacre against civilians".
The Defense Ministry said in a statement that a number of hideouts of the rebels were destroyed Thursday by air strikes in the three frontlines of the areas around Sa'ada city, Harf Sufyan, and Al Malahaid. The air strikes inflicted heavy damages in lives and materials on the rebels, the statement said.
At least 10 rebels were killed and 20 others were arrested only in the areas around the city of Sa'ada city, according to military sources in these areas.
A 10-year old boy working with the rebels was arrested Thursday at the gate of old city of Sa'ada with 20 mine detonators wrapped on his waist, the sources said.
A total of 13 people from one family were injured in Hashish area when Al Houthi rebels fired mortars on the house of Mohammed Bakri Hashish for refusing to fight with the rebels, the sources said.
The rebels also fired mortars on the refugee camp of Sam in the outskirts of Sa'ada city injuring two refugees at least.
Wednesday, 28 October 2009
Four rebels killed, 20 arrested
By Nasser Arrabyee/29/10/2009
Four Al Houthi rebels were killed, three others injured, and 20 were arrested in the old city of Sa'ada, said a security official Thursday.
The deputy minister of interior, Mohammed Al Kawsi, identified the three of those killed as Saddam Thyan, Anwar Mubarak, and Walid Mubarak.
Al Kawsi, who has been supervising the special security operations inside the old city since the beginning of this war in August 10th, said also that the rebel field leader Murad Hussein Da'ah, was among those who were arrested.
Local sources in the city, said that the arrests were because of the strong blockade on the rebels who are minority in the city.
The rebels from their side killed Khairan Muktab for suspicion that he is cooperating the troops.
The army said in a statement issued Thursday that it controlled all posts of the rebels in the road of Al Buqa'a-Kutaf, east of Sa'ada.
The army said in the statement that the tribesmen of Waelah played a key role in dismissing the rebels from more than 6 posts in Kutaf areas.
Four Al Houthi rebels were killed, three others injured, and 20 were arrested in the old city of Sa'ada, said a security official Thursday.
The deputy minister of interior, Mohammed Al Kawsi, identified the three of those killed as Saddam Thyan, Anwar Mubarak, and Walid Mubarak.
Al Kawsi, who has been supervising the special security operations inside the old city since the beginning of this war in August 10th, said also that the rebel field leader Murad Hussein Da'ah, was among those who were arrested.
Local sources in the city, said that the arrests were because of the strong blockade on the rebels who are minority in the city.
The rebels from their side killed Khairan Muktab for suspicion that he is cooperating the troops.
The army said in a statement issued Thursday that it controlled all posts of the rebels in the road of Al Buqa'a-Kutaf, east of Sa'ada.
The army said in the statement that the tribesmen of Waelah played a key role in dismissing the rebels from more than 6 posts in Kutaf areas.
Tuesday, 27 October 2009
Four Al Houthi rebels sentenced to death, 11 jailed
By Nasser Arrabyee/27/10/2009
A total of 4 Al Houthi rebels were sentenced to death and 11 others were sentenced to 5-15 years in prison for fighting with Al Houthi rebels against the State last year.
“Death to America, death to Israel, curse to Jews and victory to Islam,” shouted the rebels from behind the bars as the judge of the Special State Security Court, Mohsen Alwan pronounced the verdict Tuesday.
The rebels did not ask for an appeal, as they do not recognize the legitimacy of the court. They repeatedly described the Judge and court as Americans.
The same court started Tuesday also the trials of 10 more Al Houthi rebels for forming an armed gang to fight against the State.
Earlier this month, a group of 12 Al Houthi rebels were sentenced to death and 14 others to 8-15 years in prison for participating in the same armed gang.
These 51 defendants were convicted of forming an armed gang and carrying out sabotage acts and killing soldiers and citizens.
They are within a group of about 150 Al Houthi rebels still being tried now for igniting an armed rebellion against the State in the middle of 2008 in Bani Hushaish, the northern outskirt of the capital Sana'a,
A total of 4 Al Houthi rebels were sentenced to death and 11 others were sentenced to 5-15 years in prison for fighting with Al Houthi rebels against the State last year.
“Death to America, death to Israel, curse to Jews and victory to Islam,” shouted the rebels from behind the bars as the judge of the Special State Security Court, Mohsen Alwan pronounced the verdict Tuesday.
The rebels did not ask for an appeal, as they do not recognize the legitimacy of the court. They repeatedly described the Judge and court as Americans.
The same court started Tuesday also the trials of 10 more Al Houthi rebels for forming an armed gang to fight against the State.
Earlier this month, a group of 12 Al Houthi rebels were sentenced to death and 14 others to 8-15 years in prison for participating in the same armed gang.
These 51 defendants were convicted of forming an armed gang and carrying out sabotage acts and killing soldiers and citizens.
They are within a group of about 150 Al Houthi rebels still being tried now for igniting an armed rebellion against the State in the middle of 2008 in Bani Hushaish, the northern outskirt of the capital Sana'a,
Monday, 26 October 2009
Iranian ship laden with weapons seized off Yemen
By Nasser Arrabyee/27/10/2009
An Iranian ship laden with various weapons believed to be for Al Houthi rebels was seized Monday off the Yemeni coasts of the Midi harbour in the far northern west of the country, security sources said Tuesday.
The 5-member crew, 4 Iranians and Indian, were taken immediately to the capital Sana'a where investigations with them are going on now, the sources said.
The security sources believed that the ship was in its way to unload its weapon shipment, which includes anti-armour missiles, somewhere close to Haradh where it can be hidden in a farm before Al Houthi rebels come and take it.
Midi harbour and Haradh area is only tens of kilometers from the western frontline of Al Malahaid.
Earlier on Monday, the independent paper Al Ahali said that the Iranian revolutionary guards train
Al Houthi rebels in training camps in the neighboring Eritrea. The paper also said that the Iranian revolutionary guards transport the weapons through the Eritrean harbour of Asab, from where it is transported to Yemen harbour of Midi.
To this end, the rebel leader Abdullah Al Mahdoon, who surrendered himself to the army earlier this month, said in previous statements, that Al Houthi rebels receive unlimited support from the Iranian revolutionary guards, and experts from the Lebanese Hezbuallah.
The Al Mahdoon also said that while preparing for this round of war before August 10th, 2009, the top rebel leader Abdul Malik Al Houthi was always telling his fighters ," This is our last war, and everything will be in our favour."
Meanwhile, the army said Tuesday that 10 rebels at least were killed including the field leader Yahya Kazmah when the rebels implemented suicide attacks on the troops' posts in the areas around the city of Sa'ada. The army also said it achieved progress in Harf Sufyan and Al Malahaid where air strikes target the hideouts and supply movements of the rebels almost daily.
eyewitnesses said that Al Houthi rebels kill any citizen who has gun and refuse to fight with them, in Razeh, west of Sa'ada, where Al Houthi rebels have been trying to open a new front by forcing the local people to fight with them. Al Houthi rebels killed two citizens Monday afternoon in Razeh only for not taking out their guns and fight with them against the state, the eyewitnesses, said.
An Iranian ship laden with various weapons believed to be for Al Houthi rebels was seized Monday off the Yemeni coasts of the Midi harbour in the far northern west of the country, security sources said Tuesday.
The 5-member crew, 4 Iranians and Indian, were taken immediately to the capital Sana'a where investigations with them are going on now, the sources said.
The security sources believed that the ship was in its way to unload its weapon shipment, which includes anti-armour missiles, somewhere close to Haradh where it can be hidden in a farm before Al Houthi rebels come and take it.
Midi harbour and Haradh area is only tens of kilometers from the western frontline of Al Malahaid.
Earlier on Monday, the independent paper Al Ahali said that the Iranian revolutionary guards train
Al Houthi rebels in training camps in the neighboring Eritrea. The paper also said that the Iranian revolutionary guards transport the weapons through the Eritrean harbour of Asab, from where it is transported to Yemen harbour of Midi.
To this end, the rebel leader Abdullah Al Mahdoon, who surrendered himself to the army earlier this month, said in previous statements, that Al Houthi rebels receive unlimited support from the Iranian revolutionary guards, and experts from the Lebanese Hezbuallah.
The Al Mahdoon also said that while preparing for this round of war before August 10th, 2009, the top rebel leader Abdul Malik Al Houthi was always telling his fighters ," This is our last war, and everything will be in our favour."
Meanwhile, the army said Tuesday that 10 rebels at least were killed including the field leader Yahya Kazmah when the rebels implemented suicide attacks on the troops' posts in the areas around the city of Sa'ada. The army also said it achieved progress in Harf Sufyan and Al Malahaid where air strikes target the hideouts and supply movements of the rebels almost daily.
eyewitnesses said that Al Houthi rebels kill any citizen who has gun and refuse to fight with them, in Razeh, west of Sa'ada, where Al Houthi rebels have been trying to open a new front by forcing the local people to fight with them. Al Houthi rebels killed two citizens Monday afternoon in Razeh only for not taking out their guns and fight with them against the state, the eyewitnesses, said.
Al Houthi put on trial
By Nasser Arrabyee/26/10/2009
The Yemen State Security Court started Monday a trial in absentia for the political leader of Al Houthi armed rebellion, Yahya Al Houthi, who is currently living in Germany.
The court's Judge Muhsen Alwan, considered Al Houthi as fugitive from justice, and agreed to try him in absentia after the prosecutor recited the paper of accusations.
The prosecutor Saeed Al Akel said that Yemen requested from the Interpol to arrest Al Houthi and extradite him as soon as possible.
From the accusations, Yahya Al Houthi formed a militia to overthrow the current republican system and to restore the royal clerical rule by force. Al Houthi also was accused of ordering people in Sa'ada not to pay Zakat for the state.
" Yahya Badr Al Deen Al Houthi participated in forming an armed terrorist gang and led it during 2004-2009 for carrying out sabotage and criminal acts in a number of places in Yemen and the capital Sana'a," said the prosecutor Al Akel.
"He prepared all means and weapons, ammunitions, explosives, transportation and communication equipments, required for that."
This gang implemented their criminal plan by killing a number of citizens, and soldiers and destructing public and private properties, and they planned for assassinating a number of personalities including the US ambassador," said the prosecutor.
The Prosecutor Saeed Al Akel demanded the court to pass a maximum punishment to Yahya Al Al Houthi.
The Judge Musen Al Alwan ordered formation of a defense panel for Al Houthi and postponed the session to November 2nd, 2009.
The Yemen State Security Court started Monday a trial in absentia for the political leader of Al Houthi armed rebellion, Yahya Al Houthi, who is currently living in Germany.
The court's Judge Muhsen Alwan, considered Al Houthi as fugitive from justice, and agreed to try him in absentia after the prosecutor recited the paper of accusations.
The prosecutor Saeed Al Akel said that Yemen requested from the Interpol to arrest Al Houthi and extradite him as soon as possible.
From the accusations, Yahya Al Houthi formed a militia to overthrow the current republican system and to restore the royal clerical rule by force. Al Houthi also was accused of ordering people in Sa'ada not to pay Zakat for the state.
" Yahya Badr Al Deen Al Houthi participated in forming an armed terrorist gang and led it during 2004-2009 for carrying out sabotage and criminal acts in a number of places in Yemen and the capital Sana'a," said the prosecutor Al Akel.
"He prepared all means and weapons, ammunitions, explosives, transportation and communication equipments, required for that."
This gang implemented their criminal plan by killing a number of citizens, and soldiers and destructing public and private properties, and they planned for assassinating a number of personalities including the US ambassador," said the prosecutor.
The Prosecutor Saeed Al Akel demanded the court to pass a maximum punishment to Yahya Al Al Houthi.
The Judge Musen Al Alwan ordered formation of a defense panel for Al Houthi and postponed the session to November 2nd, 2009.
Sunday, 25 October 2009
Yemen refugees increase, Al Houthi to be tried in absentia
By Nasser Arrabyee/26/10/2009
The displaced people by the war northern Yemen will increase from 83,000 to 122,000 over the coming few days, said Yemeni official Monday.
Abdul Kareem Rase's minister public health and chairman of relief efforts coordination committee said that Yemen's government spent about 2.5 million dollars for outfitting about 17 camps to accommodate all displaced people.
Earlier in the week, the ambassadors of United Arab Emirates and Oman in Yemen, Abdullah Al Mazroey, and Abdullah Al Badi, announced 10 million Dirham and 3 million dollars respectively as support from their countries to help the increasing number of displaced people because of the war between Al Houthi rebels and government troops.
The UN estimates the IDPs from during all the rounds of war since 2004, at 150,000. It says it needs about 24 million US dollars to help them during the coming four months.
For security and military developments, the rebel leader Abdul Khaleq Refan Haliman was arrested Sunday in a hospital in the capital Sana'a where he was being treated from injuries he had in clashes with security forces in Al Jawf province.
At least 10 rebels were killed in combing operations in two different places in Sa'ada, military sources said Monday.
Six of them were killed in Shuthan, Manbah, where troops controlled the rebels' posts and found a big quantity of weapons and ammunition, the sources said.
And the other four rebels were killed in the mountain of Ahsan which overlooks the road of Sa'ada Al Buqa'a, the sources said.
Meanwhile, court sources said that the State Security Court, starts today Monday the trial in absentia of the rebel leader Yahya Al Houthi who is living now in Germany.
The prosecution accuses Al Houthi of participating in forming an armed gang during the period of 2009-2009, to carry out sabotage acts and planning to assassinate important personalities including the US ambassador in Yemen.
The displaced people by the war northern Yemen will increase from 83,000 to 122,000 over the coming few days, said Yemeni official Monday.
Abdul Kareem Rase's minister public health and chairman of relief efforts coordination committee said that Yemen's government spent about 2.5 million dollars for outfitting about 17 camps to accommodate all displaced people.
Earlier in the week, the ambassadors of United Arab Emirates and Oman in Yemen, Abdullah Al Mazroey, and Abdullah Al Badi, announced 10 million Dirham and 3 million dollars respectively as support from their countries to help the increasing number of displaced people because of the war between Al Houthi rebels and government troops.
The UN estimates the IDPs from during all the rounds of war since 2004, at 150,000. It says it needs about 24 million US dollars to help them during the coming four months.
For security and military developments, the rebel leader Abdul Khaleq Refan Haliman was arrested Sunday in a hospital in the capital Sana'a where he was being treated from injuries he had in clashes with security forces in Al Jawf province.
At least 10 rebels were killed in combing operations in two different places in Sa'ada, military sources said Monday.
Six of them were killed in Shuthan, Manbah, where troops controlled the rebels' posts and found a big quantity of weapons and ammunition, the sources said.
And the other four rebels were killed in the mountain of Ahsan which overlooks the road of Sa'ada Al Buqa'a, the sources said.
Meanwhile, court sources said that the State Security Court, starts today Monday the trial in absentia of the rebel leader Yahya Al Houthi who is living now in Germany.
The prosecution accuses Al Houthi of participating in forming an armed gang during the period of 2009-2009, to carry out sabotage acts and planning to assassinate important personalities including the US ambassador in Yemen.
Wednesday, 21 October 2009
Human situation gets worse as Yemen war lingers on
By Nasser Arrabyee/22/10/2009
The human situation gets worse and worse as fighting between the government troops and Shiite rebels intensifies in Sa'ada north of Yemen.
No end in the sight although senior officials including the President Ali Abdullah Saleh keep saying nowadays the defeat of the rebels and end of the war will be announced in a matter of days.
Tens of thousands of people mostly women and children are suffering from hunger, thirst, lack of shelter and health care, in quick-fixed and unorganized camps, after they fled their homes because of the war.
Al Mazrak camp in the far west of Sa'ada, for instance, is one of at least four camps established to receive the displaced people from the areas affected by the western frontline of fighting in Al Malahaid, where the rebels tried to cut the high way between Yemen and Saudi Arabia.
Al Mazrak, where I visited as a journalist on Monday October 19th, is the only one that UN relief agencies can visit. The others are dangerous to visit because of the fighting.
Almost every body here in the camp of Al Mazrak complains of not having tents at all, or not having enough tents for their big families.
Water is relatively available in big tanks but no bathrooms, no kitchens are there. You can see only a piece of cloth hanging over three pieces of wood standing nearby some tents. That's the bathroom for men and women and children of these tents, said the 55-year old Yahya Ahmed Morshid, pointing to that piece of cloth which is used to cover those who need to respond to the call of nature.
Mr. Morshid, who has 11 children from two wives, complains that he did not have at least two tents for his two wives.
About two months ago, Morshid was in the qat market of Al Malahaid where he was selling qat to support his family.
"We heard heavy firing on the market and our houses around the market, it was hundreds of Al Houthis coming down from the mountains shouting angrily death to America, to death to Israel, curse to Jews, and victory to Islam," Morshid said.
"We were shocked, you can not imagine the shock we had," he said.
He was not expecting Al Houthi rebels to arrive his area at all because they were positioning very far and government troops were controlling all his areas of Al Malahaid before August 10th.
"But I hurried up to my house thinking only of my kids and wives, I was bundling the children into my pick up car like any goods," he said.
Despite continuation of firing on his house, he drove down with his big family, but after few kilometers later, his car had a puncture in one of the tyres.
"I continued driving in the direction of this camp until my car completely stopped, I and my two wives carried the small children and walked in a very sunny day," He said.
"Now I'm here as you can see doing nothing, I'm very bored, I want to get back to my house and start my work again to support my self and family," said Morshid who used to work as a qat trader.
No end in the sight although senior officials including the President Ali Abdullah Saleh keep saying nowadays the defeat of the rebels and end of the war will be announced in a matter of days.
Tens of thousands of people mostly women and children are suffering from hunger, thirst, lack of shelter and health care, in quick-fixed and unorganized camps, after they fled their homes because of the war.
Al Mazrak camp in the far west of Sa'ada, for instance, is one of at least four camps established to receive the displaced people from the areas affected by the western frontline of fighting in Al Malahaid, where the rebels tried to cut the high way between Yemen and Saudi Arabia.
Al Mazrak, where I visited as a journalist on Monday October 19th, is the only one that UN relief agencies can visit. The others are dangerous to visit because of the fighting.
Almost every body here in the camp of Al Mazrak complains of not having tents at all, or not having enough tents for their big families.
Water is relatively available in big tanks but no bathrooms, no kitchens are there. You can see only a piece of cloth hanging over three pieces of wood standing nearby some tents. That's the bathroom for men and women and children of these tents, said the 55-year old Yahya Ahmed Morshid, pointing to that piece of cloth which is used to cover those who need to respond to the call of nature.
Mr. Morshid, who has 11 children from two wives, complains that he did not have at least two tents for his two wives.
About two months ago, Morshid was in the qat market of Al Malahaid where he was selling qat to support his family.
"We heard heavy firing on the market and our houses around the market, it was hundreds of Al Houthis coming down from the mountains shouting angrily death to America, to death to Israel, curse to Jews, and victory to Islam," Morshid said.
"We were shocked, you can not imagine the shock we had," he said.
He was not expecting Al Houthi rebels to arrive his area at all because they were positioning very far and government troops were controlling all his areas of Al Malahaid before August 10th.
"But I hurried up to my house thinking only of my kids and wives, I was bundling the children into my pick up car like any goods," he said.
Despite continuation of firing on his house, he drove down with his big family, but after few kilometers later, his car had a puncture in one of the tyres.
"I continued driving in the direction of this camp until my car completely stopped, I and my two wives carried the small children and walked in a very sunny day," He said.
"Now I'm here as you can see doing nothing, I'm very bored, I want to get back to my house and start my work again to support my self and family," said Morshid who used to work as a qat trader.
At the entrance of Al Mazrak camp, you find a small school, which was built for the children of the area before the war.
This small school has more 942 students now after about 777 students joined it from the camp, which was established next to it.
The UN goodwill ambassador, the Egyptian artist Mahmoud Kabeel, visited the camp on Monday and saw the overcrowded school and health and food situation in the camp.
The health care service is even worse in this camp. The 15-month old twin, Mughnia and Ali were almost dying from diarrhea as soon as we have arrived in the camp early morning Monday October 19, 2009.
"The health situation is very bad here and it gets worse and worse, specially among the children, the twin of Mughnia and Ali you just saw is only an example," said Ms Chariotta Land, emergency child protection of the Save the Children organization.
"There are about 40 cases in this camp like this twin, and even worse and the number is getting higher and higher," said Ms Land who was very angrily shouting the twins should be taken to Sana'a for better treatment if you want to rescue them from death.
The twin was immediately taken with their mother to Sana'a after pressure from the UN goodwill ambassador Mahmoud Kabeel who dropped water to their mouths and took one of them into the ambulance car.
In the middle of the crowds, I saw an over-aged couple hanging around and trying to know and understand what journalists can give to them.
The couple Tanan Allaw and Shueyah Mubarak were crying for not having a tent although they have arrived in the camp one month ago.
The husband, Tanan who walks only with support from his wife, said they stay in relatives' tents during day time but they can not do that at night , so, they wrap themselves up with the blankets they received from the camp and sleep on the hot desert ground.
The 90-year old Tanan and his 70-year-old wife Shueyah walked for three days before they reached this camp after their house was destroyed in Al Malahaid area.
The young people of their 13-member extensive family walked only for one day. The distance from Al Malahaid to Al Mazrak camp takes about one hour by car.
The 25-year old Hamid Ali Ahmed's dilemma is somewhat different from the other IDPs I met here in the camp.
He was supporting his 5-member family from the money he gets from his 4-wheel drive car. He was transporting people from Yemen to Saudi Arabia and vice versa.
One day after the war broke out last August, a group of the government soldiers asked him to give them a ride in return for money from their post to the local market of Al Husama at the border of Saudi Arabia.
While he was driving them down to the market, Al Houthi rebels intercepted them and clashed with the soldiers.
"Only me and my 6-year old son Salem remained in the car after one soldier was killed and another was injured and the other 6 escaped," said Hamid.
This was not the end of his dilemma, it was the beginning. Shortly after he continued driving in the direction of his house in Al Husama, a group of rebels followed him shouting furiously, " Death to America, death to Israel, curse to Jews, and victory to Islam.", which is the slogan for which Al Houthi rebels have been fighting for about five years now.
They wanted him to stop and work with them with his car and his son.
"We are better than the Americans and Israelis, Al Houthis were saying to me, and they meant the Yemeni soldiers who were with me in the car," said Hamid.
They fired at the car killing his son Salem, and only then he stopped immediately when he saw Salem dying.
After he made sure his son was dead, he left the car and escaped to the Saudi Arabia lands, which was the only way for him to escape walking.
"I spent some days in the Saudi lands where the Saudi received me and some others like me, but I was crazy about my wife and my two daughters, they were waiting for me to come with their needs from the market," he said.
Hamid could not stay in Saudi Arabia without his family, so he decided to return to the crossing of Haradh where he found some relatives who told him that his wife and two daughters were already in the camp of Al Mazrak, about 35 kms east of Haradh.
"Now I have nothing, nothing with me, and I had only my car, I want it now to support my family, I haven't even cloths, I'm just borrowing this Jambia," said Hamid pointing to his traditional dagger on his waist.
Here in Al Mazrak camp, far west of Sa'ada, there are about 8, 000 IDPs most of them are women and children.
More than 60,000 people fled their homes in different places in Sa'ada after the war broke out last August. The UN estimates all IDPs since the first round war of war in 2004, at 150,000.
The UN says it needs about 24 million dollars to help those IDPs over the coming 4 months. About 10 million dollars was already pledged by many donors like US, UK, Saudi Arabia and others.
There are four other camps other than the Al Mazrak camp, but relief organization cannot reach them because of the fighting.
The camp of Alab far north of Sa'ada has recently revived relief assistance UN agencies in Saudi Arabia.
The camp in Houthi area south of Sa'ada is very dangerous because the rebels attacked the place of the camp many times in an attempt to attack the troops in Harf Sufyan.
The 4th camp is inside Sa'ada city and receives only assistance from the Yemeni government and some support from the normal people in Sa'ada and other areas.
The government set five conditions to stop the war and start talks about demands of the rebels. To go down from the mountains and hand over the weapons are the most important of them. A list of 55 rebels leaders including the top leaders Abdul Malik Al Houthi and his brother Yahya in Germany, and their father Badr Al Deen, was distributed every where in Sa'ada with their pictures.
On Tuesday, and Saturday of this week, 12 Al Houthi rebels were sentenced to death and 14 others were sentenced to 8- 15 years in prison for fighting with Al Houthi last year.
The 26 defendants were convicted, by the State Security Court, of forming an armed gang for fighting the State.
The 26 convicts are among a group of about 150 Al Houthi being tried now for igniting a 3-month long armed rebellion in Bani Hushaish, the northern outskirt of the Yemeni capital Sana'a in the middle of 2008.
Tuesday, 20 October 2009
More than 52 rebels and 6 soldiers killed
By Nasser Arrabyee/21/10/2009
A total of 52 Al Houthi rebels and 6 soldiers were killed and 9 others were arrested over the last 24 hours in the three main frontlines of the fighting in Sa'ada north of the country, military and local independent sources said Wednesday.
The Ministry of Defense said in a statement that groups of 22 rebels were killed in an attack launched by the troops on the Al Ghalah area in Haidan valley.
"7 rebels were arrested with two cars laden with weapons and ammunitions including two gun machines B10, 12.7 and RPGs," the Ministry statement said.
A group of rebels were killed and two others arrested nearby Jabal Al Ghail, and three cars laden with weapons including mortars, and two gun machines B10, and 12.7, the statement said.
7 rebels were killed inside a hideout in Jabal Al Merkham, and 6 others were killed in Al Makash area, the statement added.
Local and independent sources in Razeh that a group of 12 rebels and 6 soldiers were killed in Al Jaraha area in the densely populated area of Razeh where the rebels try now to open a new frontline, although majority of the people here refuse any fighting in their area.
The sources made it clear that the 6 soldiers were killed in a mistake air strike, which caused the withdrawal of the troops from that post leaving it for the rebels.
The sources also said that the rebels killed two citizens in this area of Razeh for refusing to let the rebels use their houses as barricades.
Tribal sources in Harf Sufyan said that 6 field leaders of the rebels along with a number of the rebels surrendered them selves to the tribal sheikh Hussein Al Ahmar who leads a popular army in the area against the armed rebellion.
On his part, the spokesman of Al Houthi, Mohammed Abdul Salm, played down the achievements of the troops saying his fighters are making progress in all frontlines.
He said the rebels cleaned Harf Sufyan from the troops and the whole area of Al Makash, west of Sa'ada city, is under their full control. The troops say large parts of Al Makash and Hary Sufyan are under their control and that they are advancing day by day.
Abdul Salm refused to deny or to confirm a rumor that the top leader Abdul Malik Al Houthi was injured and arrested in an airstrike in Kutaf east of Sa'ada earlier this week.
"It's prohibited to speak about this matter," he said.
Ten Al Houthi supporters sentenced to death, 5 jailed
By Nasser Arrabyee 20/10/2009
Ten Al Houthi supporters were sentenced to death and five others were sentenced to 15 years in prison for fighting with Al Houthi rebels last year.
“Death to America, death to Israel, curse to Jews and victory to Islam,” shouted Al Houthi supporters from behind the bars as the judge of the Special State Security Court, Mohsen Alwan pronounced the verdict Tuesday.
Last Saturday, the same court sentenced two Al Houthi supporters to death and 9 others to 8-12 years in prison.
The 26 defendants were convicted of forming an armed gang and carrying out sabotage acts and killing soldiers and citizens.
They are among about 150 Al Houthi rebels still being tried now for igniting an armed rebellion against the State in the middle of 2008 in the northern outskirt of the capital Sana'a, Bani Hushaish.
Ten Al Houthi supporters were sentenced to death and five others were sentenced to 15 years in prison for fighting with Al Houthi rebels last year.
“Death to America, death to Israel, curse to Jews and victory to Islam,” shouted Al Houthi supporters from behind the bars as the judge of the Special State Security Court, Mohsen Alwan pronounced the verdict Tuesday.
Last Saturday, the same court sentenced two Al Houthi supporters to death and 9 others to 8-12 years in prison.
The 26 defendants were convicted of forming an armed gang and carrying out sabotage acts and killing soldiers and citizens.
They are among about 150 Al Houthi rebels still being tried now for igniting an armed rebellion against the State in the middle of 2008 in the northern outskirt of the capital Sana'a, Bani Hushaish.
Monday, 19 October 2009
Yemen denies Saudi bombardment on rebels
By Nasser Arrabyee/20/10/2009
The Yemen Defense Ministry denied Tuesday allegations by Al Houthi rebels that Saudi Arabia artillery pounded a border area under their control.
"Such allegations indicate only that the rebels feel that their defeat is very close and they want to justify it by speaking about Saudi interference," said the Ministry in a statement.
Al Houthi rebels said Monday that Saudi Arabia artillery pounded the market of Al Husama where many people were shopping, far west of Sa'ada province.
At least two Saudi border guards were injured in clashes with Al Houthi rebels in Al Husama area after such accusations, press reports said.
The western frontline of Al Malahaid is witnessing nowadays the fiercest battles between the government troops and the rebels who launch suicide attacks on the densely populated district of Razeh.
Most of the tribesmen of Razeh, mountainous area overlooking the rebels' main positions, are cooperating with the government troops in blockading the rebels.
At least 14 rebels were killed, and 12 others were arrested on Monday when they tried to control places in Jabal Haram and Wadi Maeen in Razeh, local sources said. The sources also said that three soldiers were killed in the clashes.
The army was calling the rebels with loudspeakers to surrender and save their blood, the sources said.
The soldiers were asking the rebels through loudspeakers to come to bury tens of dead bodies of their fighters and surrender themselves, the sources from Razeh said.
Meanwhile, 4 tribesmen calling for support for Al Houthi rebels were killed in Barat, Al Jawaf province, east of Sa'ada, in clashes with other tribesmen loyal to the government, according to local tribal sources.
One tribesman loyal to the government was killed in those clashes.
The clashes happened when tribesmen from Jiham asked the other tribesmen from Al Hamaid, to stop supporting Al Houthi rebels or get out from the area.
"No one here in Al Jawf supports Al Houthi rebels in terms of faith, but some support the armed rebellion because of the problems between the tribesmen themselves on one hand, and because of the problems between them and the government due to lack of development in their area, on the other," said Yahya Al Kuh, member of the local council of Al Jawf.
The Yemen Defense Ministry denied Tuesday allegations by Al Houthi rebels that Saudi Arabia artillery pounded a border area under their control.
"Such allegations indicate only that the rebels feel that their defeat is very close and they want to justify it by speaking about Saudi interference," said the Ministry in a statement.
Al Houthi rebels said Monday that Saudi Arabia artillery pounded the market of Al Husama where many people were shopping, far west of Sa'ada province.
At least two Saudi border guards were injured in clashes with Al Houthi rebels in Al Husama area after such accusations, press reports said.
The western frontline of Al Malahaid is witnessing nowadays the fiercest battles between the government troops and the rebels who launch suicide attacks on the densely populated district of Razeh.
Most of the tribesmen of Razeh, mountainous area overlooking the rebels' main positions, are cooperating with the government troops in blockading the rebels.
At least 14 rebels were killed, and 12 others were arrested on Monday when they tried to control places in Jabal Haram and Wadi Maeen in Razeh, local sources said. The sources also said that three soldiers were killed in the clashes.
The army was calling the rebels with loudspeakers to surrender and save their blood, the sources said.
The soldiers were asking the rebels through loudspeakers to come to bury tens of dead bodies of their fighters and surrender themselves, the sources from Razeh said.
Meanwhile, 4 tribesmen calling for support for Al Houthi rebels were killed in Barat, Al Jawaf province, east of Sa'ada, in clashes with other tribesmen loyal to the government, according to local tribal sources.
One tribesman loyal to the government was killed in those clashes.
The clashes happened when tribesmen from Jiham asked the other tribesmen from Al Hamaid, to stop supporting Al Houthi rebels or get out from the area.
"No one here in Al Jawf supports Al Houthi rebels in terms of faith, but some support the armed rebellion because of the problems between the tribesmen themselves on one hand, and because of the problems between them and the government due to lack of development in their area, on the other," said Yahya Al Kuh, member of the local council of Al Jawf.
Sunday, 18 October 2009
38 Al Houthi rebels killed and injured
By Ashwaq Arrabyee
More than 38 Al Houthi rebels were killed and injured in the ongoing battles between the troops and Al Houthi rebels in various areas in Saada and Harf Sufyan, security officials said Monday.
A group of 30 Al Houthi rebels were killed and injured while trying to infiltrate to some sites in Razeh area on Saturday.
8 others were killed in farms next to Saada road and in Al Kamb and Al Maqash areas.
The sources also said the troops destroyed five cars laden with weapons, ammunitions and explosives for the rebels in Mahdah, Al Sahala, Al Qofel and north of Al Khiyam.
A number of rebels were killed when their hideouts were destroyed in Al Mahdah area, Ghafer Mountain and in the road of Saada, the sources added.
In Harf Sufyan, the army continued its advance towards Muthalath Barat and defused a number of mines planted by the rebels, the sources said.
Meanwhile, the visit of Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki to Yemen, which was scheduled next Monday, was postponed until next week.
The current concerns of President Ali Abdullah Saleh were the reason of the delay", official sources said.
Saturday, 17 October 2009
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.
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.
Some 17 people including 10 rebels killed in clashes inside the old city of Sa'ada, Iranian official to visit Yemen on war
By Nasser Arrabyee/17/10/2009
More than 10 Al Houthi rebels were killed in fierce clashes inside the old city of Sa'ada between armed local residents supported by the government and the rebels living in the same city, local sources said.
At least 7 armed people were killed including three security men in the fiercest clashes that the city has ever witnessed, sources from the city said.
The sources also said that the local residents of the old city decided today to get rid of the rebels from the city after one of their houses was destroyed by the rebels, who put mines under the house.
Sporadic clashes continued all the day in the old city, although it has been surrounded by the security forces from all directions since the beginning of the war. The rebels who fight are from among the residents of city.
In the western frontline of Al Malahaid, the army says controls the most important posts. The fighters bombed the hideouts of the rebels in Razeh where the rebels wanted to push the population into the fighting by force.
Meanwhile, the Iranian foreign minister, Manouchehr Mottaki, said Saturday he would visit Yemen to talk with Yemeni officials about the war in Sa'ada.
"I will convey a letter from President Najad to the Yemeni President Saleh, we seek to bring peace to this country, and the Yemeni officials welcomed this visit," The Iranian news agency (IRNA) quoted Mottaki as saying.
The visit, whose timing was not determined by the official, came after semi-official accusations for Iran of supporting Al Houthi rebels with weapons including missiles against armors.
Press reports say that an Iranian ship laden with the missiles sailed from an African harbour across the Red sea to the Yemeni harbour of Midi which is close to Al Malahaid where Al Houthi rebels opened a new frontline in this round of war which started last August 10th.
More than 10 Al Houthi rebels were killed in fierce clashes inside the old city of Sa'ada between armed local residents supported by the government and the rebels living in the same city, local sources said.
At least 7 armed people were killed including three security men in the fiercest clashes that the city has ever witnessed, sources from the city said.
The sources also said that the local residents of the old city decided today to get rid of the rebels from the city after one of their houses was destroyed by the rebels, who put mines under the house.
Sporadic clashes continued all the day in the old city, although it has been surrounded by the security forces from all directions since the beginning of the war. The rebels who fight are from among the residents of city.
In the western frontline of Al Malahaid, the army says controls the most important posts. The fighters bombed the hideouts of the rebels in Razeh where the rebels wanted to push the population into the fighting by force.
Meanwhile, the Iranian foreign minister, Manouchehr Mottaki, said Saturday he would visit Yemen to talk with Yemeni officials about the war in Sa'ada.
"I will convey a letter from President Najad to the Yemeni President Saleh, we seek to bring peace to this country, and the Yemeni officials welcomed this visit," The Iranian news agency (IRNA) quoted Mottaki as saying.
The visit, whose timing was not determined by the official, came after semi-official accusations for Iran of supporting Al Houthi rebels with weapons including missiles against armors.
Press reports say that an Iranian ship laden with the missiles sailed from an African harbour across the Red sea to the Yemeni harbour of Midi which is close to Al Malahaid where Al Houthi rebels opened a new frontline in this round of war which started last August 10th.
Two Al Houthi supporters sentenced to death, 9 jailed
By Nasser Arrabyee/17/10/2009
Two Al Houthi supporters were sentenced to death and 9 others were sentenced to 8-12 years in prison for fighting with Al Houth rebels last year.
Chaired by Judge Redhwan Al Namer, the special State Security Court issued Saturday the death sentence against Abdul Qader Abu Taleb, and Hussein Al Kebsi.
From behind the bars, the defendants were shouting "Death to America, death to Israel, curse to Jews and victory to Islam" , which is the slogan of Al Houthi armed rebellion. They did not ask for an appeal because they did not recognize legitimacy of the court.
The 11 defendants were convicted of forming an armed gang and carrying out sabotage acts and killing soldiers and citizens.
They are among about 150 Al Houthi rebels still being tried now for igniting an armed rebellion against the State in the middle of 2008 in the northern outskirt of the capital Sana'a, Bani Hushaish.
The same court was supposed to start today Saturday a trial of for 9 Al Houthi rebels from a group of more 40 who were brought last week from Sa'ada for trial on charges of sabotage acts. The session of the new 9 rebels was not held maybe because of so many cases being looked by the court.
Meanwhile, 7 Al Qaeda suspects were put on trial Saturday before the same court for charges of forming an armed gang to target government and western interests in Yemen.
The defendant denied the charges and session was adjourned until next Saturday.
Two Al Houthi supporters were sentenced to death and 9 others were sentenced to 8-12 years in prison for fighting with Al Houth rebels last year.
Chaired by Judge Redhwan Al Namer, the special State Security Court issued Saturday the death sentence against Abdul Qader Abu Taleb, and Hussein Al Kebsi.
From behind the bars, the defendants were shouting "Death to America, death to Israel, curse to Jews and victory to Islam" , which is the slogan of Al Houthi armed rebellion. They did not ask for an appeal because they did not recognize legitimacy of the court.
The 11 defendants were convicted of forming an armed gang and carrying out sabotage acts and killing soldiers and citizens.
They are among about 150 Al Houthi rebels still being tried now for igniting an armed rebellion against the State in the middle of 2008 in the northern outskirt of the capital Sana'a, Bani Hushaish.
The same court was supposed to start today Saturday a trial of for 9 Al Houthi rebels from a group of more 40 who were brought last week from Sa'ada for trial on charges of sabotage acts. The session of the new 9 rebels was not held maybe because of so many cases being looked by the court.
Meanwhile, 7 Al Qaeda suspects were put on trial Saturday before the same court for charges of forming an armed gang to target government and western interests in Yemen.
The defendant denied the charges and session was adjourned until next Saturday.
Friday, 16 October 2009
The army advances, 9 rebels put on trial
By Nasser Arrabyee/17/10/2009
The Yemen army has controlled three important posts in the western frontline of Al Malahaid and killed 17 Al Houthi rebels in combing operations, said the Ministry of Defense Saturday.
The mountains of Dhaher Al Hemar, Al Manafes, and Al K control of the army, the Ministry said in a statement.
The statement also said that the tribesmen of Waelah are imposing a blockade on a group rebels in Abu Jabarah valley.
A total of 11 rebels were killed in the areas of Mahthah and Al Camp around Sa'ada city where a group of them tried to attack the army vehicles.
Two rebels were killed when they alone tried to attack a military post in Al Tamthala area in Shabarek of Harf Sufyan, south of Sa'ada. Three rebels were arrested in a combing operation in Al Okab around Sa'ada city, the statement said.
In Al Talh area, west of Sa'ada city, the rebels kidnapped the citizen Mahmoud Mused Al Shafae after he donated blood for the army, the statement said.
Four rebels were killed and two soldiers were injured when clashes took place between the two sides when Al Houthi rebels were transferring 8 dead bodies of them in Razeh area, local sources said.
Meanwhile, court sources said, the State Security Court, starts today Saturday the trial of 9 Al Houthi rebels on charges of forming an armed gang for carrying out sabotage acts which resulted in killing soldiers and citizens. The security authorities referred so far about 40 rebels for prosecution.
The Yemen army has controlled three important posts in the western frontline of Al Malahaid and killed 17 Al Houthi rebels in combing operations, said the Ministry of Defense Saturday.
The mountains of Dhaher Al Hemar, Al Manafes, and Al K control of the army, the Ministry said in a statement.
The statement also said that the tribesmen of Waelah are imposing a blockade on a group rebels in Abu Jabarah valley.
A total of 11 rebels were killed in the areas of Mahthah and Al Camp around Sa'ada city where a group of them tried to attack the army vehicles.
Two rebels were killed when they alone tried to attack a military post in Al Tamthala area in Shabarek of Harf Sufyan, south of Sa'ada. Three rebels were arrested in a combing operation in Al Okab around Sa'ada city, the statement said.
In Al Talh area, west of Sa'ada city, the rebels kidnapped the citizen Mahmoud Mused Al Shafae after he donated blood for the army, the statement said.
Four rebels were killed and two soldiers were injured when clashes took place between the two sides when Al Houthi rebels were transferring 8 dead bodies of them in Razeh area, local sources said.
Meanwhile, court sources said, the State Security Court, starts today Saturday the trial of 9 Al Houthi rebels on charges of forming an armed gang for carrying out sabotage acts which resulted in killing soldiers and citizens. The security authorities referred so far about 40 rebels for prosecution.
Egypt helps Yemen's displaced people
By Nasser Arrabyee/16/10/2009
Two Egyptian airplanes laden with various relief materials on board for helping the displaced people by
Earlier in the day, the official news agency said that Egyptian President Mohammed Husseni Mubarak had instructed his government to send urgent relief assistance to help the Yemeni displaced.
The UN says it need about 24 million dollars to help about 150,000 people who fled their homes as a result of the war which first broke out between Al Houthi rebels and the government troops in 2004.
More than 60,000 of them displaced after the last round of this war that started last August 10th. About 10 million US dollars were pledged so far by donors notably US,
Thursday, 15 October 2009
Three Lebanese fighting with Al Houthi killed in Yemen
By Nasser Arrabyee/15/10/2009
Three Lebanese experts of explosives working for Al Houthi rebels were killed after air strikes on the frontline of Al Al Malahaid, west of Sa'ada, military sources said Thursday.
"The bodies of the three Lebanese experts were found in Uraig area after troops took control over a series of mountains in which Al Houthi terrorists were positioning," said the military sources.
The sources also said that the army launched Thursday a wide attack on the rebels' positions killing more than 45 rebels and taking control over important posts in western frontline of Al Malahaid where the rebels tried to block the high way between Saudi Arabia and Yemen.
The air fighters also implemented painful strikes on two areas nearby Al Qala'a in Razeh where Al Houthi rebels tried over the last two days to open new frontline despite strong refusals of any confrontations by local resident of this area.
The rebels try to push the densely populated Razeh into fighting with them against the troops. The majority of Razeh is either neutral or against the armed rebellion.
Five people were killed including three women today Thursday in Razeh where rebels clashed with tribesmen who refused to fight with them, local sources said.
And in Sa'ada city where troops tighten the noose on sleep cells, seven rebels were arrested Thursday, and five others were arrested in Alab in the far north of the Sa'ada, according to the deputy minister of interior Mohammed Al Kawasi who has been supervising the special security operations in the city from the beginning of the war.
From their side, the rebels killed two citizens and injured four others when they pounded with artillery on residential areas in the city of Saada, local sources from the city said Thursday.
The rebels said they destroyed two stores of weapons in Jabal Al Aswad in Harf Sufyan.
"In special operation we destroyed the southern and western arsenals of Jabal Al Aswad with artillery," said a statement sent through email by the rebels.
"The people of Houth and Sufyan were able to see huge fire and clouds of smoke in the sky after our bombardments on the stores," the statement added.
Local sources said that the rebels fired at a relief convoy in Harf Sufyan where two people accompanying the convoy were injured.
Three Lebanese experts of explosives working for Al Houthi rebels were killed after air strikes on the frontline of Al Al Malahaid, west of Sa'ada, military sources said Thursday.
"The bodies of the three Lebanese experts were found in Uraig area after troops took control over a series of mountains in which Al Houthi terrorists were positioning," said the military sources.
The sources also said that the army launched Thursday a wide attack on the rebels' positions killing more than 45 rebels and taking control over important posts in western frontline of Al Malahaid where the rebels tried to block the high way between Saudi Arabia and Yemen.
The air fighters also implemented painful strikes on two areas nearby Al Qala'a in Razeh where Al Houthi rebels tried over the last two days to open new frontline despite strong refusals of any confrontations by local resident of this area.
The rebels try to push the densely populated Razeh into fighting with them against the troops. The majority of Razeh is either neutral or against the armed rebellion.
Five people were killed including three women today Thursday in Razeh where rebels clashed with tribesmen who refused to fight with them, local sources said.
And in Sa'ada city where troops tighten the noose on sleep cells, seven rebels were arrested Thursday, and five others were arrested in Alab in the far north of the Sa'ada, according to the deputy minister of interior Mohammed Al Kawasi who has been supervising the special security operations in the city from the beginning of the war.
From their side, the rebels killed two citizens and injured four others when they pounded with artillery on residential areas in the city of Saada, local sources from the city said Thursday.
The rebels said they destroyed two stores of weapons in Jabal Al Aswad in Harf Sufyan.
"In special operation we destroyed the southern and western arsenals of Jabal Al Aswad with artillery," said a statement sent through email by the rebels.
"The people of Houth and Sufyan were able to see huge fire and clouds of smoke in the sky after our bombardments on the stores," the statement added.
Local sources said that the rebels fired at a relief convoy in Harf Sufyan where two people accompanying the convoy were injured.
Wednesday, 14 October 2009
Army focuses on rebels' hideouts and supply movement
By Nasser Arrabyee/15/10/2009
A total of 6 Al Houthi rebels were killed in special operations around the city of Sa'ada where relative calm prevailed over the last few hours, the Defense Ministry said in a statement Thursday.
Two rebels were killed when they tried to block the road between Sa'ada and Al Jawf at the area of Kutaf, northeast of Sa'ada city.
Three rebels were killed when a group of rebels tried to attack Al Sama'a mountain which overlooks the city of Sa'ada. One rebel was killed nearby the Station of Jarman close to the city, where he tried to attack check point, the statement clarified.
Three cars laden with weapons and food supply for Al Houthi rebels were destroyed in Ghamer west of Sa'ada, and three hideouts were destroyed in Al Majza'ah and Sayfan south of Sa'ada, the statement said.
From their side, the rebels killed a highranking officer with two of his soldiers in an ambush made in Razeh area west of Sa'ada province where confrontations started to appear over the last few days.
Local sources said that Colonel Ahmed Al Shaibani was assassinated when a group of rebels opened fire on his car and clashed with his companions killing two of them in Burkan area of Razeh district.
Meanwhile, a tribal chief from Bakem area in the far north of Sa'ada, where rebels try to open a new frontline, called Thursday for more support from the government to fight Al Houthis.
Shiekh Asad Al Othamn said he and his tribesmen are in need for more troops to stand with them against the rebels.
"If there is no new enforcement, Al Houthi rebels will take control over the area," he warned.
From Al Jawf, south of Sa'ada, Sheikh Al Hasan Abkar, called the government to be more serious in supporting his tribes in Al Ghail district to fight Al Houthi rebels.
He said in press statement that he attended a meeting in Sana'a brining together officials and tribal sheikhs from Al Jawf for coordinating efforts to prevent any activity for Al Houthis in the neighboring province.
Sheikh AlBakr said the people who support Al Houthi in Al Jawf were only wronged by some government official but they are not believing in the ideas of Al Houthi.
"So, we should solve the problems of these people, if we want to prevent them from supporting Al Houthi," he said.
A total of 6 Al Houthi rebels were killed in special operations around the city of Sa'ada where relative calm prevailed over the last few hours, the Defense Ministry said in a statement Thursday.
Two rebels were killed when they tried to block the road between Sa'ada and Al Jawf at the area of Kutaf, northeast of Sa'ada city.
Three rebels were killed when a group of rebels tried to attack Al Sama'a mountain which overlooks the city of Sa'ada. One rebel was killed nearby the Station of Jarman close to the city, where he tried to attack check point, the statement clarified.
Three cars laden with weapons and food supply for Al Houthi rebels were destroyed in Ghamer west of Sa'ada, and three hideouts were destroyed in Al Majza'ah and Sayfan south of Sa'ada, the statement said.
From their side, the rebels killed a highranking officer with two of his soldiers in an ambush made in Razeh area west of Sa'ada province where confrontations started to appear over the last few days.
Local sources said that Colonel Ahmed Al Shaibani was assassinated when a group of rebels opened fire on his car and clashed with his companions killing two of them in Burkan area of Razeh district.
Meanwhile, a tribal chief from Bakem area in the far north of Sa'ada, where rebels try to open a new frontline, called Thursday for more support from the government to fight Al Houthis.
Shiekh Asad Al Othamn said he and his tribesmen are in need for more troops to stand with them against the rebels.
"If there is no new enforcement, Al Houthi rebels will take control over the area," he warned.
From Al Jawf, south of Sa'ada, Sheikh Al Hasan Abkar, called the government to be more serious in supporting his tribes in Al Ghail district to fight Al Houthi rebels.
He said in press statement that he attended a meeting in Sana'a brining together officials and tribal sheikhs from Al Jawf for coordinating efforts to prevent any activity for Al Houthis in the neighboring province.
Sheikh AlBakr said the people who support Al Houthi in Al Jawf were only wronged by some government official but they are not believing in the ideas of Al Houthi.
"So, we should solve the problems of these people, if we want to prevent them from supporting Al Houthi," he said.
War against rebels ends within days, Saleh says
By Nasser Arrabyee/14/10/2009
The Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh said Wednesday that victory over Al Houthi armed rebellion will be announced very soon.
"The army is achieving great, great progress in all frontlines, and over the coming few days the victory will be declared," said Saleh in his speech on the occasion of the 46th anniversary of 14 October revolution.
He said Al Houthi rebels forced women and children to leave their houses and prevented the people of Sa'ada from development services.
"They attack the government interests and kill citizens and soldiers, and then they say they defend themselves," he said in a small ceremony held in the college of war in Sana'a.
"From whom they defend themselves," he wondered.
Saleh did not speak about the unrest in the south where demonstrations were taking place while he was speaking in Sana'a. Thousands of demonstrators in Lahj and Al Dhale'e demanded Wednesday separation of the south, which united with the north in 1190.
Observers said the end of the ongoing war may be very close that will not be necessarily the end of the problem.
"If the government imposed it's sovereignty on the whole of Sa'ada province, sporadic clashes will continue there or some other areas," said Najeeb Ghalab, political analyst and politics professor at Sana'a university.
"The ideological extremism of the racial Al Houthi and his connections with the Iranian revolution will not help to reach a political solution," Ghalab said.
He agreed with the idea that the military victory over rebels has become imminent.
"Because Al Houthi rebels were only committing suicide attacks on the troops over the last few days."
President Saleh speaking about the imminent victory over the rebels coincided with distributing the pictures of the most wanted list of 55 rebel leaders and hanging their pictures in public places in the province of Sa'ada.
Some were already arrested of the 55-wanted list, which includes the top leaders Abdul Malik Al Houthi, his brother Yahya who is in Germany, and their father Badr Al Deen Al Houthi.
The arrests continued Wednesday in the city of Sa'ada where Al Houthi sleep cells tried repeatedly to help semi-suicide attackers control the city of Sa'ada without success.
Three rebels were killed today Wednesday in the old city of Sa'ada where the security forces arrested four rebels according to the deputy minister of interior Mohammed Al Kawsi , who has been supervising special security operations in the city from the beginning of the war last August 10th .
Al Kawsi also said that 12 other rebels were arrested Wednesday in Alab area in the far north of the city.
More than 200 rebels were arrested in the city so far, and about 40 of them were already referred to prosecution for charges of forming armed gangs for carrying out sabotage acts.
The Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh said Wednesday that victory over Al Houthi armed rebellion will be announced very soon.
"The army is achieving great, great progress in all frontlines, and over the coming few days the victory will be declared," said Saleh in his speech on the occasion of the 46th anniversary of 14 October revolution.
He said Al Houthi rebels forced women and children to leave their houses and prevented the people of Sa'ada from development services.
"They attack the government interests and kill citizens and soldiers, and then they say they defend themselves," he said in a small ceremony held in the college of war in Sana'a.
"From whom they defend themselves," he wondered.
Saleh did not speak about the unrest in the south where demonstrations were taking place while he was speaking in Sana'a. Thousands of demonstrators in Lahj and Al Dhale'e demanded Wednesday separation of the south, which united with the north in 1190.
Observers said the end of the ongoing war may be very close that will not be necessarily the end of the problem.
"If the government imposed it's sovereignty on the whole of Sa'ada province, sporadic clashes will continue there or some other areas," said Najeeb Ghalab, political analyst and politics professor at Sana'a university.
"The ideological extremism of the racial Al Houthi and his connections with the Iranian revolution will not help to reach a political solution," Ghalab said.
He agreed with the idea that the military victory over rebels has become imminent.
"Because Al Houthi rebels were only committing suicide attacks on the troops over the last few days."
President Saleh speaking about the imminent victory over the rebels coincided with distributing the pictures of the most wanted list of 55 rebel leaders and hanging their pictures in public places in the province of Sa'ada.
Some were already arrested of the 55-wanted list, which includes the top leaders Abdul Malik Al Houthi, his brother Yahya who is in Germany, and their father Badr Al Deen Al Houthi.
The arrests continued Wednesday in the city of Sa'ada where Al Houthi sleep cells tried repeatedly to help semi-suicide attackers control the city of Sa'ada without success.
Three rebels were killed today Wednesday in the old city of Sa'ada where the security forces arrested four rebels according to the deputy minister of interior Mohammed Al Kawsi , who has been supervising special security operations in the city from the beginning of the war last August 10th .
Al Kawsi also said that 12 other rebels were arrested Wednesday in Alab area in the far north of the city.
More than 200 rebels were arrested in the city so far, and about 40 of them were already referred to prosecution for charges of forming armed gangs for carrying out sabotage acts.
Tuesday, 13 October 2009
Rebels execute two citizens and kidnap 9 others for not fighting with them
By Nasser Arrabyee/14/10/2009
Al Houthi rebels executed two citizens and kidnapped 9 others for refusing to fight with them against the government troops in Razeh district west of Sa'ada, local sources said Wednesday.
Eyewitnesses from Razeh said the rebels executed Yahya Bin Yahya Musfer in front of a number of his relatives by firing a rocket-propelled grenade (RPG) on him.
The rebels also executed Ali Dhaif Allah Masawi, and kidnapped nine others when they refused to fight with them against the troops, said the eyewitnesses.
At least 18 Al Houthi rebels were killed in clashes between rebels and tribesmen supported by the government in Razeh district, west of Sa'ada, the local sources added.
It is the first for Razeh area to witness armed confrontations since the current war broke out last August 10th.
Earlier this week, the tribal chiefs of Razeh announced to the rebels and government troops they would not allow any confrontations in their area and they are supporting peaceful solutions for any problems and against any violence.
The rebels attacked centre of Razeh, Al Kala'a, where local government buildings are located, in an attempt to control the densely populated district.
The rebels try to force the local people to fight with them against the troops. The sources said.
Al Houthi rebels executed two citizens and kidnapped 9 others for refusing to fight with them against the government troops in Razeh district west of Sa'ada, local sources said Wednesday.
Eyewitnesses from Razeh said the rebels executed Yahya Bin Yahya Musfer in front of a number of his relatives by firing a rocket-propelled grenade (RPG) on him.
The rebels also executed Ali Dhaif Allah Masawi, and kidnapped nine others when they refused to fight with them against the troops, said the eyewitnesses.
At least 18 Al Houthi rebels were killed in clashes between rebels and tribesmen supported by the government in Razeh district, west of Sa'ada, the local sources added.
It is the first for Razeh area to witness armed confrontations since the current war broke out last August 10th.
Earlier this week, the tribal chiefs of Razeh announced to the rebels and government troops they would not allow any confrontations in their area and they are supporting peaceful solutions for any problems and against any violence.
The rebels attacked centre of Razeh, Al Kala'a, where local government buildings are located, in an attempt to control the densely populated district.
The rebels try to force the local people to fight with them against the troops. The sources said.
Final verdict on 12 Al Houthi supporters, and seven Al Qaeda affiliates put on trial
By Nasser Arrabyee/14/10/2009
A total of seven AlQaeda suspects will be put on trial next Saturday on charges of planning to carry out terrorist acts against government and western targets in Yemen, said court sources Wednesday.
The prosecution accused the seven men of forming an armed gang during the period from January to April 2009. They were targeting tourists, western interests and governmental interests, the sources said.
One of them threw a hand grenade injuring some security men when they were arrested last April with explosives and various weapons in their possessions.
The seven young people were identified as Hussein Nasser Ali Al Marwalah, Mohammed Kasem Ali Al Ghawli, Hani Mohammed Al Alimi, Yousef Mohammed Hassan Al Hajaji, Abdullah Ahmed Al Matarti, Ameen Abdullah Al Najar, and Mutab Saleh Abdul Azeez Al Qadhi.
On the same day, the same court, the State Security Court, will issue a final verdict against 12 Al Houthi supporters who were put on trial earlier this year.
The 12 defendants are among a bigger group of about 150 of Al Houthi supporters who are being tried for forming an armed gang for fighting against the State in Bani Hushiash at the northern outskirt of the capital Sana'a in the middle of 2008.
A total of seven AlQaeda suspects will be put on trial next Saturday on charges of planning to carry out terrorist acts against government and western targets in Yemen, said court sources Wednesday.
The prosecution accused the seven men of forming an armed gang during the period from January to April 2009. They were targeting tourists, western interests and governmental interests, the sources said.
One of them threw a hand grenade injuring some security men when they were arrested last April with explosives and various weapons in their possessions.
The seven young people were identified as Hussein Nasser Ali Al Marwalah, Mohammed Kasem Ali Al Ghawli, Hani Mohammed Al Alimi, Yousef Mohammed Hassan Al Hajaji, Abdullah Ahmed Al Matarti, Ameen Abdullah Al Najar, and Mutab Saleh Abdul Azeez Al Qadhi.
On the same day, the same court, the State Security Court, will issue a final verdict against 12 Al Houthi supporters who were put on trial earlier this year.
The 12 defendants are among a bigger group of about 150 of Al Houthi supporters who are being tried for forming an armed gang for fighting against the State in Bani Hushiash at the northern outskirt of the capital Sana'a in the middle of 2008.
One-day payment for displaced people
By Nasser Arrabyee/13/10/2009
The Yemeni government decided Tuesday to deduct one-day payment from the salaries of all employees for helping the displaced people by the war in Sa'ada.
The spokesman for government in his weekly press conference, Hassan Al Lawzi, said the army is advancing in all frontlines of fighting with the rebels.
"The army is advancing, and all areas which have been cleaned up from the rebels are under the full control of the troops, and the rebels can never restore them," he said.
He said is still determined to end armed rebellion and it took this long time only because the rebels are using citizens as human shields in their guerilla war.
Al Lawzi denied that the government closed an Iranian hospital in Sana'a on Tuesday because of supporting Al Houthi rebels.
He said that the Iranian hospital, which was closed all of a sudden on Tuesday, was closed because the hospital owes about 27 million YR to the Ministry of Endowments and Religious Affairs.
"Nobody can close it, and political motivation was behind the closure, it's only the debts," Al Lawzi told the reporters.
The Sana'a-based UNHCR called on the government to change the place of one of four places determined for the displaced people because fighting is very close to it.
The UNHCR's call came hours after the government determined the four places : Al Mazrak, Khaiwan, Sa'ada city, and Alab, as safe places for the IDPs.
Khaiwan, in Harf Sufyan, south of Sa'ada, which is still under establishment, was considered very dangerous by the UN agency.
"It is unsafe, there has been fire exchange for three days there, the relief team can not reach the IDPs," the UNCHR spokesman.
On Monday, five Al Houthi rebels and two displaced people were killed nearby the Khaiwan camp after clashes between tribesmen loyal to the government and the rebels who wanted to attack the troops through the place of the camp.
The agency also said that the first convoy from Saudi Arabia had arrived to help about 2000 displaced people in the far north of Sa'ada. He said one more convoy is coming in the near future.
Meanwhile, a total of 14 rebels were arrested in the city of Sa'ada today Tuesday, said the deputy minister of interior Mohammed Al kawsi, who has been supervising the especial security operations inside the city since beginning of the war last August 10th.
More than 200 rebels were arrested so far inside the city where rebels hide among the residents and try from time to time to attack the security men.
Monday, 12 October 2009
Al Houthi rebels use civilians as human shields
By Nasser Arrabyee/13/10/2009
The Yemeni government accused Al Houthi rebels of preventing the civilians in the volatile areas in Sa’ada from displacing to safer places and using them as human shields.
The supreme security committee, which supervises the 63-day old war, called civilians to displace to four different places, relatively safe, where camps were established.
In responses to the UN repeated calls for securing safe corridors to deliver assistance to the war-affected people, the supervising security committee said that the national committee for relief would secure their passage to the following places:
People from Harf Sufan should displace to the Khaiwan camp in Harf Sufyan.
People from Razeh, Shada, Al Dhaher, haidan and Ghamer should displace to Al Mazrak camp in Al Malahaid, far west of Sa'ada.
People from Bakem, Kataber, and Manbah should displace to Alab camp , far north of Sa'ada.
People from Sahar and Sakain should displace to the city of Sa'ada camp and the two other camps of Ahsa and Wasam close to the city.
More than 60,000 people fled their homes since the outbreak of the war in August 10th, 2009. The UN estimated all the internally displaced persons (IDPs) since the armed rebellion started in June 2004, at 150,000. The population of Sa'ada province is estimated at about 700,000.
For military developments, Monday October 11th , was relatively quiet except for air strikes on the rebels' fortifications and supply movements, according to sources from the ground.
The Ministry of Defense said the troops destroyed a weapons store in Farwah area in Al Mahather. The troops took control over the two farms of Senan and Abu Kuroosh in the areas around Sa'ada city after artillery bombardment on the rebels who occupying the farms.
About 20 rebels were killed Monday in different places in the two main frontlines of Harf Sufyan and Al Malahaid, according to the Ministry's statement.
The statement also said that the troops secured Monday the road of Al Buqa- Sa'ada, which was blocked by Al Houthi rebels earlier Sunday.
Politically, Germany prevented the political spokesman of Al Houthi rebels, Yahya Al Houthi who has been living there since 2005, from exercising activities hostile to Yemen, press reports said,
The Arab American Magazine quoted a Yemeni official in Germany now as saying Germany asked Yahya Al Houthi to stop any hostile activity against Yemen or his refuge will be terminated.
The Yemeni government accused Al Houthi rebels of preventing the civilians in the volatile areas in Sa’ada from displacing to safer places and using them as human shields.
The supreme security committee, which supervises the 63-day old war, called civilians to displace to four different places, relatively safe, where camps were established.
In responses to the UN repeated calls for securing safe corridors to deliver assistance to the war-affected people, the supervising security committee said that the national committee for relief would secure their passage to the following places:
People from Harf Sufan should displace to the Khaiwan camp in Harf Sufyan.
People from Razeh, Shada, Al Dhaher, haidan and Ghamer should displace to Al Mazrak camp in Al Malahaid, far west of Sa'ada.
People from Bakem, Kataber, and Manbah should displace to Alab camp , far north of Sa'ada.
People from Sahar and Sakain should displace to the city of Sa'ada camp and the two other camps of Ahsa and Wasam close to the city.
More than 60,000 people fled their homes since the outbreak of the war in August 10th, 2009. The UN estimated all the internally displaced persons (IDPs) since the armed rebellion started in June 2004, at 150,000. The population of Sa'ada province is estimated at about 700,000.
For military developments, Monday October 11th , was relatively quiet except for air strikes on the rebels' fortifications and supply movements, according to sources from the ground.
The Ministry of Defense said the troops destroyed a weapons store in Farwah area in Al Mahather. The troops took control over the two farms of Senan and Abu Kuroosh in the areas around Sa'ada city after artillery bombardment on the rebels who occupying the farms.
About 20 rebels were killed Monday in different places in the two main frontlines of Harf Sufyan and Al Malahaid, according to the Ministry's statement.
The statement also said that the troops secured Monday the road of Al Buqa- Sa'ada, which was blocked by Al Houthi rebels earlier Sunday.
Politically, Germany prevented the political spokesman of Al Houthi rebels, Yahya Al Houthi who has been living there since 2005, from exercising activities hostile to Yemen, press reports said,
The Arab American Magazine quoted a Yemeni official in Germany now as saying Germany asked Yahya Al Houthi to stop any hostile activity against Yemen or his refuge will be terminated.
59 rebels killed,31 arrested
By Nasser Arrabyee 12/10/2009
A total of 59 Al Houthi rebels were killed and 31 others detained over the last 24 hours in the ongoing battles between them and the government troops in various areas in Sa’ada and Harf Sufyan, military and security officials said Monday.
A group of 37 rebels were killed in the battles around the city of Sa’ada after a wide ground attack early Sunday on Al Makash area west the city.
22 others more were killed in attacks in Al Sama Mountain and Harf Sufyan area.
“The terrorist leader Sadeq Ali Jushaish and 11 other terrorists were killed when they attempted to attack Al Sama’a mountain,” said a statement Monday by the Ministry of Defense.
10 more rebels were killed when their car was destroyed by artillery bombardment in Harf Sufyan.
A group 15 rebels were arrested in the city of Sa’ada, 2 more in Alab area, far north of the city, and one was arrested in the mountain of Al Sama, which overlooks the city, said the Deputy Minister of Interior Mohammed Abdullah Al Kawsi on Monday.
A total of 13 rebels were arrested in the neighboring province of Amran, the Ministry of Defense said in its statement.
On their side, Al Houthi rebels said they opened a new frontline from northeast of Sa’ada city to block a supply road and blockade and fight the troops in the city.
They said they did the step after the troops cut their supply roads from Barat road, south of the city, and from other areas.
“We opened the new front line of Al Buqa’a- Kutaf- Sa’ada, to cut the supply of the army in Sa’ada, the government is trying to prevent any food supply from entering to our areas,” said the rebels in a statement sent through emails.
A total of 7 teachers were kidnapped by the rebels in Sakain, on Monday according to a government statement.
The statement which published the names of the seven teachers, said the teachers were taken from their schools to unknown place.
A total of 59 Al Houthi rebels were killed and 31 others detained over the last 24 hours in the ongoing battles between them and the government troops in various areas in Sa’ada and Harf Sufyan, military and security officials said Monday.
A group of 37 rebels were killed in the battles around the city of Sa’ada after a wide ground attack early Sunday on Al Makash area west the city.
22 others more were killed in attacks in Al Sama Mountain and Harf Sufyan area.
“The terrorist leader Sadeq Ali Jushaish and 11 other terrorists were killed when they attempted to attack Al Sama’a mountain,” said a statement Monday by the Ministry of Defense.
10 more rebels were killed when their car was destroyed by artillery bombardment in Harf Sufyan.
A group 15 rebels were arrested in the city of Sa’ada, 2 more in Alab area, far north of the city, and one was arrested in the mountain of Al Sama, which overlooks the city, said the Deputy Minister of Interior Mohammed Abdullah Al Kawsi on Monday.
A total of 13 rebels were arrested in the neighboring province of Amran, the Ministry of Defense said in its statement.
On their side, Al Houthi rebels said they opened a new frontline from northeast of Sa’ada city to block a supply road and blockade and fight the troops in the city.
They said they did the step after the troops cut their supply roads from Barat road, south of the city, and from other areas.
“We opened the new front line of Al Buqa’a- Kutaf- Sa’ada, to cut the supply of the army in Sa’ada, the government is trying to prevent any food supply from entering to our areas,” said the rebels in a statement sent through emails.
A total of 7 teachers were kidnapped by the rebels in Sakain, on Monday according to a government statement.
The statement which published the names of the seven teachers, said the teachers were taken from their schools to unknown place.
Sunday, 11 October 2009
Al Houthi rebels kill two displaced people, UN calls for quicker assistance
By Nasser Arrabyee/11/10/2009
Five Al Houthi rebels and two displaced people were killed when Al Houthi rebesl attacked a refugee camp under construction in Khaiwan area where troops position in the neighboring mountains, sources from the camp said Sunday.
The rebels wanted to attack the troops in AlJabal AlAswad, which overlooks the town of
Al Houthi rebel clashed only with tribesmen supported by the government, in the battles, which continued until late Sunday before the troops interfered to support the tribesmen against the rebels, the sources said.
The rebels' assault on the refugee camp coincided with the visit of the UN undersecretary for humanitarian affairs John Holmes to
Holmes said the process of raising the estimated 24 million US dollars needed to help about 150,000 displaced people over the coming four months, is very slow.
In a press conference at the end of his 3-day visit on Sunday Holmes said only about 10 million US dollars were pledged by the donors like US, UK, Saudi Arabia, and Germany until today.
For military developments, more than 37 rebels were killed in the wide attack, which the troops launched on the rebels in the western areas around the Sa'ada city, military sources said Sunday.
The same sources, however, said the troops did not make any progress in the ground. About 10 soldiers were killed and injured by friendly artillery pounding, the sources added.
"About 10 soldiers were killed and injured when our artillery mistakenly pounded on a group of soldiers from the new units which just came as enforcements," the sources said.
A high-ranking officer was killed in clashes with the rebels east of Harf Sufyan where two rebels were killed and four others injured and detained, said sources in Harf Sufyan frontline Sunday.
These developments came after the government welcomed a call by the rebels' leader Abdul Malik Al Houthi for dialogue. The government the road to dialogue is only abiding by the five conditions it set at the beginning of the war on August 10th. The five conditions include mainly the rebels' going down from the mountains and handing over the weapons.
Saturday, 10 October 2009
Massive ground attack on rebels
By Nasser Arrabyee/11/10/2009
The government troops are launching a massive ground attack on Al Houthi rebels in the areas around Sa'ada city, military sources participating in the attack said Sunday.
"We started the attack at the dawn, with artillery, tanks, and air fighters bombarding the hideouts of the rebels and the troops advancing,” the sources said.
The new military units, which were sent from Sana'a two days ago, are participating in the attack of Al Makash green farms where the rebels hide and repeatedly attack the city of Sa'ada.
For the frontline of Al Malahaid far west of Sa'ada province, the troops took controlled over the two important posts of Al Kamairah and Habajer where 25 rebels were killed Saturday, a military official statement said.
Six cars laden with weapons and supply for the rebels were destroyed Saturday in the areas around Sa'ada, said the statement.
Two of them were destroyed in Kuzan mountain one of them was carrying a gun machine, 23mm. One was destroyed in Al Zailah area and three others were destroyed in Al Camp area nearby the city of Sa'ada.
A sniper killed three rebels in this area and destroyed one of those cars, the statement said.
The hideout of the terrorist Hussein Yahya was destroyed, statement said.
For Al Houthis side, the rebels killed about 8 soldiers and injured tens of others in the battles of these areas according medical sources at Al Salam hospital in Sa’ada city.
The rebels also killed four people and injured four others including a woman and two of her children in different attacks.
In the district of Manabah in the far north of Sa'ada province, which is under the control of the rebels, "The saboteurs and terrorists killed cold-bloodedly the 95-year old Hussein Salem Saeed AlManabhi in front of his family," the statement said.
The over-aged Al Manabhi is the father of the member of parliament Hussein Al Manabhi, who was previously killed by the rebels for cooperating with government.
The wife of Hamiad Kashwa and two her children were killed and four others injured including the husband when the rebels exploded their car in Al Safra district, the statement said.
In a new development, the rebel leader Yahya Al Muhatwari was put on trial Sunday for the charges on participating in the armed rebellion.
Al Muhatwari, the first rebel leader to be tried before the State Security Court since the beginning of this war on August 10th, was running a media campaign for spreading the rebels ideas.
Politically, the Yemeni government welcomed an agreement by the rebels leader Abdul Malik Al Houthi on dialogue, but it said the rebels must first abide by the five conditions it set at the beginning of the war. The rebels must go down from the mountains and hand over weapons before sitting dialogue tables.
The government troops are launching a massive ground attack on Al Houthi rebels in the areas around Sa'ada city, military sources participating in the attack said Sunday.
"We started the attack at the dawn, with artillery, tanks, and air fighters bombarding the hideouts of the rebels and the troops advancing,” the sources said.
The new military units, which were sent from Sana'a two days ago, are participating in the attack of Al Makash green farms where the rebels hide and repeatedly attack the city of Sa'ada.
For the frontline of Al Malahaid far west of Sa'ada province, the troops took controlled over the two important posts of Al Kamairah and Habajer where 25 rebels were killed Saturday, a military official statement said.
Six cars laden with weapons and supply for the rebels were destroyed Saturday in the areas around Sa'ada, said the statement.
Two of them were destroyed in Kuzan mountain one of them was carrying a gun machine, 23mm. One was destroyed in Al Zailah area and three others were destroyed in Al Camp area nearby the city of Sa'ada.
A sniper killed three rebels in this area and destroyed one of those cars, the statement said.
The hideout of the terrorist Hussein Yahya was destroyed, statement said.
For Al Houthis side, the rebels killed about 8 soldiers and injured tens of others in the battles of these areas according medical sources at Al Salam hospital in Sa’ada city.
The rebels also killed four people and injured four others including a woman and two of her children in different attacks.
In the district of Manabah in the far north of Sa'ada province, which is under the control of the rebels, "The saboteurs and terrorists killed cold-bloodedly the 95-year old Hussein Salem Saeed AlManabhi in front of his family," the statement said.
The over-aged Al Manabhi is the father of the member of parliament Hussein Al Manabhi, who was previously killed by the rebels for cooperating with government.
The wife of Hamiad Kashwa and two her children were killed and four others injured including the husband when the rebels exploded their car in Al Safra district, the statement said.
In a new development, the rebel leader Yahya Al Muhatwari was put on trial Sunday for the charges on participating in the armed rebellion.
Al Muhatwari, the first rebel leader to be tried before the State Security Court since the beginning of this war on August 10th, was running a media campaign for spreading the rebels ideas.
Politically, the Yemeni government welcomed an agreement by the rebels leader Abdul Malik Al Houthi on dialogue, but it said the rebels must first abide by the five conditions it set at the beginning of the war. The rebels must go down from the mountains and hand over weapons before sitting dialogue tables.
13 Al Houthi rebels arrested
They were rrested in Harf Sufyan, the main frontline in the south of Sa'ada province, with weapons, ammunitions, hostile leaflets, in their possession, the statement said.
Friday, 9 October 2009
More 100 rebeles killed 280 injured
By Nasser Arrabyee/10/10/1009
More than 100 Al Houthi rebels were killed and 280 injured over the last 24 hours in continuation of bloody battles around the city of Sa'ada, north of the country, said the Defense Ministry Saturday.
"The terrorists and saboteurs of Al Houthi infiltrated between the military camps and check points and the armed forces and repelled them and directed painful blows killing more than 100 and injuring 280 and the others escaped," Defense Ministry statement said.
"There is no way for the rebels and terrorists to surrender and put down their weapons to be brought to justice."
Eyewitnesses from Al Makash around Sa'ada city where such bloody battles happened Thursday Friday, and still going on Saturday, said the rebels attack individually and in groups almost every three or four hours in a suicidal way.
Independent sources said more than 10 soldiers were killed and dozens injured in those battles.
The military officials describe such attacks as crazy and desperate and say the rebels do this because they feel their end is very close.
For their side, the rebels down played the progress made by the military saying it is only propaganda.
In a statement sent by the rebels to media through emails, they said the controlled 70 posts and destroyed about 136 armored vehicles and tanks only in the main the frontline of Harf Sufyan.
More than 100 Al Houthi rebels were killed and 280 injured over the last 24 hours in continuation of bloody battles around the city of Sa'ada, north of the country, said the Defense Ministry Saturday.
"The terrorists and saboteurs of Al Houthi infiltrated between the military camps and check points and the armed forces and repelled them and directed painful blows killing more than 100 and injuring 280 and the others escaped," Defense Ministry statement said.
"There is no way for the rebels and terrorists to surrender and put down their weapons to be brought to justice."
Eyewitnesses from Al Makash around Sa'ada city where such bloody battles happened Thursday Friday, and still going on Saturday, said the rebels attack individually and in groups almost every three or four hours in a suicidal way.
Independent sources said more than 10 soldiers were killed and dozens injured in those battles.
The military officials describe such attacks as crazy and desperate and say the rebels do this because they feel their end is very close.
For their side, the rebels down played the progress made by the military saying it is only propaganda.
In a statement sent by the rebels to media through emails, they said the controlled 70 posts and destroyed about 136 armored vehicles and tanks only in the main the frontline of Harf Sufyan.
Thursday, 8 October 2009
Rebels attack UN convoy, injuring relief worker
Rebels attack UN convoy, injuring relief worker
By Nasser Arrabyee/09/10/2009
A relief worker was injured when Al Houthi rebels attacked an aid convoy for displaced people east of Sa'ada province, local source said Friday.
"Asad Hussien Mohammed was injured in his right foot when Al Houthi rebels attacked assistance convoy from UNICEF and WFP for Al Mabdah camp," said Hassan Abu Hadra, director of health in Al Jawf province.
The attack happened in the eastern area between Al Jawf and Sa'ada while the convoy was in its way to the camp of Al Mabdah which has about 400 displaced families.
The tribal sheikh Hussein Mohammed, father of Asad, confirmed that his son now is being treated in a hospital in the capital Sana'a. Asad was working with the relief teams.
For military developments, three rebels were killed and 9 others were arrested including three Africans, military sources said Friday.
A group of rebels tried to attack Al Sama Mountain close to the city of
Three Al Houthi-linked Africans, mostly Somalis, were arrested in Ghuraz, east of the city of
"The terrorist Ali Mohsen Al Khawlani was arrested in Al Sahan area, terrorist Nasser Mohammed Ali was arrested while infiltrating to Al Shakra post, terrorist Ebrahim Ali was arrested while driving a car laden with petrol and diesel camouflaged with bags of potatoes in Sahar district," the military source said.
A car laden with weapons was destroyed while in its way to the rebels from the eastern road of Al Jawf, and another car laden with weapons was destroyed at Al Ain area nearby the city of
To this end, the local authorities in Sa'ada said they arrested three traders of weapons, but none of them was identified.
Meanwhile, tribal chiefs of Razeh district issued a document saying they are against any confrontations in their area.
Abdul Kareem Jaban, the MP of the area, said the people of Razeh will not allow any armed confrontations in their area from both sides. They called, in the documents, which was handed to troops and rebels, for solving the problems peacefully.
The mountainous area of Razeh, densely populated area in the west of Sa'ada province, is still quiet.
On their side, the rebels said late Thursday they fully controlled the district of Manbih in the far north of Sa'ada province at the border with
Wednesday, 7 October 2009
Parliament obligates government to end Al Houthi rebellion
By Nasser Arrabyee 7/10/2009
The Yemeni Parliament called for ending Al Houthi armed rebellion and protecting the citizens, and their public and private properties without any delay.
In a session held Wednesday for discussing the security situation in the country, the Parliament said the government and armed forces must take their constitutional responsibility for protecting citizens and their properties by quickly ending the armed rebellion in Sa'ada.
In presence of the deputy prime minister for security and defense affairs, Rashad Al Alimi, the Parliament also ordered the government to take its responsibility for helping displaced people and protecting them.
In the Wednesday session chaired by the speaker Yahya Al Raee, the Parliament obligated the government to coordinate with local and international NGOs to deliver assistance to more than 60,000 people who fled their homes since the beginning of the war on August 10.
The Parliament also obligated the government to ban importing any weapons except for the armed forces.
Deputy Prime Minister Rashad Al Alimi, who represented the government before the Parliament blamed the Al Houthi rebels for the war. He said the rebels kidnapped 111 citizens, killed 92, and injured 224 from July 17th, 2008, when President Saleh announced a halt for the sporadic war which started in June 2004, until august this year. Al Alimi said the rebels deported 45 citizens from their houses and bombed 21 government facilities during the same period.
29 rebels killed and 16 arrested
By Nasser Arrabyee/07/10/2009
A total of 29 Al Houthi rebels were killed and 16 others arrested in different places over the last 24 hours in Sa'ada north of
Five Lorries laden with fuels and explosives were seized before reaching the hands of the rebels in Sa'ada, said a statement issued by the Ministry.
A total of 350 bags of gunpowder was found in the cargo of the lorries , which were camouflaged with fruits and vegetables.
The statement also clarified that battles continued Tuesday on in the three main frontlines of Harf Sufyan, Al Malahaid and the areas around Sa'ada city.
A group of 12 rebels of the 29 were killed in Ayan area of Harf Sufyan, the most important frontline in the south of Sa'ada province, where rebels block the main road between the capital Sana'a and their strongholds inside Sa'ada.
The statement identified five of the 12 dead rebels as “Terrorists Ali Ali Al Mawi, Adris Ali Al Mawi, Mohammed Hussein Awli, Mohesen Saleh Akel, and Ahmed Abdullah Tashan."
Four rebels were killed while digging trenches east of Al Makash, in the areas around the Sa'ada city, the statement said.
A group of 8 rebels were killed in the battles of Al Malahaid frontline, far west of Sa'ada where the rebels tried to block the highway between
The 8 dead rebels were identified as "the terrorists Namis Qasem Murshid, Mustafa Yahya Saleh, Dhaif Allah Ahmed Taher, Ghaleb Ali Ghalib, Hamoud Mohammed Antar, Musta Yahya Hadi, Mohammed Ahmed Hassan, and Ammar Mohammed Ahmed."
Five more rebels were killed when the security forces raided on a sleep cell in the old city of
Al Kawsi said four rebels were arrested late in the Tuesday operations.
About 200 rebels were arrested in the old city of
About 40 of them were released after being proved not involved in the armed rebellion, and 40 others were referred to prosecution for trials on charges of sabotage acts.
The Defense Ministry statement said that the army arrested 12 more rebels in different places over the last 24 hours.
And according to medical sources, the military hospital in Sana'a received about 30 injured soldiers and 20 dead bodies over the last two days.
Tuesday, 6 October 2009
1,440 Yemenis and Arab support army with blood and parliament with money
By Nasser Arrabyee/06/10/2009
A total of 1,440 Yemenis and Arabs expressed their support for the armed forces, which fight Al Houthi rebels by donating blood, said coordinator of blood donation camping Tuesday.
Dr. Said Hajar, who coordinates the popular campaign, said the blood donors were Yemenis and Arabs from Palestine, Egypt, Syria, Saudi Arabia and Iraq.
He said that the camping, which started last Tuesday in the capital Sana'a, would continue until next Saturday to receive all people enthusiastic to give blood for interest of the soldiers who were injured in the ongoing war against the armed rebellion.
Abdullah Hussein Al Houthi, son of the slain founder of Al Houthi rebellion movement, who lives in Sana'a, was among the blood donors, according to Dr. Hajar.
Hajar said, the son of Al Houthi in his 20s, did not only donate blood but also asked to be an activist in the campaign for participating in ending the armed rebellion and bringing peace to Sa'ada.
Dr. Hajar also said that the popular campaign is preparing now a new program to help the displaced people in the camps.
"We are planning to help about 6,000 children in the camps who may become criminals if no help is given to them to go to school," he said.
To this end, the 301-seat House of Representatives in Yemen agreed to give the displaced people about 78,000 US dollars from the salaries of the MPs.
Each MP of the 301 agreed to donate from his salary 50,000 Yemeni Rials, with the three members of the presidency giving 100,000 YR each.
A total of 1,440 Yemenis and Arabs expressed their support for the armed forces, which fight Al Houthi rebels by donating blood, said coordinator of blood donation camping Tuesday.
Dr. Said Hajar, who coordinates the popular campaign, said the blood donors were Yemenis and Arabs from Palestine, Egypt, Syria, Saudi Arabia and Iraq.
He said that the camping, which started last Tuesday in the capital Sana'a, would continue until next Saturday to receive all people enthusiastic to give blood for interest of the soldiers who were injured in the ongoing war against the armed rebellion.
Abdullah Hussein Al Houthi, son of the slain founder of Al Houthi rebellion movement, who lives in Sana'a, was among the blood donors, according to Dr. Hajar.
Hajar said, the son of Al Houthi in his 20s, did not only donate blood but also asked to be an activist in the campaign for participating in ending the armed rebellion and bringing peace to Sa'ada.
Dr. Hajar also said that the popular campaign is preparing now a new program to help the displaced people in the camps.
"We are planning to help about 6,000 children in the camps who may become criminals if no help is given to them to go to school," he said.
To this end, the 301-seat House of Representatives in Yemen agreed to give the displaced people about 78,000 US dollars from the salaries of the MPs.
Each MP of the 301 agreed to donate from his salary 50,000 Yemeni Rials, with the three members of the presidency giving 100,000 YR each.