By Ashwaq Arrabyee
Fierce battles have been taken place between the Yemeni troops and Al Houthi rebel at the outskirt of Saada City for the fourth day, security sources said Monday.
The sources said hundreds of Houthis have attacked Saada city from three directions in an attempt to take control over the republican Palace known as Al Camp and the central security forces headquarter.
The military camps are surrounding Sa'ada city from all directions since the beginning of this war last August, and it continues tightening the noose on the rebels by imposing a blockade on the remaining strongholds in the old Sa'ada city. Al Houthi rebels have been trying many times to break the blockade and control the city.
The sources said Al Houthi rebels are continuing artillery bombardments on the republican palace and the central security forces headquarter.
On the other side, Saudi forces rebelled an attack by Al-Houthis on Al Dood and AlRomaih mountains in an attempt by the rebels to re-control two mountains, Saudi sources said Sunday.
"The armed forces completely control al-Dood mountain, one of the most strategic regions," deputy defence minister Prince Khaled bin Sultan was quoted as saying as he inspected troops just within Saudi territory.
He also said Saudi forces had "cleaned up every inch of Saudi territory," adding that "any person who infiltrates or sniping will end up either surrendering or dead".
The Saudis launched their air strikes and artillery bombardments on Al Houthi rebels in Al Malaheidh, far west of Sa'ada, Jabal Al Dukahn in Jaizan area south of the Kingdom.
Monday, 30 November 2009
Sunday, 29 November 2009
Houthi attempts to control Saada city thwarted
By Ashwaq Arrabyee,
The Yemeni troops rebelled an attack by AlHouthi on the outskirt of Saada city in an attempt to control the republican Palace in the city, Ministry of defense said Saturday.
The sources said the troops thwarted attempts by Al Houthi rebels to control Saada city during Days of Eid AlAdha, Islamic Eid holidays, and the fighting was still taking place in the most important stronghold of the rebels in Saada province.
Despite the fact that Sa'ada city is surrounded by military camps from all directions since the beginning of this war last August, Al Houthi rebels have been trying many times to attack and control the city
Meanwhile, the security forces arrested on Friday a person hiding a hand grenade and gun in his handbag in Sana'a Airport, ministry of interior said Saturday.
The media center in the ministry of interior said the person called A.A. AlSailami admitted that he was planning to hijack a Yemeni plan direct to Cairo to achieve personal demands.
The security forces accused him of having ties with Al Houthi rebels.
The Yemeni troops rebelled an attack by AlHouthi on the outskirt of Saada city in an attempt to control the republican Palace in the city, Ministry of defense said Saturday.
The sources said the troops thwarted attempts by Al Houthi rebels to control Saada city during Days of Eid AlAdha, Islamic Eid holidays, and the fighting was still taking place in the most important stronghold of the rebels in Saada province.
Despite the fact that Sa'ada city is surrounded by military camps from all directions since the beginning of this war last August, Al Houthi rebels have been trying many times to attack and control the city
Meanwhile, the security forces arrested on Friday a person hiding a hand grenade and gun in his handbag in Sana'a Airport, ministry of interior said Saturday.
The media center in the ministry of interior said the person called A.A. AlSailami admitted that he was planning to hijack a Yemeni plan direct to Cairo to achieve personal demands.
The security forces accused him of having ties with Al Houthi rebels.
Tuesday, 24 November 2009
Japanese engineer released in Yemen
By Ashwaq Arrabyee
Japanese Engineer kidnapped by Yemeni tribesmen last week was released late Monday , official sources said.
The mediation committing formed of a number of Tribal sheikhs secured the release of the Japanese hostage, Takeo Mashimo, through extensive negotiations, Sana’a Governor, Noman Dowaid, said.
Mediators said the release came after the tribal sheikhs promised the kidnappers to follow up releasing their clansman who is held by the authority and handed them over 10Kalashnikov rifles as a guarantee.
The 63-year-old Japanese Engineer, Takeo Mashimo, was kidnapped during a working visit to the Arhab district November 16, northeast of Sana'a, by tribesmen seeking to exchange him for one of their relative, Hussein Abdullah Goub, being held by police and sentenced to four years in prison over alleged Al Qaeda ties.
Takeo Mashimo is employed by a Tokyo-based consultancy working on the construction of an elementary school funded by the Japan International Cooperation Agency.
Japanese Engineer kidnapped by Yemeni tribesmen last week was released late Monday , official sources said.
The mediation committing formed of a number of Tribal sheikhs secured the release of the Japanese hostage, Takeo Mashimo, through extensive negotiations, Sana’a Governor, Noman Dowaid, said.
Mediators said the release came after the tribal sheikhs promised the kidnappers to follow up releasing their clansman who is held by the authority and handed them over 10Kalashnikov rifles as a guarantee.
The 63-year-old Japanese Engineer, Takeo Mashimo, was kidnapped during a working visit to the Arhab district November 16, northeast of Sana'a, by tribesmen seeking to exchange him for one of their relative, Hussein Abdullah Goub, being held by police and sentenced to four years in prison over alleged Al Qaeda ties.
Takeo Mashimo is employed by a Tokyo-based consultancy working on the construction of an elementary school funded by the Japan International Cooperation Agency.
Sunday, 22 November 2009
Al Qaeda did not hold Japanese Engineer, official source
By Ashwaq Arrabyee
Official sources denied kidnapping the Japanese Engineer by Al Qaeda members in Yemen.
No'man Dowaid, Sana'a governor, said that Al Qaeda did not kidnap the Japanese Engineer, Takeo Mashimo and take him to Al-Jawf Province.
"The local authority knows the place of the Japanese hostage and the efforts are exerted to release him safely," he added
Earlier, tribal sources said AlQaeda members have seized the Japanese Engineer from his tribal kidnappers in Arhab and moved him to Al Jawf province, east of the capital Sana'a.
"Leaking such information about kidnapping the Japanese engineer by Al Qaeda is just a kind of blackmailing that the kidnapers are trying to impose on the government in order to respond to their demands," Dowaid said.
The 63-year-old Japanese Engineer, Takeo Mashimo, was kidnapped on Sunday in Arhab, northeast of Sana'a, by tribesmen seeking to exchange him for one of their relatives being held by police and sentenced to four years in prison.
The mediators are still negotiating with the kidnappers to release the Japanese hostage.
Official sources denied kidnapping the Japanese Engineer by Al Qaeda members in Yemen.
No'man Dowaid, Sana'a governor, said that Al Qaeda did not kidnap the Japanese Engineer, Takeo Mashimo and take him to Al-Jawf Province.
"The local authority knows the place of the Japanese hostage and the efforts are exerted to release him safely," he added
Earlier, tribal sources said AlQaeda members have seized the Japanese Engineer from his tribal kidnappers in Arhab and moved him to Al Jawf province, east of the capital Sana'a.
"Leaking such information about kidnapping the Japanese engineer by Al Qaeda is just a kind of blackmailing that the kidnapers are trying to impose on the government in order to respond to their demands," Dowaid said.
The 63-year-old Japanese Engineer, Takeo Mashimo, was kidnapped on Sunday in Arhab, northeast of Sana'a, by tribesmen seeking to exchange him for one of their relatives being held by police and sentenced to four years in prison.
The mediators are still negotiating with the kidnappers to release the Japanese hostage.
Some 30 Somalis arrested for Fighting with rebels
By Ashwaq Arrabyee
A total of 30 Somalis were arrested in different places in Sa'ada, defense ministry said Sunday.
The 30 Somalis arrested in Al Boq'e area were accused of fighting with Al Houthi rebels against the government troops the ministry said in a statement.
The rebels are recruiting Somali refugees in Ras AlAra in Laj Province and then send them to Saada to fight beside the rebels, the statement added.
Earlier, about 26 Somalis were arrested while fighting with Al Houthi rebels against the government troops and were sent to the central prison in the capital Sana'a, where they will be referred to the prosecution on charges of participating in an armed gang for fighting with Al Houthi rebels.
Meanwhile, the troops destroyed the rebels' hideouts and cars laden with weapons in Dhahyan, Bani Moath and Al Mahariq, north west of Sa'ada city, the military statement said.
A number of rebels were killed and some others were injured while trying to infiltrate to Al Makash area, west of Sa'ada city, the statement added.
A total of 30 Somalis were arrested in different places in Sa'ada, defense ministry said Sunday.
The 30 Somalis arrested in Al Boq'e area were accused of fighting with Al Houthi rebels against the government troops the ministry said in a statement.
The rebels are recruiting Somali refugees in Ras AlAra in Laj Province and then send them to Saada to fight beside the rebels, the statement added.
Earlier, about 26 Somalis were arrested while fighting with Al Houthi rebels against the government troops and were sent to the central prison in the capital Sana'a, where they will be referred to the prosecution on charges of participating in an armed gang for fighting with Al Houthi rebels.
Meanwhile, the troops destroyed the rebels' hideouts and cars laden with weapons in Dhahyan, Bani Moath and Al Mahariq, north west of Sa'ada city, the military statement said.
A number of rebels were killed and some others were injured while trying to infiltrate to Al Makash area, west of Sa'ada city, the statement added.
Thursday, 19 November 2009
68 Al Houthi fighters arrested including 26 Somalis
By Nasser Arrabyee/20/11/2009
A total of 68 Al Houthi rebels were arrested including 26 Somalis in different places in Sa'ada, defense ministry said Friday.
A group of six of them were arrested in Al Malahaid far west of Sa'ada and the 36 other were arrested in the areas around Sa'ada city, the ministry said in an official statement sent to media.
The terrorists Fayed Taleb Ghaithan, Abdullah Mohammed Al Khayami were among those arrested, the statement said.
The 26 Somalis, arrested while fighting with Al Houthi rebels against the government troops, were sent to the central prison in the capital Sana'a, where they will be referred to the prosecution on charges of participating in an armed gang for fighting with Al Houthi rebels.
Dozens of both sides were killed and injured when the army repelled an attack by Al Houthi rebels a government building at the outskirt of Sa'ada city known as Al Camp and called by Al Houthis the republican palace.
Despite the fact that Sa'ada city is surrounded by military camps from all directions since the beginning of this war last August, Al Houthi rebels have been trying to attack and control the city.
"The repeated failed attacks on Sa'ada is suicide acts from defeated elements led by the pampered child Abdul Malik Al Houthi who does not know the consequences of what's he doing," said the official statement.
The army continues tightening the noose on the rebels by imposing a blockade on the remaining strongholds from all directions. Thursday and Friday, leaflets calling the misled rebels to surrender, were distributed all over Sa'ada by helicopters.
"Return to your homes, your families, and safety is guaranteed for you, return to your children, who will raise and take care of your children if you do not return to them?," said some of the leaflets.
In Al Malahaid frontline where the rebels fight the two armies of Saudi Arabia and Yemen, eyewitnesses said they saw Al Houthi rebels transporting their dead bodies and injured in five cars on Thursday.
Meanwhile, the Saudi air strikes, artillery, and bombardments on the rebels' positions continued Thursday and Friday.
The Saudi website, Jazan news, said that 44 Al Houthi rebels were killed in combing operations by the Saudi army in the areas around the Al Dukhan mountain which overlooks the lands of both countries. The website also said that 3 Saudi soldiers were killed and 11 others injured two of them seriously, in those operations.
A total of 68 Al Houthi rebels were arrested including 26 Somalis in different places in Sa'ada, defense ministry said Friday.
A group of six of them were arrested in Al Malahaid far west of Sa'ada and the 36 other were arrested in the areas around Sa'ada city, the ministry said in an official statement sent to media.
The terrorists Fayed Taleb Ghaithan, Abdullah Mohammed Al Khayami were among those arrested, the statement said.
The 26 Somalis, arrested while fighting with Al Houthi rebels against the government troops, were sent to the central prison in the capital Sana'a, where they will be referred to the prosecution on charges of participating in an armed gang for fighting with Al Houthi rebels.
Dozens of both sides were killed and injured when the army repelled an attack by Al Houthi rebels a government building at the outskirt of Sa'ada city known as Al Camp and called by Al Houthis the republican palace.
Despite the fact that Sa'ada city is surrounded by military camps from all directions since the beginning of this war last August, Al Houthi rebels have been trying to attack and control the city.
"The repeated failed attacks on Sa'ada is suicide acts from defeated elements led by the pampered child Abdul Malik Al Houthi who does not know the consequences of what's he doing," said the official statement.
The army continues tightening the noose on the rebels by imposing a blockade on the remaining strongholds from all directions. Thursday and Friday, leaflets calling the misled rebels to surrender, were distributed all over Sa'ada by helicopters.
"Return to your homes, your families, and safety is guaranteed for you, return to your children, who will raise and take care of your children if you do not return to them?," said some of the leaflets.
In Al Malahaid frontline where the rebels fight the two armies of Saudi Arabia and Yemen, eyewitnesses said they saw Al Houthi rebels transporting their dead bodies and injured in five cars on Thursday.
Meanwhile, the Saudi air strikes, artillery, and bombardments on the rebels' positions continued Thursday and Friday.
The Saudi website, Jazan news, said that 44 Al Houthi rebels were killed in combing operations by the Saudi army in the areas around the Al Dukhan mountain which overlooks the lands of both countries. The website also said that 3 Saudi soldiers were killed and 11 others injured two of them seriously, in those operations.
Tuesday, 17 November 2009
Yemeni army calls Al Houthi rebels to surrender before it's too late
By Nasser Arrabyee/18/11/2009
The Yemeni army called on the misled Al Houthi rebels to surrender themselves to certain places in Sa'ada province where fierce battles continue.
In a statement published by state-run media, the ministry of defense said the police stations, local authority buildings, houses of members of parliament and tribal sheikhs, will be the places where the misled rebels can surrender themselves.
The surrendering rebels will not be subjected to any harm and will be humanely treated, the statement said.
New enforcements from the republican guards took their positions in the mountainous areas of Harf Sufyan this week in preparation for a wide ground attack to storm the remaining strongholds of the rebels in Sa'ada, military sources said Wednesday.
A group of 18 rebels were arrested including Abdullah Mohammed Salem Al Sheikh and unspecified numbers of them were surrendered in different places in Sa'ada after this call from the army was released two days ago, the statement said.
The army now focus on air strikes and artillery bombardments on the assemblies of the rebels and movements of their supply.
About 40 Al Houthi rebels were killed over the last two days including three field leaders who were identified by the army as Abbas Aidha, Abu Haidara and Yousef Al Madani. The latter was only injured and miraculously survived, the statement said.
Local sources in Sa'ada said that Aref Jassar was killed Monday in Mahdha near Sa'ada city when the Al Houthi rebels pounded his house with artillery for refusing to fight with them.
About 12 other tribesmen loyal to the government were also injured Monday by Al Houthi fires in different places in Sa'ada, the sources said.
From their side, Al Houthi rebels said the Saudi air strikes and artillery bombardments continued Wednesday on their positions in Al Malahaid, Shada, and Razeh.
In a statement sent to media, the rebels said that 39 Saudi missiles hit their positions in those areas.
Monday, 16 November 2009
Refugee conditions worsened after Saudi war against Al Houthi rebels
By Nasser Arrabyee/16/11/2009
The 2-week old Saudi military operations to drive back Al Houthi rebels from the Saudi territories have worsened the humane situation and forced about 3500-4000 Yemenis refugees to return to Yemen.
They were hosted and sponsored by the Saudi authorities after they had fled their homes because of the war between the Yemeni government and Al Houthi rebels, which were erupted more than three months ago.
At the beginning of the war, most of those were prevented by Al Houthi rebels from displacing to safer places inside Yemen. So they displaced to the neighboring Saudi areas like Al Ghawya, Al Shaneq, and Al Khuba.
When Al Houthi rebels attacked and occupied the Saudi mountain of Al Dukhan in November 3, the Saudi authorities ordered all civilians at the border areas to leave for safer places including the Yemenis.
But, the Yemenis were not allowed to enter further into the Saudi territories because every one of them especially men were dealt as Al Houthi suspects at the beginning.
Those came back from Saudi Arabia were staying out side the over-crowded Al Mazrak refugee camps until Friday November 13th, when I visited them as a journalist.
The 45-year old Musfer Ali Ahmed Al Waleb who escaped from Saudi village of Al Ghawya after he spent three months with his 30-member extensive family, said he and all men members were put in Saudi custody for about 24 hours.
"They thought we were working with Al Houthis although they knew we spent three months in their sponsorship, they allowed only women and children to go by Saudi buses to Al Tiwal where they were handed to Yemeni authorities in Haradh," He said.
Musfer and the other men from his family stayed in the Saudi custody from Friday noon until Saturday noon November 6-7.
"The Saudi soldiers thought we were cooperating with Al Houthi rebels, some of us were beaten, and we were left alone in the custody without food, we drank only from the taps of the bathrooms," said Musfer.
When asked who they blame for what's happening to them some said Al Houthi rebels must be blamed and some said they do not know at all who to blame , what they know is they are suffering.
"I blame Al Houthis for what's happening to us, they have goals to achieve from our sufferings," Said the 18-year old Rakan Mohammed Ali.
The 43-year old Ahmed Jar Allah Al Balwi who is Zaidi, said he displaced only last week from Haidan, one of the most important strongholds of the rebels, because Al Houthis were harassing him and his family after almost every air strike on Haidan.
"They say we give information to the troops to strike their hideouts," he said.
"Al Houthis are not Zaidis , not Shafees (sunni), not even Muslims," said Al Balwi's 10-year old son, Abdul Ghafoor, when I asked his father why Al Houthis did this to you and you are Zaidis.
The 66-year old Basam Muhsen Jar Allah blamed the government for what's happening to them because it was not serious in ending the rebellion from the beginning as he said.
"I blame the Yemeni government for this war, it is the government who made this war long, every round of war, the government was ending up with a deal in favour of Al Houthis who were getting stronger and stronger in every round," he said.
"The government and everybody should realize that Al Houthis have no clear demands, they want only to rule Yemen not only Sa'ada, and this is impossible because they want to achieve this by force," added Jarallah who is also Zaidi refugee from Haidan.
About Iran's support for Al Houthi, he said," Yes, there is clear support from Iran, since more than two years, Al Houthis have been repeating the speeches of Khomeni and Hassan Nasr Allah as the only scholars of Islam, they insulted the other scholars in Saudi Arabia and Egypt."
The war in the Yemeni Saudi borders greatly affected many people from both sides like the 45-year old Ali Ali Abdu, who says his business in smuggling has completely stopped because of this war.
" I blame Saudi Arabia for my sufferings now, before its war against Al Houthi I was fine smuggling wheat, flour, and qat and other things and I used to make money to support my self and my family, but now I can not even feed myself," said Ali Abdu.
The 55-year old Ahmed Abdullah Al Manjashi along with 8 members of his family are also still outside the over crowded camp of Al Mazrak. In a small tent outside the camp, he says we do not receive any food or water from the camp, we just registered and we were told to wait.
About 4000 Yemenis of those who displaced from Saudi territories are still also like this family waiting for registration to receive assistance from Al Mazrak camp, where more than 8000 refugees receive food, water, shelter and medicine from relief agencies.
Over the past three months, the family of Al Manjashi shifted to four different places fleeing the fighting.
"At the beginning of the war, we first displaced to Razeh, and when war came there we displaced to Al Husama, then we displaced to the Saudi area of Al Khuba, and only last week, we displaced to this camp Al Mazrak, now we are still outside it as you can see," he said.
Sunday, 15 November 2009
Al Houthi attacks on Saudi territories continue
By Nasser Arrabyee/16/11/2009
Three Al Houthi rebels were arrested in Alab crossing far north of Sa'ada where they were trying to infiltrate to Saudi territories for fighting, said the ministry of defense Monday.
In an official statement, the ministry identified the three rebels as Faisal Yahay Ali Amran, Ibrahim Hassan Abdullah Al Najm and Mahmoud Mohammed Jalham. Investigations with them started immediately before referring them to the prosecution for trials, the statement said.
The military statement said that the troops destroyed the rebels' hideouts in the hills of Anan, Mahjar Ghazi, Hatman in Ghraz east of Sa'ada. These places were cleaned from rebels and mines were removed from the positions and the sub roads, the statement said.
Meanwhile, in the framework of tightening the blockade on the rebels, more than 20 pharmacies suspected of providing Al Houthi rebels with drugs and activators were closed down in the neighboring province of Al Jawf during this week.
Hasan Abu Hardra, director of health in Al Jawf, said Monday that they transfer all medicines from the capital Sana'a to Al Jawf according a new mechanism to prevent any medicines from reaching the rebels in Sa'ada.
From their side, the Al Houthi rebels said they are continuing artillery bombardments on the Saudi positions south of the Kingdom.
"With the help of Allah, we pounded the Saudi position of Aen AlHara and the fires could be seen inside the position. That was to defend the civilians who were targeted in Al Malahaid, Shada and Haidan," said the rebels in a statement sent through emails.
"The Saudi regime should reconsider the military operations being launched against the Yemeni people that refuse injustice and aggression," the statement said.
After Al Houthi bombardment on the Saudi positions, the Saudi air strikes and artillery bombardments intensified Sunday and continued Monday on the rebels' positions.
The Al Houthi spokesman, Mohammed Abul Salam and three of his assistants were killed in air strikes on the media centre in Al Kala'a in Razeh, according to the Saudi press reports of Sunday.
A total of 20 Al Houthi rebels were arrested and 11 others surrendered on Sunday while on their way walking to the Saudi territories, according to Saudi sources.
Three Al Houthi rebels were arrested in Alab crossing far north of Sa'ada where they were trying to infiltrate to Saudi territories for fighting, said the ministry of defense Monday.
In an official statement, the ministry identified the three rebels as Faisal Yahay Ali Amran, Ibrahim Hassan Abdullah Al Najm and Mahmoud Mohammed Jalham. Investigations with them started immediately before referring them to the prosecution for trials, the statement said.
The military statement said that the troops destroyed the rebels' hideouts in the hills of Anan, Mahjar Ghazi, Hatman in Ghraz east of Sa'ada. These places were cleaned from rebels and mines were removed from the positions and the sub roads, the statement said.
Meanwhile, in the framework of tightening the blockade on the rebels, more than 20 pharmacies suspected of providing Al Houthi rebels with drugs and activators were closed down in the neighboring province of Al Jawf during this week.
Hasan Abu Hardra, director of health in Al Jawf, said Monday that they transfer all medicines from the capital Sana'a to Al Jawf according a new mechanism to prevent any medicines from reaching the rebels in Sa'ada.
From their side, the Al Houthi rebels said they are continuing artillery bombardments on the Saudi positions south of the Kingdom.
"With the help of Allah, we pounded the Saudi position of Aen AlHara and the fires could be seen inside the position. That was to defend the civilians who were targeted in Al Malahaid, Shada and Haidan," said the rebels in a statement sent through emails.
"The Saudi regime should reconsider the military operations being launched against the Yemeni people that refuse injustice and aggression," the statement said.
After Al Houthi bombardment on the Saudi positions, the Saudi air strikes and artillery bombardments intensified Sunday and continued Monday on the rebels' positions.
The Al Houthi spokesman, Mohammed Abul Salam and three of his assistants were killed in air strikes on the media centre in Al Kala'a in Razeh, according to the Saudi press reports of Sunday.
A total of 20 Al Houthi rebels were arrested and 11 others surrendered on Sunday while on their way walking to the Saudi territories, according to Saudi sources.
Saturday, 14 November 2009
Rebels' workshop for making mines raided
By Nasser Arrabyee/15/11/2009
The army raided a workshop used by Al Houthi rebels for manufacturing mines and explosives in Harf Sufyan south of Sa'ada, the defense ministry said Sunday.
The ministry said in a statement all roads to and from the neighboring Al Jawf province were blocked by the army to prevent any supply to Al Houthi rebels in the remaining strongholds in Sa'ada.
The army continues tightening the noose on the rebels by imposing a blockade on them from all directions and focusing air strikes and artillery bombardments on their hideouts and movements of supply.
The Saudi naval forces impose blockade on the rebels along the coast Midi harbour on the red sea, from the western direction, to prevent any possible supply.
A car laden with weapons and ammunitions and some rebels was destroyed in a sub-road in the mountainous area of Harf Sufyan where the army makes progress, said the statement.
Meanwhile, an official source from Sa'ada said that the authorities there warned the citizens from forged currency in US dollars and Saudi used by Al Houthi rebels in Sa'da.
The source said that the forged money is used by people loyal to Al Houthi for buying ammunition and weapons and some supply materials.
For their part, Al Houthi rebels said in a statement that Saudi air strikes and artillery bombardments continued on their positions on Al Malahaid, Shada and Al Husama.
The army raided a workshop used by Al Houthi rebels for manufacturing mines and explosives in Harf Sufyan south of Sa'ada, the defense ministry said Sunday.
The ministry said in a statement all roads to and from the neighboring Al Jawf province were blocked by the army to prevent any supply to Al Houthi rebels in the remaining strongholds in Sa'ada.
The army continues tightening the noose on the rebels by imposing a blockade on them from all directions and focusing air strikes and artillery bombardments on their hideouts and movements of supply.
The Saudi naval forces impose blockade on the rebels along the coast Midi harbour on the red sea, from the western direction, to prevent any possible supply.
A car laden with weapons and ammunitions and some rebels was destroyed in a sub-road in the mountainous area of Harf Sufyan where the army makes progress, said the statement.
Meanwhile, an official source from Sa'ada said that the authorities there warned the citizens from forged currency in US dollars and Saudi used by Al Houthi rebels in Sa'da.
The source said that the forged money is used by people loyal to Al Houthi for buying ammunition and weapons and some supply materials.
For their part, Al Houthi rebels said in a statement that Saudi air strikes and artillery bombardments continued on their positions on Al Malahaid, Shada and Al Husama.
Friday, 13 November 2009
23 Al Houthi rebels killed
By Nasser Arrabyee
Some 23 Al Houthi rebels were killed in Harf Sufyan, said ministry of defense in a statement Friday.
The statement said terrorists Ahmed Hatem and Abdullah Mohammed Al-Radha’i were arrested while trying to search out some military sites in Al Manazela.
The troops are still tracing terrorist Yousif Al Madani who escaped to Al-Adi Area after they received attacks by the troops in Harf Sufyan.
During the last two days, the troops controlled Muthalath Barat and some roads leading to Barat and Al Jawf Province through which the rebels receive their supply materials.
The statatment added that the troops had destroyed about 10 hideouts in Al Malaheidh and Harf Sufyan.
Meanwhile, a total of 39 Somali refugees were arrested in Khob district in Al Jawf Province, said the Ministry of Interior in a statement Friday.
The investigations started to make sure if they were in their way to support the rebel or they were trying to infiltrate to Saudi Arabia, the statement said.
Some 23 Al Houthi rebels were killed in Harf Sufyan, said ministry of defense in a statement Friday.
The statement said terrorists Ahmed Hatem and Abdullah Mohammed Al-Radha’i were arrested while trying to search out some military sites in Al Manazela.
The troops are still tracing terrorist Yousif Al Madani who escaped to Al-Adi Area after they received attacks by the troops in Harf Sufyan.
During the last two days, the troops controlled Muthalath Barat and some roads leading to Barat and Al Jawf Province through which the rebels receive their supply materials.
The statatment added that the troops had destroyed about 10 hideouts in Al Malaheidh and Harf Sufyan.
Meanwhile, a total of 39 Somali refugees were arrested in Khob district in Al Jawf Province, said the Ministry of Interior in a statement Friday.
The investigations started to make sure if they were in their way to support the rebel or they were trying to infiltrate to Saudi Arabia, the statement said.
Tuesday, 10 November 2009
More then 14 Al Houthi rebels killed
By Nasser Arrabyee/11/11/2009
At least 14 Al Houthi rebels were killed and dozens of others injured in different places in Sa'ada, said the Ministry of Defense Wednesday.
Four rebels were killed around Sa'ada city and the other 10 were killed in Kataber in clashes with tribesmen loyal the government, the ministry said in statement.
The statement identified those killed around the city of Sa'ada as the terrorists Abdul Azeez Hajar, Mohammed Ali Mohya, Hussein Al Daye and AJmil Mohsen Al Tumani.
Of those were killed in Qataber, the statement identified three as the terrorists Abdul Rahman Al Hakem, Hussein Abdul Kareem and Ahmed Ismail Al Dhahyani.
More than 20 rebels were killed or injured including the terrorist Ahmed Saleh Dughsan in an attack implemented by the troops in Al Amar near Sa'ada city, the statement said. Three cars laden with weapons and supply materials were destroyed in Sabhala and Al Safra areas east of Sa'ada city.
Meanwhile, the ministry of interior said Wednesday that the Iranian suspected ship which was seized in Midi harbour on October 26th, was drawn to the harbour of Al Salif. The interior ministry also said that it deployed coast guards in the coasts of Midi and its surroundings to prevent any Al Houthi rebels from escaping to outside Yemen.
The rebel leader Abdul Malik Al Houthi, on his part, denied any coordination between his rebellious movement and Al Qaeda.
"It is not right that there is coordination between us and Al Qaeda. Al Qaeda is a tool in the hand of the American intelligence and also in hand of the intelligence of some Arab regimes loyal America," said the rebel leader in a statement sent through emails.
Al Qaeda on its part, blasted Iran, and the Shiite all over the world particularly in Bahrain and Kuwait, and also Al Houthi rebels and Saudi Arabia regime, describing them all as enemies.
"Your first enemy is the Crusades from America and Nato alliance and the second enemy is Al Rafeda (Shiites) who are more dangerous to Islam than the Jews and Christians," said an internet statement attributed to Mohammed Abdul Rahman Al Rashid who is believed to be one of the leaders of Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula.
The spokesman of the Yemeni army Askar Zuael said ," We are not fighting against Al Houthis because they are Shiite, but are fighting them because they broke the constitution and law, so the issue is political not sectarian."
At least 14 Al Houthi rebels were killed and dozens of others injured in different places in Sa'ada, said the Ministry of Defense Wednesday.
Four rebels were killed around Sa'ada city and the other 10 were killed in Kataber in clashes with tribesmen loyal the government, the ministry said in statement.
The statement identified those killed around the city of Sa'ada as the terrorists Abdul Azeez Hajar, Mohammed Ali Mohya, Hussein Al Daye and AJmil Mohsen Al Tumani.
Of those were killed in Qataber, the statement identified three as the terrorists Abdul Rahman Al Hakem, Hussein Abdul Kareem and Ahmed Ismail Al Dhahyani.
More than 20 rebels were killed or injured including the terrorist Ahmed Saleh Dughsan in an attack implemented by the troops in Al Amar near Sa'ada city, the statement said. Three cars laden with weapons and supply materials were destroyed in Sabhala and Al Safra areas east of Sa'ada city.
Meanwhile, the ministry of interior said Wednesday that the Iranian suspected ship which was seized in Midi harbour on October 26th, was drawn to the harbour of Al Salif. The interior ministry also said that it deployed coast guards in the coasts of Midi and its surroundings to prevent any Al Houthi rebels from escaping to outside Yemen.
The rebel leader Abdul Malik Al Houthi, on his part, denied any coordination between his rebellious movement and Al Qaeda.
"It is not right that there is coordination between us and Al Qaeda. Al Qaeda is a tool in the hand of the American intelligence and also in hand of the intelligence of some Arab regimes loyal America," said the rebel leader in a statement sent through emails.
Al Qaeda on its part, blasted Iran, and the Shiite all over the world particularly in Bahrain and Kuwait, and also Al Houthi rebels and Saudi Arabia regime, describing them all as enemies.
"Your first enemy is the Crusades from America and Nato alliance and the second enemy is Al Rafeda (Shiites) who are more dangerous to Islam than the Jews and Christians," said an internet statement attributed to Mohammed Abdul Rahman Al Rashid who is believed to be one of the leaders of Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula.
The spokesman of the Yemeni army Askar Zuael said ," We are not fighting against Al Houthis because they are Shiite, but are fighting them because they broke the constitution and law, so the issue is political not sectarian."
Iran and Saudi Arabia conflict over Yemen, amid fears of regional war
By Nasser Arrabyee/10/11/2009
The five-year old sporadic war between the Al Houthi Shiite rebels and the Yemeni government has entered a new stage with the neighboring Saudi Arabia direct involvement in this war against the rebels.
The Saudi Arabia says it will continue the war with the legitimate Yemeni government to finish off Al Houthi rebels who attacked and occupied Saudi territories on November 5th.
"We are not going to stop the bombing until the rebels retreat tens of kilometres inside border," Deputy Defence Minister Prince Khaled Bin Sultan said told reporters Tuesday.
The Iranian foreign minister Manouchehr Mottaki warned Tuesday Saudi Arabia from bad consequences if it continues war against Al Houthi rebels.
"We strongly warn the regional countries to be careful, to be vigilant," he told reporters.
"Monetary aid, providing arms to extremist and terrorist groups or actually taking action against them and crushing those groups or the people and embarking on military operations - these all will have negative consequences."
"Those people should be assured that the smoke and the fire they have ignited will entangle them themselves," he added in obvious reference to Saudi Arabia.
The Saudi forces killed and injured dozens of the rebels and arrested more than 250 of them in the fiercest battles the rebels have ever seen since the beginning of the current round of war in August 10th, 2009.
Despite the fact that Saudi forces drove back the rebels and regained its seized territories in four days especially from the strategic 2000 meters high Jabal Al Dukahn Jaizan area south of the Kingdom, the Saudi military officials say need longer time to comb the border areas and cleanse them from the rebels.
On November 5th, Al Houthi rebels attacked and occupied the Saudi Jabal Al Dukhan in Jaizan area killing one soldier and injuring 11 others.
About 40 Al Houthi rebels were arrested while infiltrating into the Saudi territories in women's clothes and some of them were members of Al Qaeda, which tries to use Yemen as launch pad to attack the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Saudi officials said at the end of their liberation operations, only three soldiers were killed and 15 others injured in addition to four women from one family were killed when rebels pounded their houses in Jaizan area. The Saudi officials said four soldiers went missing. Al Houthi rebels, who claim they are still controlling the Saudi territories, said they arrested a number of Saudi soldiers.
"We are waiting for the ground attack from the Saudis and we will confront them with a guerilla war," said Al Houthi rebels in a statement sent to media through emails Monday 10th. Al Houthi rebels are estimated at 10,000 fighters.
About 50,000 Saudi people from about 240 villages in the border areas were evacuated to safer places inside the Kingdom, before the Saudis launched their air strikes and artillery bombardments on Al Houthi rebels.
Meanwhile, the Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh confirmed the war will never stop except by crushing the "group of the traitors and agents" referring to Al Houthi rebels. Saleh said on Saturday November 8th, the real war started only two days ago, and his army was only training during the past 90 days of war with the rebels.
The Yemeni government accuses Shiite scholars in Iran, Kuwait and Bahrain, of supporting Al Houthi rebels. The Yemeni officials are investigating now with five Iranians sailors who were arrested late last October on board of an Iranian ship laden with weapons including anti-armour missiles, in the western Yemeni harbour of Midi which is only few kilo metres from Al Malahaid in far west of Sa'ada where the rebels fight against the two armies of Saudi Arabia and Yemen.
"The Iranian crew of the ship destroyed the SIMs of the mobiles and all documents in their lab tops and some of the ship's devices so that nobody can understand where the ship came from and where it was going," The state-run media quoted an unidentified investigator say saying this week. The Iranian embassy denied at the time the ship was carrying any weapons.
On Tuesday November 10th, the Saudi naval forces imposed a blockade on the Red Sea coast of the to tighten the noose on the rebels and prevent any possible support to them. The Saudi officials said they ordered their warships to search any suspected ships sailing near the harbour of Midi.
According to military sources, the Yemeni army is preparing for decisive battles with the rebels who seemed to be exhausted from the tight blockade and cut of the supplies from all directions. The Saudi Arabia publicly says it will stand with the legitimate state against the rebels. On Tuesday November10th, the army said in a statement it controlled the most important roads through which the rebels receive their supply materials. A total of seven cars laden with supply material were destroyed in these roads.
Amid these developments, there are internal and external fears that the current war may turn to a regional one.
Ali Saif Hassan, chairman of the political development forum, a local NGO, said Al Houthi rebels created new justifications for more regional interventions by their attacking on territories of Saudi Arabia.
"Although Al Houthi rebels action was political and media more than a military action, but it has created new justifications for regional interventions," Hassan said.
"Before Al Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia, the calls for stopping the war were based on humanitarian and moral factors, but now the calls will be based on the regional and international interests."
Despite the Saudi official say, they finished military operations after regaining their seized lands on November 8th, Al Houthi rebels said Tuesday Novmber10th, Saudi air strikes continued using phosphoric bombs on his strongholds inside the Yemeni territories .
Al Houthi said Tuesday in a statement sent through emails that the Saudi air strikes targeted government buildings in Shada area west of Sa'ada killing two women and a child.
On his part, the Saudi scholar Shiekh Abdul Azeez Al Shiekh, the Mufti of the Kingdom, said in press statements that fighting Al Houthi rebels is a must and those soldiers, whither Yemeni or Saudis, who fight them are Mujahideen.
"Al Houthis are making an additional mistake to their big mistakes, by trying to impose their corrupt faith on the whole Muslim society," Al Sheikh was quoted by Saudi media as saying.
The five-year old sporadic war between the Al Houthi Shiite rebels and the Yemeni government has entered a new stage with the neighboring Saudi Arabia direct involvement in this war against the rebels.
The Saudi Arabia says it will continue the war with the legitimate Yemeni government to finish off Al Houthi rebels who attacked and occupied Saudi territories on November 5th.
"We are not going to stop the bombing until the rebels retreat tens of kilometres inside border," Deputy Defence Minister Prince Khaled Bin Sultan said told reporters Tuesday.
The Iranian foreign minister Manouchehr Mottaki warned Tuesday Saudi Arabia from bad consequences if it continues war against Al Houthi rebels.
"We strongly warn the regional countries to be careful, to be vigilant," he told reporters.
"Monetary aid, providing arms to extremist and terrorist groups or actually taking action against them and crushing those groups or the people and embarking on military operations - these all will have negative consequences."
"Those people should be assured that the smoke and the fire they have ignited will entangle them themselves," he added in obvious reference to Saudi Arabia.
The Saudi forces killed and injured dozens of the rebels and arrested more than 250 of them in the fiercest battles the rebels have ever seen since the beginning of the current round of war in August 10th, 2009.
Despite the fact that Saudi forces drove back the rebels and regained its seized territories in four days especially from the strategic 2000 meters high Jabal Al Dukahn Jaizan area south of the Kingdom, the Saudi military officials say need longer time to comb the border areas and cleanse them from the rebels.
On November 5th, Al Houthi rebels attacked and occupied the Saudi Jabal Al Dukhan in Jaizan area killing one soldier and injuring 11 others.
About 40 Al Houthi rebels were arrested while infiltrating into the Saudi territories in women's clothes and some of them were members of Al Qaeda, which tries to use Yemen as launch pad to attack the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Saudi officials said at the end of their liberation operations, only three soldiers were killed and 15 others injured in addition to four women from one family were killed when rebels pounded their houses in Jaizan area. The Saudi officials said four soldiers went missing. Al Houthi rebels, who claim they are still controlling the Saudi territories, said they arrested a number of Saudi soldiers.
"We are waiting for the ground attack from the Saudis and we will confront them with a guerilla war," said Al Houthi rebels in a statement sent to media through emails Monday 10th. Al Houthi rebels are estimated at 10,000 fighters.
About 50,000 Saudi people from about 240 villages in the border areas were evacuated to safer places inside the Kingdom, before the Saudis launched their air strikes and artillery bombardments on Al Houthi rebels.
Meanwhile, the Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh confirmed the war will never stop except by crushing the "group of the traitors and agents" referring to Al Houthi rebels. Saleh said on Saturday November 8th, the real war started only two days ago, and his army was only training during the past 90 days of war with the rebels.
The Yemeni government accuses Shiite scholars in Iran, Kuwait and Bahrain, of supporting Al Houthi rebels. The Yemeni officials are investigating now with five Iranians sailors who were arrested late last October on board of an Iranian ship laden with weapons including anti-armour missiles, in the western Yemeni harbour of Midi which is only few kilo metres from Al Malahaid in far west of Sa'ada where the rebels fight against the two armies of Saudi Arabia and Yemen.
"The Iranian crew of the ship destroyed the SIMs of the mobiles and all documents in their lab tops and some of the ship's devices so that nobody can understand where the ship came from and where it was going," The state-run media quoted an unidentified investigator say saying this week. The Iranian embassy denied at the time the ship was carrying any weapons.
On Tuesday November 10th, the Saudi naval forces imposed a blockade on the Red Sea coast of the to tighten the noose on the rebels and prevent any possible support to them. The Saudi officials said they ordered their warships to search any suspected ships sailing near the harbour of Midi.
According to military sources, the Yemeni army is preparing for decisive battles with the rebels who seemed to be exhausted from the tight blockade and cut of the supplies from all directions. The Saudi Arabia publicly says it will stand with the legitimate state against the rebels. On Tuesday November10th, the army said in a statement it controlled the most important roads through which the rebels receive their supply materials. A total of seven cars laden with supply material were destroyed in these roads.
Amid these developments, there are internal and external fears that the current war may turn to a regional one.
Ali Saif Hassan, chairman of the political development forum, a local NGO, said Al Houthi rebels created new justifications for more regional interventions by their attacking on territories of Saudi Arabia.
"Although Al Houthi rebels action was political and media more than a military action, but it has created new justifications for regional interventions," Hassan said.
"Before Al Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia, the calls for stopping the war were based on humanitarian and moral factors, but now the calls will be based on the regional and international interests."
Despite the Saudi official say, they finished military operations after regaining their seized lands on November 8th, Al Houthi rebels said Tuesday Novmber10th, Saudi air strikes continued using phosphoric bombs on his strongholds inside the Yemeni territories .
Al Houthi said Tuesday in a statement sent through emails that the Saudi air strikes targeted government buildings in Shada area west of Sa'ada killing two women and a child.
On his part, the Saudi scholar Shiekh Abdul Azeez Al Shiekh, the Mufti of the Kingdom, said in press statements that fighting Al Houthi rebels is a must and those soldiers, whither Yemeni or Saudis, who fight them are Mujahideen.
"Al Houthis are making an additional mistake to their big mistakes, by trying to impose their corrupt faith on the whole Muslim society," Al Sheikh was quoted by Saudi media as saying.
Monday, 9 November 2009
Fears of regional war in Yemen
By Nasser Arrabyee/10/11/2009
The five-year old sporadic war between the Al Houthi Shiite rebels and the Yemeni government has entered a new stage with the neighboring Saudi Arabia direct involvement in this war against the rebels.
The Saudi Arabia says it will continue the war with the legitimate Yemeni government to finish off Al Houthi rebels who attacked and occupied Saudi territories on November 5th.
The Saudi forces killed and injured dozens of the rebels and arrested more than 250 of them in the fiercest battles the rebels have ever seen since the beginning of the current round of war in August 10th, 2009.
Despite the fact that Saudi forces drove back the rebels and regained its seized territories in four days especially from the strategic 2000 meters high Jabal Al Dukahn Jaizan area south of the Kingdom, the Saudi military officials say need longer time to comb the border areas and cleanse them from the rebels.
On November 5th, Al Houthi rebels attacked and occupied the Saudi Jabal Al Dukhan in Jaizan area killing one soldier and injuring 11 others.
About 40 Al Houthi rebels were arrested while infiltrating into the Saudi territories in women's clothes and some of them were members of Al Qaeda, which tries to use Yemen as launch pad to attack the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Saudi officials said at the end of their liberation operations, only three soldiers were killed and 15 others injured in addition to four women from one family were killed when rebels pounded their houses in Jaizan area. The Saudi officials said four soldiers went missing. Al Houthi rebels, who claim they are still controlling the Saudi territories, said they arrested a number of Saudi soldiers.
"We are waiting for the ground attack from the Saudis and we will confront them with a guerilla war," said Al Houthi rebels in a statement sent to media through emails Monday 10th. Al Houthi rebels are estimated at 10,000 fighters.
About 50,000 Saudi people from about 240 villages in the border areas were evacuated to safer places inside the Kingdom, before the Saudis launched their air strikes and artillery bombardments on Al Houthi rebels.
Meanwhile, the Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh confirmed the war will never stop except by crushing the "group of the traitors and agents" referring to Al Houthi rebels. Saleh said on Saturday November 8th, the real war started only two days ago, and his army was only training during the past 90 days of war with the rebels.
The Yemeni government accuses Shiite scholars in Iran, Kuwait and Bahrain, of supporting Al Houthi rebels. The Yemeni officials are investigating now with five Iranians sailors who were arrested late last October on board of an Iranian ship laden with weapons including anti-armour missiles, in the western Yemeni harbour of Midi which is only few kilo metres from Al Malahaid in far west of Sa'ada where the rebels fight against the two armies of Saudi Arabia and Yemen.
"The Iranian crew of the ship destroyed the SIMs of the mobiles and all documents in their lab tops and some of the ship's devices so that nobody can understand where the ship came from and where it was going," The state-run media quoted an unidentified investigator say saying this week.
According to military sources, the Yemeni army is preparing for decisive battles with the rebels who seemed to be exhausted from the tight blockade and cut of the supplies from all directions. The Saudi Arabia publicly says it will stand with the legitimate state against the rebels. On Tuesday November10th, the army said in a statement it controlled the most important roads through which the rebels receive their supply materials. A total of seven cars laden with supply material were destroyed in these roads.
Amid these developments, there are internal and external fears that the current war may turn to a regional one.
Ali Saif Hassan, chairman of the political development forum, a local NGO, said Al Houthi rebels created new justifications for more regional interventions by their attacking on territories of Saudi Arabia.
"Although Al Houthi rebels action was political and media more than a military action, but it has created new justifications for regional interventions," Hassan said.
"Before Al Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia, the calls for stopping the war were based on humanitarian and moral factors, but now the calls will be based on the regional and international interests."
Despite the Saudi official say, they finished military operations after regaining their seized lands on November 8th, Al Houthi rebels said Tuesday Novmber10th, Saudi air strikes continued using phosphoric bombs on his strongholds inside the Yemeni territories .
On his part, the Saudi scholar Shiekh Abdul Azeez Al Shiekh, the Mufti of the Kingdom, said in press statements that fighting Al Houthi rebels is a must and those soldiers, whither Yemeni or Saudis, who fight them are Mujahideen.
"Al Houthis are making an additional mistake to their big mistakes, by trying to impose their corrupt faith on the whole Muslim society," Al Sheikh was quoted by Saudi media as saying.
The five-year old sporadic war between the Al Houthi Shiite rebels and the Yemeni government has entered a new stage with the neighboring Saudi Arabia direct involvement in this war against the rebels.
The Saudi Arabia says it will continue the war with the legitimate Yemeni government to finish off Al Houthi rebels who attacked and occupied Saudi territories on November 5th.
The Saudi forces killed and injured dozens of the rebels and arrested more than 250 of them in the fiercest battles the rebels have ever seen since the beginning of the current round of war in August 10th, 2009.
Despite the fact that Saudi forces drove back the rebels and regained its seized territories in four days especially from the strategic 2000 meters high Jabal Al Dukahn Jaizan area south of the Kingdom, the Saudi military officials say need longer time to comb the border areas and cleanse them from the rebels.
On November 5th, Al Houthi rebels attacked and occupied the Saudi Jabal Al Dukhan in Jaizan area killing one soldier and injuring 11 others.
About 40 Al Houthi rebels were arrested while infiltrating into the Saudi territories in women's clothes and some of them were members of Al Qaeda, which tries to use Yemen as launch pad to attack the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Saudi officials said at the end of their liberation operations, only three soldiers were killed and 15 others injured in addition to four women from one family were killed when rebels pounded their houses in Jaizan area. The Saudi officials said four soldiers went missing. Al Houthi rebels, who claim they are still controlling the Saudi territories, said they arrested a number of Saudi soldiers.
"We are waiting for the ground attack from the Saudis and we will confront them with a guerilla war," said Al Houthi rebels in a statement sent to media through emails Monday 10th. Al Houthi rebels are estimated at 10,000 fighters.
About 50,000 Saudi people from about 240 villages in the border areas were evacuated to safer places inside the Kingdom, before the Saudis launched their air strikes and artillery bombardments on Al Houthi rebels.
Meanwhile, the Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh confirmed the war will never stop except by crushing the "group of the traitors and agents" referring to Al Houthi rebels. Saleh said on Saturday November 8th, the real war started only two days ago, and his army was only training during the past 90 days of war with the rebels.
The Yemeni government accuses Shiite scholars in Iran, Kuwait and Bahrain, of supporting Al Houthi rebels. The Yemeni officials are investigating now with five Iranians sailors who were arrested late last October on board of an Iranian ship laden with weapons including anti-armour missiles, in the western Yemeni harbour of Midi which is only few kilo metres from Al Malahaid in far west of Sa'ada where the rebels fight against the two armies of Saudi Arabia and Yemen.
"The Iranian crew of the ship destroyed the SIMs of the mobiles and all documents in their lab tops and some of the ship's devices so that nobody can understand where the ship came from and where it was going," The state-run media quoted an unidentified investigator say saying this week.
According to military sources, the Yemeni army is preparing for decisive battles with the rebels who seemed to be exhausted from the tight blockade and cut of the supplies from all directions. The Saudi Arabia publicly says it will stand with the legitimate state against the rebels. On Tuesday November10th, the army said in a statement it controlled the most important roads through which the rebels receive their supply materials. A total of seven cars laden with supply material were destroyed in these roads.
Amid these developments, there are internal and external fears that the current war may turn to a regional one.
Ali Saif Hassan, chairman of the political development forum, a local NGO, said Al Houthi rebels created new justifications for more regional interventions by their attacking on territories of Saudi Arabia.
"Although Al Houthi rebels action was political and media more than a military action, but it has created new justifications for regional interventions," Hassan said.
"Before Al Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia, the calls for stopping the war were based on humanitarian and moral factors, but now the calls will be based on the regional and international interests."
Despite the Saudi official say, they finished military operations after regaining their seized lands on November 8th, Al Houthi rebels said Tuesday Novmber10th, Saudi air strikes continued using phosphoric bombs on his strongholds inside the Yemeni territories .
On his part, the Saudi scholar Shiekh Abdul Azeez Al Shiekh, the Mufti of the Kingdom, said in press statements that fighting Al Houthi rebels is a must and those soldiers, whither Yemeni or Saudis, who fight them are Mujahideen.
"Al Houthis are making an additional mistake to their big mistakes, by trying to impose their corrupt faith on the whole Muslim society," Al Sheikh was quoted by Saudi media as saying.
Sunday, 8 November 2009
Third Yemeni fighter jet drops in the war on Al Houthi rebels
By Nasser Arrabyee/08/11/2009
A Yemeni military fighter jet dropped over the area of fighting between Al Houthi rebels and the Yemeni government troops in Al Malahaid west of Sa'ada, eyewitnesses and officials said Sunday.
The military fighter was seen dropping over the area between Shada and Al Dhaher in the far north west of Yemen where Al Houthi rebels are facing air strikes and artillery bombardments from both forces of Saudi Arabia and Yemen, the eyewitnesses said.
The pilot was seen jumping with his parachute over the area of Batha'a village in Razeh where landed unharmed.
Yemeni military officials confirmed the drop of the fighter because of a technical mistake. This fighter is the third to drop since the beginning of this war in August 10th . Two fighters dropped last October due to technical faults according to the military officials.
Meanwhile, the Saudi Arabia Sunday it regained the areas seized by Al Houthi rebels last week and that closed all possible entrances that may be used by the rebels to infiltrate into the territories of the Kingdom.
"Now the situation is calm and all the areas which were seized by the rebels were regained especially Al Dukhan Mountain," said Prince Khaled Bin Sultan advisor of the defense ministry.
He said three Saudi soldiers were killed, and 15 injured and five went missing in the 4-day battles, which drove back the Al Houthi rebels who attacked and occupied Saudi posts.
Saudi medical sources said at least 10 Saudi soldiers were killed and about 126 were injured in those battles.
The Saudi sources said they arrested more than 155 Al Houthiu rebels including 40 who were disguised in women's clothes.
Al Houthi rebels they arrested unspecified number of Saudi soldiers.
A Yemeni military fighter jet dropped over the area of fighting between Al Houthi rebels and the Yemeni government troops in Al Malahaid west of Sa'ada, eyewitnesses and officials said Sunday.
The military fighter was seen dropping over the area between Shada and Al Dhaher in the far north west of Yemen where Al Houthi rebels are facing air strikes and artillery bombardments from both forces of Saudi Arabia and Yemen, the eyewitnesses said.
The pilot was seen jumping with his parachute over the area of Batha'a village in Razeh where landed unharmed.
Yemeni military officials confirmed the drop of the fighter because of a technical mistake. This fighter is the third to drop since the beginning of this war in August 10th . Two fighters dropped last October due to technical faults according to the military officials.
Meanwhile, the Saudi Arabia Sunday it regained the areas seized by Al Houthi rebels last week and that closed all possible entrances that may be used by the rebels to infiltrate into the territories of the Kingdom.
"Now the situation is calm and all the areas which were seized by the rebels were regained especially Al Dukhan Mountain," said Prince Khaled Bin Sultan advisor of the defense ministry.
He said three Saudi soldiers were killed, and 15 injured and five went missing in the 4-day battles, which drove back the Al Houthi rebels who attacked and occupied Saudi posts.
Saudi medical sources said at least 10 Saudi soldiers were killed and about 126 were injured in those battles.
The Saudi sources said they arrested more than 155 Al Houthiu rebels including 40 who were disguised in women's clothes.
Al Houthi rebels they arrested unspecified number of Saudi soldiers.
Friday, 6 November 2009
14-year old boy attempting to explode refugee camp arrested
By Nasser Arrabyee/07/11/2009
A 14-year old boy with explosives in his possession working with Al Houthi rebels was arrested while he was attempting to explode a refugee camp around the Sa'ada city, security officials said Saturday.
The 14-year old Abdul Wahab Ahmed Al Kawkabani was arrested nearby the Sam refugee camp while he was attempting to explode the camp, the sate-run media quoted an unidentified security official as saying.
The rebels and terrorists of Al Houthi exploited the child to blow himself up inside the camp of Sam, which harbours between 500-100 displaced persons, the official said.
This is not the first time that Al Houthi rebels try to attack the camp of Sam. They previously fired mortars on the camp killing and injuring several women and children.
Al Houthi rebels accuse the refugees in this camp and their relatives of fighting with the government troops against them, according to local sources.
On October 30th , the security forces arrested the 10-year old boy Akram Ahmed Thaleba at the gate of the old city of Sa'ada while trying to smuggle mine detonators to the rebels inside the city.
A 14-year old boy with explosives in his possession working with Al Houthi rebels was arrested while he was attempting to explode a refugee camp around the Sa'ada city, security officials said Saturday.
The 14-year old Abdul Wahab Ahmed Al Kawkabani was arrested nearby the Sam refugee camp while he was attempting to explode the camp, the sate-run media quoted an unidentified security official as saying.
The rebels and terrorists of Al Houthi exploited the child to blow himself up inside the camp of Sam, which harbours between 500-100 displaced persons, the official said.
This is not the first time that Al Houthi rebels try to attack the camp of Sam. They previously fired mortars on the camp killing and injuring several women and children.
Al Houthi rebels accuse the refugees in this camp and their relatives of fighting with the government troops against them, according to local sources.
On October 30th , the security forces arrested the 10-year old boy Akram Ahmed Thaleba at the gate of the old city of Sa'ada while trying to smuggle mine detonators to the rebels inside the city.
Saudi forces arrest more than 100 rebels
By Nasser Arrabyee/06/11/2009
More than 100 Al Houthi rebels were arrested by the Saudi forces in the Saudi Al Karan village in Jaizan area where the rebels implemented a new attack on the Saudis, Saudi sources said Friday.
The Saudi sources said that about 40 of the arrests were disguised in women's clothes.
The rebels from their side, said in a statement sent through emails, they arrested an unspecified number of Saudi soldiers with their weapons and vehicles. The rebels said the Saudi started a wide ground attack on them on Friday.
"The arrests came hours after the Saudi ground attack on the Yemeni territories," said Al Houthi rebels' statement.
Al Houthis said they are not in the Saudi territories but they are ready to fight back the Saudi forces.
Local sources from Al Malahaid said fierce battles continued Friday between Al Houthi rebels and Saudi forces. The Saudi air strikes and artillery bombardments continued Friday on the rebels' posts and hideouts in the areas near Jaizan.
The Saudi officials said Friday they would continue the war until they clean up their territories from the rebels and ensure the rebels would not attack the Saudi territories any more in future.
More than 100 Al Houthi rebels were arrested by the Saudi forces in the Saudi Al Karan village in Jaizan area where the rebels implemented a new attack on the Saudis, Saudi sources said Friday.
The Saudi sources said that about 40 of the arrests were disguised in women's clothes.
The rebels from their side, said in a statement sent through emails, they arrested an unspecified number of Saudi soldiers with their weapons and vehicles. The rebels said the Saudi started a wide ground attack on them on Friday.
"The arrests came hours after the Saudi ground attack on the Yemeni territories," said Al Houthi rebels' statement.
Al Houthis said they are not in the Saudi territories but they are ready to fight back the Saudi forces.
Local sources from Al Malahaid said fierce battles continued Friday between Al Houthi rebels and Saudi forces. The Saudi air strikes and artillery bombardments continued Friday on the rebels' posts and hideouts in the areas near Jaizan.
The Saudi officials said Friday they would continue the war until they clean up their territories from the rebels and ensure the rebels would not attack the Saudi territories any more in future.
Al Houthi-linked Iranian sailors destroyed documents before being arrested, investigators
By Nasser Arrabyee/06/11/2009
The Iranian sailors who were held off the Yemeni coasts on suspicions of delivering weapons for Al Houthi rebels, threw their mobiles and labtops to the sea before the Yemeni naval forces arrested them late last month, said the Yemeni invigilators Friday.
"The Iranian crew of the ship destroyed the SIMs of the mobiles and all documents in their lab tops and some of the ship's devices so that nobody can understand where the ship came from and where it was going," The state-run media quoted an unidentified investigator say saying.
An Iranian ship laden with weapons believed to be on its way to Al Houthi rebels was seized on October 26th, 2009, off the coasts of the Midi harbour in the far north west of Yemen. The 6-member crew, five Iranians and Indian, are now under investigations in the Yemeni capital Sana'a. The Iranian embassy in Sana'a denied at the time that the ship was carrying weapons.
A team of experts was sent from Sana'a to Midi to collect more information about the ship, called Yohan 1, and its cargo and why it was there at the time of war. The Midi harbour is only a few kilometers away from Al Malahaid, the western frontline of fighting between Al Houthi rebels and the government troops.
Meanwhile, the army says Friday it is making progress against Al Houthi rebels in the three main frontlines of Sa'ada, Harf Sufyan and Al Malahaid.
The army said in a statement, the real battle has not begun yet, threatening with unexpected surprises against the rebels over the coming few days.
"The real and comprehensive battle has not begun yet against the rebels and terrorists of Al Houthi, and coming days will be full of surprises that will shock them and defeat them," said the statement. The weapons and ammunitions of the rebels are running out they can not compensate anything that is run out because of the blockade and continuous air strikes on their movement and roads of supply, the statement said. Three cars, for instance, laden with supply materials were destroyed last night in Dhuaeeb area west of Sa'ada.
This statement came one day after the Saudi air force and artillery pounded Al Houthi rebels killing and injuring dozens of them in the Saudi post of Jabal Al Dukhan in Jaizan area south of the Kingdom where the rebels earlier attacked the Saudi forces.
The Iranian sailors who were held off the Yemeni coasts on suspicions of delivering weapons for Al Houthi rebels, threw their mobiles and labtops to the sea before the Yemeni naval forces arrested them late last month, said the Yemeni invigilators Friday.
"The Iranian crew of the ship destroyed the SIMs of the mobiles and all documents in their lab tops and some of the ship's devices so that nobody can understand where the ship came from and where it was going," The state-run media quoted an unidentified investigator say saying.
An Iranian ship laden with weapons believed to be on its way to Al Houthi rebels was seized on October 26th, 2009, off the coasts of the Midi harbour in the far north west of Yemen. The 6-member crew, five Iranians and Indian, are now under investigations in the Yemeni capital Sana'a. The Iranian embassy in Sana'a denied at the time that the ship was carrying weapons.
A team of experts was sent from Sana'a to Midi to collect more information about the ship, called Yohan 1, and its cargo and why it was there at the time of war. The Midi harbour is only a few kilometers away from Al Malahaid, the western frontline of fighting between Al Houthi rebels and the government troops.
Meanwhile, the army says Friday it is making progress against Al Houthi rebels in the three main frontlines of Sa'ada, Harf Sufyan and Al Malahaid.
The army said in a statement, the real battle has not begun yet, threatening with unexpected surprises against the rebels over the coming few days.
"The real and comprehensive battle has not begun yet against the rebels and terrorists of Al Houthi, and coming days will be full of surprises that will shock them and defeat them," said the statement. The weapons and ammunitions of the rebels are running out they can not compensate anything that is run out because of the blockade and continuous air strikes on their movement and roads of supply, the statement said. Three cars, for instance, laden with supply materials were destroyed last night in Dhuaeeb area west of Sa'ada.
This statement came one day after the Saudi air force and artillery pounded Al Houthi rebels killing and injuring dozens of them in the Saudi post of Jabal Al Dukhan in Jaizan area south of the Kingdom where the rebels earlier attacked the Saudi forces.
Wednesday, 4 November 2009
Al Houthi rebels in war with Saudi forces
By Nasser Arrabyee/05/11/2009
At least 5 Saudi soldiers and 15 Al Houthi rebels were killed in fierce confrontations between the rebels and Saudi forces in Al Khuba and Jabal Al Dukhan in Jaizan area south of the Kingdom, local sources said Thursday.
The leader of the rebels Abdul Malik Al Houthi said in a statement Thursday that the Saudi army is bombarding his fighters' posts in Al Malahaid frontline far west of Sa'ada, "with all kinds of weapons".
"The Saudi fighters bomb Al Malahaid area, Jabal Al Mamdood, Al Husama and Al Mujda'a with phosphoric bombs," said Al Houthi in a statement sent through emails Thursday.
About 11 schools in the Saudi area of Jaizan were evacuated from students according to press reports.
Earlier on Wednesday, the rebel leader said that Saudi forces killed one of his fighters and injured another before his fighters attacked and controlled the Saudi post of Jabal Al Dukhan killing an officer, and injuring 11 soldiers.
The Saudi officials confirmed that Al Houthi rebels killed a Saudi officer and injured 11 soldiers in Jabal Al Dukhan in Jaizan area south of the kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Al Houthi said in a statement sent through emails Wednesday that his fighters had controlled Jabal Al Dukhan earlier last October, but then they madea secret deal with the Saudi guards to leave it.
"We withdrew from it on condition that the Saudi forces should not allow the Yemeni army to attack us from this mountain."
However, earlier this week, the Saudi forces allowed the Yemeni army to attack us from it.
"So we attacked and controlled it fully," Al Houthi said in the statement.
Meanwhile, three field leaders of Al Houthi rebels were killed in the current confrontations in the old city of Sa'ada and the areas around it where the troops seem to be determined to clean these areas from the rebels. The three leaders were identified by the security forces in Sa'ada as Hussein Al Sheikh, Abdullah Al Dhufari, and Hussein Kass.
A total of 217 Al Houthi-linked men were arrested during the month of October in Hajja, Al Jawf, Mareb and Sana'a in 122 hunt down operations, said the ministry of interior in a statement Thursday.
More than 30 Lorries and cars laden with supply materials for the rebels were seized during the same period. About 90 % of those arrested were working in the favour of the armed rebellion according to the investigations, the ministry said.
At least 5 Saudi soldiers and 15 Al Houthi rebels were killed in fierce confrontations between the rebels and Saudi forces in Al Khuba and Jabal Al Dukhan in Jaizan area south of the Kingdom, local sources said Thursday.
The leader of the rebels Abdul Malik Al Houthi said in a statement Thursday that the Saudi army is bombarding his fighters' posts in Al Malahaid frontline far west of Sa'ada, "with all kinds of weapons".
"The Saudi fighters bomb Al Malahaid area, Jabal Al Mamdood, Al Husama and Al Mujda'a with phosphoric bombs," said Al Houthi in a statement sent through emails Thursday.
About 11 schools in the Saudi area of Jaizan were evacuated from students according to press reports.
Earlier on Wednesday, the rebel leader said that Saudi forces killed one of his fighters and injured another before his fighters attacked and controlled the Saudi post of Jabal Al Dukhan killing an officer, and injuring 11 soldiers.
The Saudi officials confirmed that Al Houthi rebels killed a Saudi officer and injured 11 soldiers in Jabal Al Dukhan in Jaizan area south of the kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Al Houthi said in a statement sent through emails Wednesday that his fighters had controlled Jabal Al Dukhan earlier last October, but then they madea secret deal with the Saudi guards to leave it.
"We withdrew from it on condition that the Saudi forces should not allow the Yemeni army to attack us from this mountain."
However, earlier this week, the Saudi forces allowed the Yemeni army to attack us from it.
"So we attacked and controlled it fully," Al Houthi said in the statement.
Meanwhile, three field leaders of Al Houthi rebels were killed in the current confrontations in the old city of Sa'ada and the areas around it where the troops seem to be determined to clean these areas from the rebels. The three leaders were identified by the security forces in Sa'ada as Hussein Al Sheikh, Abdullah Al Dhufari, and Hussein Kass.
A total of 217 Al Houthi-linked men were arrested during the month of October in Hajja, Al Jawf, Mareb and Sana'a in 122 hunt down operations, said the ministry of interior in a statement Thursday.
More than 30 Lorries and cars laden with supply materials for the rebels were seized during the same period. About 90 % of those arrested were working in the favour of the armed rebellion according to the investigations, the ministry said.
Tuesday, 3 November 2009
Zaidi cleric calls for ending Al Houthi rebellion by force
By Nasser Arrabyee/03/11/2009
A Yemeni cleric called the army to change its strategy for crushing Al Houthi armed rebellion in the north of the country before listening to any demands of the rebels.
" No solution whatsoever can be reached before crushing the armed rebellion, and to do that, the army should change its strategies and plans so that it can restore the confidence of the people, and once the army have impose full control over the areas of Al Houthi, then the State can listen to the rebels and respond to the legitimate and reasonable demands," said the Zaidi cleric Mohammed Azzan in a forum held in Sana'a Monday.
Azzan established the organization of Al Shabab Al Mumen in 1991 in Sa'ada along with a number of Zaidi intellectuals including Mohammed Badr Al Deen Al Houthi, brother of the current leader of rebels Abdul Malik.
The slain leader of the rebels Hussein Al Houthi joined Al Shabab Al Mumen in 1998 and dissented from it in 2001 after he established his own group which is fighting the State until now under the slogan of "death to America, death to Israel, curse to Jews and victory to Islam."
"Al Houthi wants to achieve one main goal which is to rule Yemen as a divine right only for him as an alleged descendant of the prophet," said Mohammed Azzan.
"Al Houthi did his best to attack the Zaidis and accused them of weakness and not doing enough for their sect, and he would always say the Zaidi are nothing if they did not change their mind and rally around him so that he can turn them to gangs for killing, and plundering," Azzan said justifying why the army should crush the rebels.
Al Houthis do not believe in the constitution or the republican system neither before the war nor after the war, and they describe the September revolution in 1962 as a military coup against the legitimate rule which was in their hands for about 1100 years.
Azzan, who is from Sa'ada, "The evidence for this was, the rebels put down the flag of the republic in the areas under their control in Sa'ada, they cancelled the local authority and established their own courts and appointed their own judges, and levied Zakat (religious tax), changed the curriculum, and replaced teachers and mosque speakers."
Azzan said, no future for Al Houthis because they are based on sectarian and racial background and they do not have a vision for a project to rule, they have only expectations that if they rule, everything will be all right. Many people before them who claimed also as descendants of the prophet would say the same but when they ruled, nothing changed, the injustice continued.
On it's part, the army says it is now fighting the rebels according to a new strategy suitable to the guerrilla war of the rebels.
It destroyed with artillery and tanks a number of houses in the old city of Sa'ada where Al Houthi rebels were positioning, according to military sources who participated in the heavy bombardment on Tuesday November 3rd.
Before the attack, the army was calling through loudspeakers to the rebels inside the houses to surrender themselves giving them an ultimatum until mid night Monday.
The bombardment on their houses started immediately after the ultimatum ended at 12:00 and continued until early morning Tuesday. The houses in Najran zone, which are all rebels' houses, were destroyed, the sources said.
We were pounding with artillery and tanks from tens of meters away from the houses, so we did not miss any target, the sources said.
No one surrendered himself, and no one escaped because the old city is surrounded from all directions by the army, the sources said. At least seven rebels surrendered them selves at about 11 am Tuesday. About 300 rebels were arrested from inside the city of Sa'ada from the beginning of the war August 10th.
Al Houthi rebels are only in one neighborhood called Najran, and the other areas in the old city are lived by people loyal to the government and this is why it was difficult for the army to clean up the city from the rebels from the beginning of the war.
At least 20 Al Houthi rebels were killed when they tried to implement a suicide attack on the government offices inside Sa'ada city Monday, according to local sources in the city.
The army is determined to clean the whole city of Sa'ada from the rebels who hide among the people and implement attacks on the security forces.
The destruction of the rebels' houses came after the rebels failed in attacking the house of the tribal sheikh Hussein Aidha in the middle of the city of Sa'ada early Monday.
More than 70 Al Houthi rebels and 25 tribesmen were killed also Monday in fierce battles between the rebels and tribesmen in Dammj area about 15 km southeast of Sa'ada city. The first Salafi school, Dar Al Hadith, in Yemen was established in the area of Dammaj. Salafis who came from Saudi Arabia in early 1980s are considered the historic opponents of the Zaidi- Shiite Houthis.
The army says it is also making progress in the other two main frontlines of Harfy Sufyan, in the south of Sa'ada and Al Malahaid in the far west of Sa'ada.
The army is about to control the Al Malahaid area after it controlled earlier this week Jabal Al Dukhan one of the most important posts.
Al Houthi rebels said Saudi Arabia is attacking them from this post threatening to strike Saudi Arabia if it does stop what they called the "flagrant aggression and dangerous intervention."
The Saudi authorities have "allowed Yemeni army to use a Saudi base in Jabal Al Dukhan from which it launched attacks," said Al Houthi in statement sent through emails.
The Yemeni foreign minister Abu Bakr Al Querbi on his part, said Yemen is investigating the Iranian involvement in the war. He says Yemen has all options to deal with Iran when investigations are over. "We will announce the results to the public opinion," The Yemeni foreign minister said.
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 visited Yemen earlier this week and met President Saleh and other senior officials, 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.
The support for the government continues from inside and outside Yemen. The popular convoys of assistance for the army and displaced people go almost every day to Sa'ada from all over the country. For instance, a convoy of about 200 lorries and cars laden with various relief materials went to Sa'ada from the people of the city of Sana'a.
Two airplanes laden with relief material from the UAE Red Crescent arrived in the airport of Hodeidah west of Yemen on Tuesday November 3rd, 2009. The cargo which includes tents and mattresses , food and medicines, will take hours driving to reach the displaced people in Al Mazrak in the far west of Sa'ada at the border with Saudi Arabia. The head of UAE delegation who accompanies the two airplanes said the delegation would establish new camp for about 7000 refugees in Haradh area.
A Yemeni cleric called the army to change its strategy for crushing Al Houthi armed rebellion in the north of the country before listening to any demands of the rebels.
" No solution whatsoever can be reached before crushing the armed rebellion, and to do that, the army should change its strategies and plans so that it can restore the confidence of the people, and once the army have impose full control over the areas of Al Houthi, then the State can listen to the rebels and respond to the legitimate and reasonable demands," said the Zaidi cleric Mohammed Azzan in a forum held in Sana'a Monday.
Azzan established the organization of Al Shabab Al Mumen in 1991 in Sa'ada along with a number of Zaidi intellectuals including Mohammed Badr Al Deen Al Houthi, brother of the current leader of rebels Abdul Malik.
The slain leader of the rebels Hussein Al Houthi joined Al Shabab Al Mumen in 1998 and dissented from it in 2001 after he established his own group which is fighting the State until now under the slogan of "death to America, death to Israel, curse to Jews and victory to Islam."
"Al Houthi wants to achieve one main goal which is to rule Yemen as a divine right only for him as an alleged descendant of the prophet," said Mohammed Azzan.
"Al Houthi did his best to attack the Zaidis and accused them of weakness and not doing enough for their sect, and he would always say the Zaidi are nothing if they did not change their mind and rally around him so that he can turn them to gangs for killing, and plundering," Azzan said justifying why the army should crush the rebels.
Al Houthis do not believe in the constitution or the republican system neither before the war nor after the war, and they describe the September revolution in 1962 as a military coup against the legitimate rule which was in their hands for about 1100 years.
Azzan, who is from Sa'ada, "The evidence for this was, the rebels put down the flag of the republic in the areas under their control in Sa'ada, they cancelled the local authority and established their own courts and appointed their own judges, and levied Zakat (religious tax), changed the curriculum, and replaced teachers and mosque speakers."
Azzan said, no future for Al Houthis because they are based on sectarian and racial background and they do not have a vision for a project to rule, they have only expectations that if they rule, everything will be all right. Many people before them who claimed also as descendants of the prophet would say the same but when they ruled, nothing changed, the injustice continued.
On it's part, the army says it is now fighting the rebels according to a new strategy suitable to the guerrilla war of the rebels.
It destroyed with artillery and tanks a number of houses in the old city of Sa'ada where Al Houthi rebels were positioning, according to military sources who participated in the heavy bombardment on Tuesday November 3rd.
Before the attack, the army was calling through loudspeakers to the rebels inside the houses to surrender themselves giving them an ultimatum until mid night Monday.
The bombardment on their houses started immediately after the ultimatum ended at 12:00 and continued until early morning Tuesday. The houses in Najran zone, which are all rebels' houses, were destroyed, the sources said.
We were pounding with artillery and tanks from tens of meters away from the houses, so we did not miss any target, the sources said.
No one surrendered himself, and no one escaped because the old city is surrounded from all directions by the army, the sources said. At least seven rebels surrendered them selves at about 11 am Tuesday. About 300 rebels were arrested from inside the city of Sa'ada from the beginning of the war August 10th.
Al Houthi rebels are only in one neighborhood called Najran, and the other areas in the old city are lived by people loyal to the government and this is why it was difficult for the army to clean up the city from the rebels from the beginning of the war.
At least 20 Al Houthi rebels were killed when they tried to implement a suicide attack on the government offices inside Sa'ada city Monday, according to local sources in the city.
The army is determined to clean the whole city of Sa'ada from the rebels who hide among the people and implement attacks on the security forces.
The destruction of the rebels' houses came after the rebels failed in attacking the house of the tribal sheikh Hussein Aidha in the middle of the city of Sa'ada early Monday.
More than 70 Al Houthi rebels and 25 tribesmen were killed also Monday in fierce battles between the rebels and tribesmen in Dammj area about 15 km southeast of Sa'ada city. The first Salafi school, Dar Al Hadith, in Yemen was established in the area of Dammaj. Salafis who came from Saudi Arabia in early 1980s are considered the historic opponents of the Zaidi- Shiite Houthis.
The army says it is also making progress in the other two main frontlines of Harfy Sufyan, in the south of Sa'ada and Al Malahaid in the far west of Sa'ada.
The army is about to control the Al Malahaid area after it controlled earlier this week Jabal Al Dukhan one of the most important posts.
Al Houthi rebels said Saudi Arabia is attacking them from this post threatening to strike Saudi Arabia if it does stop what they called the "flagrant aggression and dangerous intervention."
The Saudi authorities have "allowed Yemeni army to use a Saudi base in Jabal Al Dukhan from which it launched attacks," said Al Houthi in statement sent through emails.
The Yemeni foreign minister Abu Bakr Al Querbi on his part, said Yemen is investigating the Iranian involvement in the war. He says Yemen has all options to deal with Iran when investigations are over. "We will announce the results to the public opinion," The Yemeni foreign minister said.
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 visited Yemen earlier this week and met President Saleh and other senior officials, 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.
The support for the government continues from inside and outside Yemen. The popular convoys of assistance for the army and displaced people go almost every day to Sa'ada from all over the country. For instance, a convoy of about 200 lorries and cars laden with various relief materials went to Sa'ada from the people of the city of Sana'a.
Two airplanes laden with relief material from the UAE Red Crescent arrived in the airport of Hodeidah west of Yemen on Tuesday November 3rd, 2009. The cargo which includes tents and mattresses , food and medicines, will take hours driving to reach the displaced people in Al Mazrak in the far west of Sa'ada at the border with Saudi Arabia. The head of UAE delegation who accompanies the two airplanes said the delegation would establish new camp for about 7000 refugees in Haradh area.
Monday, 2 November 2009
UAE-run refugee camp to be established in Yemen
By Nasser Arrabyee/03/11/2009
Two Emirates airplanes laden with relief materials arrived in the airport of Hodiedah west of Yemen, official sources at the airport said Tuesday.
The cargo includes tents, mattresses, food, and medicines and other relief material for helping the people who fled their homes because of the war between the government troops and Al Houthi rebels.
The head of the Emirates delegation, who accompanies the airplanes, Ali Saif Al Kabi, said the UAE Red Crescent would also establish a new camp accommodating more than 7,000 refugees.
Al Kabi will supervise the establishment of the new camp in Haradh area.
From the airport of Hodeidah, it takes two hours driving to Haradh city, in the far west of Sa'ada at the border with Saudi Arabia.
In cooperation with the UAE embassy in Sana'a, the local Al Saleh foundation and the Yemen Red Crescent, the Emirates delegation will provide also relief assistance for the already established camps in Al Mazrak area.
Two Emirates airplanes laden with relief materials arrived in the airport of Hodiedah west of Yemen, official sources at the airport said Tuesday.
The cargo includes tents, mattresses, food, and medicines and other relief material for helping the people who fled their homes because of the war between the government troops and Al Houthi rebels.
The head of the Emirates delegation, who accompanies the airplanes, Ali Saif Al Kabi, said the UAE Red Crescent would also establish a new camp accommodating more than 7,000 refugees.
Al Kabi will supervise the establishment of the new camp in Haradh area.
From the airport of Hodeidah, it takes two hours driving to Haradh city, in the far west of Sa'ada at the border with Saudi Arabia.
In cooperation with the UAE embassy in Sana'a, the local Al Saleh foundation and the Yemen Red Crescent, the Emirates delegation will provide also relief assistance for the already established camps in Al Mazrak area.
Al Houthi rebels crushed by tanks
By Nasser Arrabyee/03/11/2009
The army destroyed Tuesday with artillery and tanks a number of houses in the old city of Sa'ada where Al Houthi rebels were positioning, military sources participating in the attack said.
Before the attack, the army was calling through loudspeakers to the rebels inside the houses to surrender themselves giving them an ultimatum until mid night Monday.
The bombardment on their houses started immediately after the ultimatum ended at 12:00 and continued until early morning Tuesday. The houses in Najran zone, which are all rebels' houses, were destroyed, the sources said.
We were pounding with artillery and tanks from meters away from the houses, so we did not miss any target, the sources said.
No one surrendered himself, and no one escaped because the old city is surrounded from all directions by the army, the sources said. The fate of the rebels inside the houses is still unknown.
Al Houthi rebels are only in one neighborhood called Najran, and the other areas in the old city are lived by people loyal to the government and this is why it was difficult for the army to clean up the city from the rebels from the beginning of the war in August 10.
At least 20 Al Houthi rebels were killed when they tried to implement a suicide attack on the government offices inside Sa'ada city Monday, according to local sources in the city.
The army is determined to clean the whole city of Sa'ada from the rebels who hide among the people and implement attacks on the security forces.
The destruction of the rebels' houses came after the rebels failed in attacking the house of the tribal sheikh Hussein Aidha in the middle of the city of Sa'ada early Monday.
More than 70 Al Houthi rebels and 25 tribesmen were killed also Monday in fierce battles between the rebels and tribesmen in Dammj area about 15 km southeast of Sa'ada city. The first Salafi school, Dar Al Hadith, in Yemen was established in the area of Dammaj. Salafis who came from Saudi Arabia in early 1980s are considered to be the historic opponents of the Zaidi- Shiite Houthis.
The army destroyed Tuesday with artillery and tanks a number of houses in the old city of Sa'ada where Al Houthi rebels were positioning, military sources participating in the attack said.
Before the attack, the army was calling through loudspeakers to the rebels inside the houses to surrender themselves giving them an ultimatum until mid night Monday.
The bombardment on their houses started immediately after the ultimatum ended at 12:00 and continued until early morning Tuesday. The houses in Najran zone, which are all rebels' houses, were destroyed, the sources said.
We were pounding with artillery and tanks from meters away from the houses, so we did not miss any target, the sources said.
No one surrendered himself, and no one escaped because the old city is surrounded from all directions by the army, the sources said. The fate of the rebels inside the houses is still unknown.
Al Houthi rebels are only in one neighborhood called Najran, and the other areas in the old city are lived by people loyal to the government and this is why it was difficult for the army to clean up the city from the rebels from the beginning of the war in August 10.
At least 20 Al Houthi rebels were killed when they tried to implement a suicide attack on the government offices inside Sa'ada city Monday, according to local sources in the city.
The army is determined to clean the whole city of Sa'ada from the rebels who hide among the people and implement attacks on the security forces.
The destruction of the rebels' houses came after the rebels failed in attacking the house of the tribal sheikh Hussein Aidha in the middle of the city of Sa'ada early Monday.
More than 70 Al Houthi rebels and 25 tribesmen were killed also Monday in fierce battles between the rebels and tribesmen in Dammj area about 15 km southeast of Sa'ada city. The first Salafi school, Dar Al Hadith, in Yemen was established in the area of Dammaj. Salafis who came from Saudi Arabia in early 1980s are considered to be the historic opponents of the Zaidi- Shiite Houthis.
Saudi intervention in the war against rebels denied
By Nasser Arrabyee/02/11/2009
A Yemeni military official denied Monday Al Houthi rebels' allegations that the army used a Saudi base to attack them.
The Saudi authorities have "allowed Yemeni army to use a Saudi base in Jabal Al Dukhan from which it launched attacks," said Al Houthi in statement sent through emails.
The military official, who asked not to be named, said Al Houthi tries only to cover his defeats by speaking about Saudi interference. "Jabal Al Dukhan is Yemeni not Saudi lands," he said. This is not the first time Al Houthi rebels accuse Saudi authorities of intervening in the war.
Earlier in the day, the army said in a statement that it had controlled fully on Jabal Al Dukhan and all hills around in the western frontline of Al Malahaid.
Hideouts of the rebels were destroyed in Al Manzalsh and hills overlooking Wadi Layah. Weapons, ammunitions, and cars were seized after cleaning up the area from the rebels, the statement said.
Al Houthi rebels threatened to strike Saudi Arabia if it does stop what they called "flagrant aggression and dangerous intervention."
The ambassadors of US and EU to Sana'a expressed today Monday their support for the unity, security and stability of Yemen in a meeting they held with the Yemeni foreign minister Abu Bakr Al Querbi.
Al Querbi said he had briefed the ambassadors on the steps being taken by the State to end the armed rebellion of Al Houthi. He said that the five conditions set by the supreme committee, which supervises the war, are still valid for a cease-fire. The rebels must go down from the mountains and hand over the weapons is the most important point of those conditions.
A Yemeni military official denied Monday Al Houthi rebels' allegations that the army used a Saudi base to attack them.
The Saudi authorities have "allowed Yemeni army to use a Saudi base in Jabal Al Dukhan from which it launched attacks," said Al Houthi in statement sent through emails.
The military official, who asked not to be named, said Al Houthi tries only to cover his defeats by speaking about Saudi interference. "Jabal Al Dukhan is Yemeni not Saudi lands," he said. This is not the first time Al Houthi rebels accuse Saudi authorities of intervening in the war.
Earlier in the day, the army said in a statement that it had controlled fully on Jabal Al Dukhan and all hills around in the western frontline of Al Malahaid.
Hideouts of the rebels were destroyed in Al Manzalsh and hills overlooking Wadi Layah. Weapons, ammunitions, and cars were seized after cleaning up the area from the rebels, the statement said.
Al Houthi rebels threatened to strike Saudi Arabia if it does stop what they called "flagrant aggression and dangerous intervention."
The ambassadors of US and EU to Sana'a expressed today Monday their support for the unity, security and stability of Yemen in a meeting they held with the Yemeni foreign minister Abu Bakr Al Querbi.
Al Querbi said he had briefed the ambassadors on the steps being taken by the State to end the armed rebellion of Al Houthi. He said that the five conditions set by the supreme committee, which supervises the war, are still valid for a cease-fire. The rebels must go down from the mountains and hand over the weapons is the most important point of those conditions.
Sunday, 1 November 2009
Al Houthi rebels pound refugee camp in Sa'ada
By Nasser Arrabyee/02/11/2009
At least three displaced people were injured when Al Houthi rebels fired mortars on them inside the camp of Sam at the outskirt of Sa'ada city, said the deputy governor.
The deputy governor of Sa'ada, Mohammed Al Emad, said the more the army tightens the noose on the rebels the more they kill any civilian including those inside the camps.
The camp of Sam, which harbours about 500 displaced people, was repeatedly attacked by the rebels over the last weeks.
Meanwhile, 39 Al Houthi rebels were arrested in the old city of Sa'ada and the areas around it, said security sources Monday.
A group of them was arrested while distributing leaflets calling for fighting with the rebels in Neshur area east of Sa'ada, the sources said. Their car was captured with the leaflets and documents on board.
The rebels plundered the contents of the hospital of Razeh and contents of the communication office and took all these things to Mutrah, the stronghold their leadership, the sources said.
The rebels exploded two houses in the village of Habajerah in Al Malahaid after the owners refused to fight with them against the troops, said eyewitnesses from the same area.
On his part, the tribal sheikh Dughsan ahmed Dughsan member of the failed mediation committee between the rebels and the government, said Monday that Al Houthi is drawing Yemen into holocaust.
Dughsan, who is from Sa'ada, said in a press interview published Monday, the committee failed in finding a solution because Al Houthi wanted only to achieve his goals which are to rule by force.
At least three displaced people were injured when Al Houthi rebels fired mortars on them inside the camp of Sam at the outskirt of Sa'ada city, said the deputy governor.
The deputy governor of Sa'ada, Mohammed Al Emad, said the more the army tightens the noose on the rebels the more they kill any civilian including those inside the camps.
The camp of Sam, which harbours about 500 displaced people, was repeatedly attacked by the rebels over the last weeks.
Meanwhile, 39 Al Houthi rebels were arrested in the old city of Sa'ada and the areas around it, said security sources Monday.
A group of them was arrested while distributing leaflets calling for fighting with the rebels in Neshur area east of Sa'ada, the sources said. Their car was captured with the leaflets and documents on board.
The rebels plundered the contents of the hospital of Razeh and contents of the communication office and took all these things to Mutrah, the stronghold their leadership, the sources said.
The rebels exploded two houses in the village of Habajerah in Al Malahaid after the owners refused to fight with them against the troops, said eyewitnesses from the same area.
On his part, the tribal sheikh Dughsan ahmed Dughsan member of the failed mediation committee between the rebels and the government, said Monday that Al Houthi is drawing Yemen into holocaust.
Dughsan, who is from Sa'ada, said in a press interview published Monday, the committee failed in finding a solution because Al Houthi wanted only to achieve his goals which are to rule by force.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
