Mareb tribesmen warn Al Qaeda from staying in their province
By Nasser Arrabyee/31/12/2009
The Yemeni security forces arrested Mohammed Abdu Saleh Al Hawdali in the raid implemented Wednesday on Al Qaeda hideout in Al Hodidah province west of the country, an official statement said Thursday.
The statement described Al Hawdali as a dangerous operative of Al Qaeda, and that his arrest came after accurate surveillance for his movements.
And in Arhab, east of the capital Sana'a, the security forces arrested Mohammed Ali Al Hanek as an Al Qaeda operative, according to the same statement. Al Hanek, fought with Al Qaeda in Afghanistan, the statement said.
Meanwhile, Tribesmen from Mareb, east of Yemen, warned Al Qaeda operatives to immediately leave their province, otherwise, they will be struck like their comrades in Arhab, Abyan and Shabwah.
In a statement published by the state-run media Thursday , the tribesmen warned the Al Qaeda operatives from their province Marib, in particular from Abaida valley saying it was a safe haven planning many terrorist acts.
The tribesmen warned Aidh Jaber Al Shabwani, Ali Fares, Tarek bin Saood Mueli, Ghalib al Zaidi and others, who are from Mareb, from staying in the province of Marib any more.
The tribesmen said that Mareb was safe haven for planning and implementing many terrorist acts like the assassination of security officials in Hudhrmout and Mareb and killing tourists.
The tribesmen's statement came after the government warned the tribesmen everywhere in Yemen from any cooperation with Al Qaeda elements.
The government said, those in Mareb, or anywhere else, will certainly have the same fate as their comrades in Arhab, Abyan and Shabwah.
This came after an Al Qaeda operative was injured and arrested and at least three of his comrades escaped after clashes with security forces in Hodeida province west of Yemen, local and security sources said Wednesday.
The injured man was taken by soldiers to a hospital for treatment and other security forces followed at least three Al Qaeda operatives who eascped from the village of Dair Al Ajabiri, about 30 km north of Hodeida city after they clashed with the security, the local sources said.
The clashes happened at 10 am today Wednesday, when the security forces raided the house of Nasser Ahmed Zuraiban Al Ahdal, where the group was hiding.
Al Ahdal, the owner of the house, who escaped also, was known in his village as a former Al Qaeda member after being released from the intelligence prison on condition that he would renounce any armed activity.
He used to go to security authorities for signing every month to prove his obedience and compliance with the instructions.
However, the security officials the Al Qaeda man, was arrested in the same village without any clashes.
The raid happened at 6 am today Wednesday in the village of Dair Al Jabiri and because it was very accurate the man was arrested without any clashes, an unidentified security official was quoted by the State-run media.
Thursday, 31 December 2009
Mareb tribesmen warn Al Qaeda from staying in their province
By Nasser Arrabyee/31/12/2009
Tribesmen from Mareb, east of Yemen, warned Al Qaeda operatives to immediately leave their province, otherwise they will be struck like their comrades in Arhab, Abyan and Shabwah.
In a statement published by the state-run media, the tribesmen warned the Al Qaeda operatives from their province Marib, in particular from Abaida valley saying it was a safe haven planning many terrorist acts.
The tribesmen warned Aidh Jaber Al Shabwani, Ali Fares, Tarek bin Saood Mueli, Ghalib al Zaidi and others, who are from Mareb, from staying in the province of Marib any more.
The tribesmen said that Mareb was safe haven for planning and implementing many terrorist acts like the assassination of security officials in Hudhrmout and Mareb and killing tourists.
The tribesmen's statement came after the government warned the tribesmen everywhere in Yemen from any cooperation with Al Qaeda elements.
The government said, those in Mareb, or anywhere else, will certainly have the same fate as their comrades in Arhab, Abyan and Shabwah.
This came after an Al Qaeda operative was injured and arrested and at least three of his comrades escaped after clashes with security forces in Hodeida province west of Yemen, local and security sources said Wednesday.
The injured man was taken by soldiers to a hospital for treatment and other security forces followed at least three Al Qaeda operatives who eascped from the village of Dair Al Ajabiri, about 30 km north of Hodeida city after they clashed with the security, the local sources said.
The clashes happened at 10 am today Wednesday, when the security forces raided the house of Nasser Ahmed Zuraiban Al Ahdal, where the group was hiding.
Al Ahdal, the owner of the house, who escaped also, was known in his village as a former Al Qaeda member after being released from the intelligence prison on condition that he would renounce any armed activity.
He used to go to security authorities for signing every month to prove his obedience and compliance with the instructions.
However, the security officials the Al Qaeda man, was arrested in the same village without any clashes.
The raid happened at 6 am today Wednesday in the village of Dair Al Jabiri and because it was very accurate the man was arrested without any clashes, an unidentified security official was quoted by the State-run media.
Tribesmen from Mareb, east of Yemen, warned Al Qaeda operatives to immediately leave their province, otherwise they will be struck like their comrades in Arhab, Abyan and Shabwah.
In a statement published by the state-run media, the tribesmen warned the Al Qaeda operatives from their province Marib, in particular from Abaida valley saying it was a safe haven planning many terrorist acts.
The tribesmen warned Aidh Jaber Al Shabwani, Ali Fares, Tarek bin Saood Mueli, Ghalib al Zaidi and others, who are from Mareb, from staying in the province of Marib any more.
The tribesmen said that Mareb was safe haven for planning and implementing many terrorist acts like the assassination of security officials in Hudhrmout and Mareb and killing tourists.
The tribesmen's statement came after the government warned the tribesmen everywhere in Yemen from any cooperation with Al Qaeda elements.
The government said, those in Mareb, or anywhere else, will certainly have the same fate as their comrades in Arhab, Abyan and Shabwah.
This came after an Al Qaeda operative was injured and arrested and at least three of his comrades escaped after clashes with security forces in Hodeida province west of Yemen, local and security sources said Wednesday.
The injured man was taken by soldiers to a hospital for treatment and other security forces followed at least three Al Qaeda operatives who eascped from the village of Dair Al Ajabiri, about 30 km north of Hodeida city after they clashed with the security, the local sources said.
The clashes happened at 10 am today Wednesday, when the security forces raided the house of Nasser Ahmed Zuraiban Al Ahdal, where the group was hiding.
Al Ahdal, the owner of the house, who escaped also, was known in his village as a former Al Qaeda member after being released from the intelligence prison on condition that he would renounce any armed activity.
He used to go to security authorities for signing every month to prove his obedience and compliance with the instructions.
However, the security officials the Al Qaeda man, was arrested in the same village without any clashes.
The raid happened at 6 am today Wednesday in the village of Dair Al Jabiri and because it was very accurate the man was arrested without any clashes, an unidentified security official was quoted by the State-run media.
Wednesday, 30 December 2009
An Al Qaeda man injured and arrested, three escaped after clashes with security
By Nasser Arrabyee/30/12/2009
Al Qaeda operative was injured and arrested and at least three of his comrades escaped after clashes with security forces in Hodeida province west of Yemen,
Local and security sources said Wednesday.
The injured man was taken by soldiers to a hospital for treatment and other security forces followed at least three Al Qaeda operatives who eascped from the village of Dair Al Ajabiri, about 30 km north of Hodeida city after they clashed with the security, the local sources said.
The clashes happened at 10 am today Wednesday, when the security forces raided the house of Nasser Ahmed Zuraiban Al Ahdal, where the group was hiding.
Al Ahdal, the owner of the house, who escaped also, was known in his village as a former Al Qaeda member after being released from the intelligence prison on condition that he would renounce any armed activity.
He used to go to security authorities for signing every month to prove his obedience and compliance with the instructions.
However, the security officials the Al Qaeda man was arrested in the same village without any clashes.
The raid happened at 6 am today Wednesday in the village of Dair Al Jabiri and because it was very accurate the man was arrested without any clashes, an unidentified security official was quoted by the State-run media.
Al Qaeda operative was injured and arrested and at least three of his comrades escaped after clashes with security forces in Hodeida province west of Yemen,
Local and security sources said Wednesday.
The injured man was taken by soldiers to a hospital for treatment and other security forces followed at least three Al Qaeda operatives who eascped from the village of Dair Al Ajabiri, about 30 km north of Hodeida city after they clashed with the security, the local sources said.
The clashes happened at 10 am today Wednesday, when the security forces raided the house of Nasser Ahmed Zuraiban Al Ahdal, where the group was hiding.
Al Ahdal, the owner of the house, who escaped also, was known in his village as a former Al Qaeda member after being released from the intelligence prison on condition that he would renounce any armed activity.
He used to go to security authorities for signing every month to prove his obedience and compliance with the instructions.
However, the security officials the Al Qaeda man was arrested in the same village without any clashes.
The raid happened at 6 am today Wednesday in the village of Dair Al Jabiri and because it was very accurate the man was arrested without any clashes, an unidentified security official was quoted by the State-run media.
More than 8 Al Houthi rebels killed
By Nasser Arrabyee/30/12/2009
More than 8 Al Houthi rebels were killed including field leaders in air strikes which targeted hideouts and supply cars in the main strongholds of Dhahyan and Sakain, military sources said Wednesday.
Four supply cars, and two weapons and ammunition stores and more than five hideouts were destroyed in air raids and artillery bombardments in various places in Sa'ada mainly in Dhahyan and Sakain over the last 24 hours, the sources said.
The rebel field leader Abdul Rahaim Al Ajri, and rebels Mohsen Bukhtan, Ali Bukhtsn, Qasem Abdullah Qardash, Ahmed Ismail Al Dailami, Yahya Awki, and Mahdi Al Saifi were killed in those raids, the sources said.
More than 8 Al Houthi rebels were killed including field leaders in air strikes which targeted hideouts and supply cars in the main strongholds of Dhahyan and Sakain, military sources said Wednesday.
Four supply cars, and two weapons and ammunition stores and more than five hideouts were destroyed in air raids and artillery bombardments in various places in Sa'ada mainly in Dhahyan and Sakain over the last 24 hours, the sources said.
The rebel field leader Abdul Rahaim Al Ajri, and rebels Mohsen Bukhtan, Ali Bukhtsn, Qasem Abdullah Qardash, Ahmed Ismail Al Dailami, Yahya Awki, and Mahdi Al Saifi were killed in those raids, the sources said.
Sunday, 27 December 2009
Yemen calls rebels to put down weapons after top leaders killed
By Nasser Arrabyee/28/12/2009
The Yemen's supreme security committee called Monday Al Houthi rebels to put down weapons and surrender themselves after their top leader and 13 other field leaders were killed over the last few days.
"The heads of the rebellion have met their certain fate, and the remaining are escaping now like the panic –stricken rats from field of battles after committing the most brutal crimes," said the committee in an official statement published Monday.
"Take this opportunity and return to your children, wives, parents, and live with them in security and safety," the statement added.
This call comes after the death of the rebels' leader Abdul Malik Al Houthi, has become almost confirmed. He died two days ago from injuries he sustained in an air strike on one of his hideouts two weeks ago, according to concurrent information many military and independent sources in Sa'ada.
No confirmation or denial from the Al Houthi side on the death of their top leader until today Monday.
The security authorities published also Monday the names of 13 field leaders who were killed in fierce and decisive battles over the last few days in various places in Sa'ada.
The call also comes at the time when the army claims it is about to finish the war as it is advancing in all frontlines against the blockaded and exhausted rebels.
The Yemen's supreme security committee called Monday Al Houthi rebels to put down weapons and surrender themselves after their top leader and 13 other field leaders were killed over the last few days.
"The heads of the rebellion have met their certain fate, and the remaining are escaping now like the panic –stricken rats from field of battles after committing the most brutal crimes," said the committee in an official statement published Monday.
"Take this opportunity and return to your children, wives, parents, and live with them in security and safety," the statement added.
This call comes after the death of the rebels' leader Abdul Malik Al Houthi, has become almost confirmed. He died two days ago from injuries he sustained in an air strike on one of his hideouts two weeks ago, according to concurrent information many military and independent sources in Sa'ada.
No confirmation or denial from the Al Houthi side on the death of their top leader until today Monday.
The security authorities published also Monday the names of 13 field leaders who were killed in fierce and decisive battles over the last few days in various places in Sa'ada.
The call also comes at the time when the army claims it is about to finish the war as it is advancing in all frontlines against the blockaded and exhausted rebels.
Top leader of rebels died and buried
By Nasser Arrabyee/27/12/2009
The top leader of rebels in Sa'ada north of Yemen, Abdul Malik Al Houthi has died after he was seriously injured in an air strike two weeks ago, military and independent sources said Sunday.
Various and concurrent sources from Sa'ada said Sunday that Abdul Malik Al Houthi was buried on Saturday in Al Malahaid area, west of Sa'ada.
He was buried next to the house of Ahmed Al Hadawi, who is very close to Al Houthi family, military and the concurrent independent sources said.
Despite the fact that the burial took place secretly to avoid any effect on the morale of the rebels still fighting the Yemeni army, the news of his death is spreading quickly everywhere in Sa'ada, the sources said.
No denial or confirmation from Al Houthi side about the death and burial of Abdul Malik.
However, Yousif Al Madani, who is acting as the top leader instead of Abdul Malik, distributed leaflets signed by Abdul Malik to his field leaders saying, "Do not believe any propaganda about the death of our leader Abdul Malik,", according to concurrent sources from Sa'ada.
The Yemeni army on its part, distributed leaflets all over Sa'ada calling the blockaded rebels, to surrender to the army and the tribal chiefs and members of parliament. Guarantees were given for those who will surrender to return home to their families without any punishments, according to the contents of the leaflets.
On December 17th, the army said warplanes implemented raids on the house of Kasem Mahdi Al Hafad in Wadi Al Hebal, Sakain district, where Abdul Malik and a number of rebels were staying. The army, at the time, said Abdul Malik was serious injured. Al Houthi office denied the news as untrue. But, Abdul Malik, was disappeared from that time.
The top leader of rebels in Sa'ada north of Yemen, Abdul Malik Al Houthi has died after he was seriously injured in an air strike two weeks ago, military and independent sources said Sunday.
Various and concurrent sources from Sa'ada said Sunday that Abdul Malik Al Houthi was buried on Saturday in Al Malahaid area, west of Sa'ada.
He was buried next to the house of Ahmed Al Hadawi, who is very close to Al Houthi family, military and the concurrent independent sources said.
Despite the fact that the burial took place secretly to avoid any effect on the morale of the rebels still fighting the Yemeni army, the news of his death is spreading quickly everywhere in Sa'ada, the sources said.
No denial or confirmation from Al Houthi side about the death and burial of Abdul Malik.
However, Yousif Al Madani, who is acting as the top leader instead of Abdul Malik, distributed leaflets signed by Abdul Malik to his field leaders saying, "Do not believe any propaganda about the death of our leader Abdul Malik,", according to concurrent sources from Sa'ada.
The Yemeni army on its part, distributed leaflets all over Sa'ada calling the blockaded rebels, to surrender to the army and the tribal chiefs and members of parliament. Guarantees were given for those who will surrender to return home to their families without any punishments, according to the contents of the leaflets.
On December 17th, the army said warplanes implemented raids on the house of Kasem Mahdi Al Hafad in Wadi Al Hebal, Sakain district, where Abdul Malik and a number of rebels were staying. The army, at the time, said Abdul Malik was serious injured. Al Houthi office denied the news as untrue. But, Abdul Malik, was disappeared from that time.
Saturday, 26 December 2009
Iranian sentenced to death, two jailed five years for drug charges
22 Al Houthi rebels and 6 more drug dealers to stand trial
By Nasser Arrabyee/26/12/2009
An Iranian man was sentenced to death and two other Iranians were sentenced to five years in prison each after being convicted of bringing drugs from Iran to Yemen.
Chaired by Judge Redhwan Al Namer, the Yemeni State Security Court passed Saturday the death sentence to Mumtaz Sultan Amiri, and the five-year terms to Iman Khan Dust Mohammed, and Abdul Wahed Mohammed Ishaq.
The court acquitted seven other Iranians of the drug charges.
The 10 Iranian men were put on trial in February this year for charges of bringing and trading drugs.
They were arrested in December 2008, in the coasts of Hudhrmout east of Yemen with 1 ton and 60 km of drugs hidden in their boat.
Meanwhile, the prosecution of the same court received Saturday files of 6 drug traders from Sa'ada who were dealing with Al Houthi rebels.
The prosecution also received on the same day files of 15 Al Houthi field leaders who were arrested in Sa'ada for charges of carrying out sabotage acts and resisting the authorities.
Seven more rebels led by Sultan Turki Kharasan were handed to the prosecution on Saturday for charges of cooperating with Al Houthi rebels in Al Jawf province. The seven men were arrested on December 20th, in Al Jawf. The Ministry of Interior said in a statement Saturday, the 22 rebels and 6 drug dealers were transferred from Saa'da and Al Jawf to the central prison of Sana'a on Saturday.
By Nasser Arrabyee/26/12/2009
An Iranian man was sentenced to death and two other Iranians were sentenced to five years in prison each after being convicted of bringing drugs from Iran to Yemen.
Chaired by Judge Redhwan Al Namer, the Yemeni State Security Court passed Saturday the death sentence to Mumtaz Sultan Amiri, and the five-year terms to Iman Khan Dust Mohammed, and Abdul Wahed Mohammed Ishaq.
The court acquitted seven other Iranians of the drug charges.
The 10 Iranian men were put on trial in February this year for charges of bringing and trading drugs.
They were arrested in December 2008, in the coasts of Hudhrmout east of Yemen with 1 ton and 60 km of drugs hidden in their boat.
Meanwhile, the prosecution of the same court received Saturday files of 6 drug traders from Sa'ada who were dealing with Al Houthi rebels.
The prosecution also received on the same day files of 15 Al Houthi field leaders who were arrested in Sa'ada for charges of carrying out sabotage acts and resisting the authorities.
Seven more rebels led by Sultan Turki Kharasan were handed to the prosecution on Saturday for charges of cooperating with Al Houthi rebels in Al Jawf province. The seven men were arrested on December 20th, in Al Jawf. The Ministry of Interior said in a statement Saturday, the 22 rebels and 6 drug dealers were transferred from Saa'da and Al Jawf to the central prison of Sana'a on Saturday.
Friday, 25 December 2009
Tribesmen blockade Al Houthi rebels
By Nasser Arrabyee/26/12/2009
More than 20 Al Houthi rebels were killed in Al Matamah area in the neighboring province of Al Jawf where local tribesmen failed an attempt by Al Houthi rebels, fleeing from Sa'ada, to position in a mountain, local sources said Saturday.
The Yemeni warplane bombed their hideouts in Matamah more than 10 times before the tribesmen attacked the place killing more than 20 and injuring 30 others and forcing the remaining to retreat, said the source who is participating in the attack against the rebels.
Over the last few weeks, Al Houthi rebels have been trying to push some of Al Jawf tribesmen, dissatisfied with the government over development issues, to fight with them or at least to provide a haven for their elements escaping from the blockaded Sa'ada.
"The tribesmen are determined to foil any attempt by the rebels who want to drag some people here to the rebellion," said Yahya Al Kuh, member of the local council in Al Jawf.
"What happened today is a good example, the tribesmen, all the tribesmen including those who are sympathetic with Al Houth rebels, were very angry when a group of rebels who escaped from Sa'ada tried to position in a mountain overlooking the Shulan tribes' area."
"They killed them all and destroyed the position; we do not want any rebellion here," Al Kuha said.
Earlier on Friday, the Shulan tribesmen, Al Hussein and Al Hubaishi, who absolutely refuse any armed rebellion in their areas, killed the field leader Haidarah Al Sufyani, and four of his comrades. After this incident, the remaining rebels who escaped from Sa'ada and some tribesmen who support them tried unsuccessfully to control the mountain of Al Wade'e, which overlooks the villages of the Shulan tribes.
Meanwhile, more than 40 Al Houthi rebels surrendered in Harf Sufyan, military and tribal sources said Friday.
The surrenders came after tribal mediators guaranteed that those who surrender would return to their families as normal citizens. The state-run TV showed those who surrendered expressing their repentance and their readiness to fight against the rebels. All of them are from of tribe Shahwan, and names of 36 of them were published.
The army has been calling the misled rebels to surrender in return for protection and returning home safely.
These developments came amid romors that the top leader of the rebels Abdul Malik Al Houthi died after he was seriously injured in air strike last week.
On December 17th, the army said the warplanes implemented raids on the house of Kasem Mahdi Al Hafad in Wadi Al Hebal, Sakain district, where Abdul Malik and number of rebels were staying. The army, at the time, said Abdul Malik was serious injured. Al Houthi denied the news as untrue.
The fate of the top leader is still unclear as many observes are skeptical why he did not show up any more after that news in video to prove that he is still alive.
For their part, Al Houthi rebels said in a statement sent to email Friday, that Saudi warplanes implemented Friday and Thursday night 73 raids on areas not in the border with Saudi Arabia, but inside Sa'ada, like Al Talh, Dhahyan and Sahar.
The Yemeni warplanes bomb these places almost every day.
Al Houthi rebels said they counted 740 missiles on Al Malahaid and Razeh on Friday.
Those accusations came after Saudi forces declared that they cleaned their lands from Al Houthi infiltrators, who did not exploit the 48-hour ultimatum to withdraw.
Saudi monarch, King Abdullah Bin Abdul Azeez, said Saturday in an interview with a Kuwaiti newspaper that Saudi forces drove out all Al Houthi infiltrators from the Saudi lands. "Praise be to Allah Almighty, we have totally driven back the infiltrators from our lands and we have achieved complete victory," said Saudi monarch in the interview with Kuwaiti paper Al Syasiah.
Dozens of Al Houthi rebels were killed and injured after a Saudi ground attack supported by warplanes on Al Jabiri area late Thursday after the blockaded rebels refused to surrender, according to Saudi sources Friday.
Last week, the Saudi army had given Al Houthi rebels a 48-hour ultimatum to withdraw or surrender, which ended about 2 pm Thursday December 23.
About two hours after the end of the ultimatum, the Saudi army implemented a big attack on Al Jabiri area and Al Batool Mountain, according to the Saudi local website Jazan news.
Fleeing Al Houthi rebels killed, Saudis attack after ultimatum ends
By Nasser Arrabyee/25/12/2009
More than 20 Al Houthi rebels were killed in Al Matamah area in the neighboring province of Al Jawf where local tribesmen failed an attempt by Al Houthi rebels, fleeing from Sa'ada, to position in a mountain, local sources said Friday.
The Yemeni warplane bombed their hideouts in Matamah more than 10 times before the tribesmen attacked the place killing more than 20 and injuring many others and forcing the remaining to retreat, said the source who is participating in the attack against the rebels.
Over the last few weeks, Al Houthi rebels have been trying to push some Al Jawf tribesmen, dissatisfied with the government, to fight with them or at least to provide a haven for their elements escaping from the blockaded Sa'ada.
"The tribesmen are determined to foil any attempt by the rebels to want drag some people here to the rebellion," said Yahya Al Kuh, member of the local council in Al Jawf.
"What happened today is a good example, the tribesmen, all the tribesmen including those who are sympathetic with Al Houth rebels, were very angry when a group of rebels who escaped from Sa'ada tried to position in a mountain overlooking the Shulan tribes' area."
"They killed them all and destroyed the position; we do not want any rebellion here," Al Kuha said.
Meanwhile, more than 40 Al Houthi rebels surrendered in Harf Sufyan, military and tribal sources said Friday.
The surrenders came after tribal mediators guaranteed that those who surrender would return to their families as normal citizens.
The army has been calling the misled rebels to surrender in return for protection and returning home safely.
These developments came amid romors that the top leader of the rebels Abdul Malik Al Houthi died after he was seriously injured in air strike last week.
On December 17th, the army said the warplanes implemented raids on the house of Kasem Mahdi Al Hafad in Wadi Al Hebal, Sakain district, where Abdul Malik and number of rebels were staying. The army, at the time, said Abdul Malik was serious injured. Al Houthi denied the news as untrue.
The fate of the top leader is still unclear as many observes are skeptical why he did not show up any more after that news in video to prove that he is still alive.
For their part, Al Houthi rebels said in a statement sent to email Friday, that Saudi warplanes implemented Friday and Thursday night 73 raids on areas not in the border with Saudi Arabia, but inside Sa'ada, like Al Talh, Dhahyan and Sahar.
The Yemeni warplanes bomb these places almost every day.
Al Houthi rebels said they counted 740 missiles on Al Malahaid and Razeh on Friday.
Those accusations come at the time after dozens of Al Houthi rebels were killed and injured in a Saudi ground attack supported by warplanes on Al Jabiri area late Thursday after the blockaded rebels refused to surrender, according to Saudi sources Friday.
Last week, the Saudi army had given Al Houthi rebels a 48-hour ultimatum to withdraw or surrender, which ended about 2 pm Thursday December 23.
About two hours after the end of the ultimatum, the Saudi army implemented a big attack on Al Jabiri area and Al Batool Mountain, according to the Saudi local website Jazan news.
More than 20 Al Houthi rebels were killed in Al Matamah area in the neighboring province of Al Jawf where local tribesmen failed an attempt by Al Houthi rebels, fleeing from Sa'ada, to position in a mountain, local sources said Friday.
The Yemeni warplane bombed their hideouts in Matamah more than 10 times before the tribesmen attacked the place killing more than 20 and injuring many others and forcing the remaining to retreat, said the source who is participating in the attack against the rebels.
Over the last few weeks, Al Houthi rebels have been trying to push some Al Jawf tribesmen, dissatisfied with the government, to fight with them or at least to provide a haven for their elements escaping from the blockaded Sa'ada.
"The tribesmen are determined to foil any attempt by the rebels to want drag some people here to the rebellion," said Yahya Al Kuh, member of the local council in Al Jawf.
"What happened today is a good example, the tribesmen, all the tribesmen including those who are sympathetic with Al Houth rebels, were very angry when a group of rebels who escaped from Sa'ada tried to position in a mountain overlooking the Shulan tribes' area."
"They killed them all and destroyed the position; we do not want any rebellion here," Al Kuha said.
Meanwhile, more than 40 Al Houthi rebels surrendered in Harf Sufyan, military and tribal sources said Friday.
The surrenders came after tribal mediators guaranteed that those who surrender would return to their families as normal citizens.
The army has been calling the misled rebels to surrender in return for protection and returning home safely.
These developments came amid romors that the top leader of the rebels Abdul Malik Al Houthi died after he was seriously injured in air strike last week.
On December 17th, the army said the warplanes implemented raids on the house of Kasem Mahdi Al Hafad in Wadi Al Hebal, Sakain district, where Abdul Malik and number of rebels were staying. The army, at the time, said Abdul Malik was serious injured. Al Houthi denied the news as untrue.
The fate of the top leader is still unclear as many observes are skeptical why he did not show up any more after that news in video to prove that he is still alive.
For their part, Al Houthi rebels said in a statement sent to email Friday, that Saudi warplanes implemented Friday and Thursday night 73 raids on areas not in the border with Saudi Arabia, but inside Sa'ada, like Al Talh, Dhahyan and Sahar.
The Yemeni warplanes bomb these places almost every day.
Al Houthi rebels said they counted 740 missiles on Al Malahaid and Razeh on Friday.
Those accusations come at the time after dozens of Al Houthi rebels were killed and injured in a Saudi ground attack supported by warplanes on Al Jabiri area late Thursday after the blockaded rebels refused to surrender, according to Saudi sources Friday.
Last week, the Saudi army had given Al Houthi rebels a 48-hour ultimatum to withdraw or surrender, which ended about 2 pm Thursday December 23.
About two hours after the end of the ultimatum, the Saudi army implemented a big attack on Al Jabiri area and Al Batool Mountain, according to the Saudi local website Jazan news.
Thursday, 24 December 2009
More than 30 AlQaeda terrorists killed including top leaders in new air raids
By Nasser Arrabyee/24/12/2009
Tribal leaders and eyewitnesses said that five Al Qaeda operatives were buried today Thursday in Al Raid area close to the site where about 30 Al Qaeda operatives were killed earlier in the day by air raids.
From the site, the tribal sheikh Lahmar bin Salfooh, said that the five men were comrades of Fahd Al Kusa and that all of them are from Al Awlaki tribe in Shabwah province.
Al Kusa, who was released after being convicted of participating in the bombing of the USS Cole in 2000, was not among the dead bodies, said Bin Salfooh.
"Fahd Al Kusa is still alive, maybe he was in other place at the time of strike," he said
"I saw only five dead bodies, three of them from Nesab district including Mohammed Ahmed Omair, and one from Al Saeed district, and the fifth from Ausailan, and all of them are Awlakis," said bin Salfooh an interview over phone from the site.
The tribal sheikh said that the strike came before a tribal meeting scheduled for today Thursday for consultations about how to get these Al Qaeda members out from their area. The strike cancelled our meeting to get rid of those elements, we do not agree with them, he said. The strike was by warplanes and missiles from the sea, he added.
He held the government responsible for eliminating Al Qaeda members from their area.
"They (Al Qaeda) claim they fight America, and there is no America, in our villages," he said.
When asked about the top leaders of Al Qaeda, Nasser Al Wahayshi, and Saeed Al Shihri, he said, "I do not know them, I saw only the five dead bodies I mentioned."
Earlier in the day, an official statement said more than 30 Al Qaeda operatives including top leaders were killed when warplanes bombed a hideout for Al Qaeda in Shabwah province.
The statement said the raid targeted an Al Qaeda meeting chaired by Nasser Al Wahayshi and the Saudi Saeed Al Shihri, the top leaders of the Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula.
No confirmation yet that the top leaders Al Wahayshi and Al Shihri were certainly killed in today's operation.
The statement which was issued by the country's highest security committee, said at 4 30 am today Thursday, the security forces implemented an anticipatory strike against Al Qaeda in Rafdh area in Al Saeed district in Shabwah province south east of the country.
More than 30 Al Qaeda operatives, Yemenis and non-Yemenis, were killed in the operation, said the statement.
The terrorists were planning for taking retaliatory acts for the last Thursday's operation in Al Majalah in Abyan, said the statement .
The security committee said the strikes and hunt down would continue until the terrorists are permanently eradicated.
The committee also warned Yemeni citizens from providing any kind of cooperation to Al Qaeda elements.
Last Thursday at dawn also, Yemeni security forces supported with warplanes, implemented three simultaneous operations against Al Qaeda in three different places in Yemen killing more than 24 terrorists including Pakistanis, Saudis, and Egyptians and five more foreigners with unknown identities. More than 30 Al Qaeda operatives were arrested in those operations.
Tribal leaders and eyewitnesses said that five Al Qaeda operatives were buried today Thursday in Al Raid area close to the site where about 30 Al Qaeda operatives were killed earlier in the day by air raids.
From the site, the tribal sheikh Lahmar bin Salfooh, said that the five men were comrades of Fahd Al Kusa and that all of them are from Al Awlaki tribe in Shabwah province.
Al Kusa, who was released after being convicted of participating in the bombing of the USS Cole in 2000, was not among the dead bodies, said Bin Salfooh.
"Fahd Al Kusa is still alive, maybe he was in other place at the time of strike," he said
"I saw only five dead bodies, three of them from Nesab district including Mohammed Ahmed Omair, and one from Al Saeed district, and the fifth from Ausailan, and all of them are Awlakis," said bin Salfooh an interview over phone from the site.
The tribal sheikh said that the strike came before a tribal meeting scheduled for today Thursday for consultations about how to get these Al Qaeda members out from their area. The strike cancelled our meeting to get rid of those elements, we do not agree with them, he said. The strike was by warplanes and missiles from the sea, he added.
He held the government responsible for eliminating Al Qaeda members from their area.
"They (Al Qaeda) claim they fight America, and there is no America, in our villages," he said.
When asked about the top leaders of Al Qaeda, Nasser Al Wahayshi, and Saeed Al Shihri, he said, "I do not know them, I saw only the five dead bodies I mentioned."
Earlier in the day, an official statement said more than 30 Al Qaeda operatives including top leaders were killed when warplanes bombed a hideout for Al Qaeda in Shabwah province.
The statement said the raid targeted an Al Qaeda meeting chaired by Nasser Al Wahayshi and the Saudi Saeed Al Shihri, the top leaders of the Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula.
No confirmation yet that the top leaders Al Wahayshi and Al Shihri were certainly killed in today's operation.
The statement which was issued by the country's highest security committee, said at 4 30 am today Thursday, the security forces implemented an anticipatory strike against Al Qaeda in Rafdh area in Al Saeed district in Shabwah province south east of the country.
More than 30 Al Qaeda operatives, Yemenis and non-Yemenis, were killed in the operation, said the statement.
The terrorists were planning for taking retaliatory acts for the last Thursday's operation in Al Majalah in Abyan, said the statement .
The security committee said the strikes and hunt down would continue until the terrorists are permanently eradicated.
The committee also warned Yemeni citizens from providing any kind of cooperation to Al Qaeda elements.
Last Thursday at dawn also, Yemeni security forces supported with warplanes, implemented three simultaneous operations against Al Qaeda in three different places in Yemen killing more than 24 terrorists including Pakistanis, Saudis, and Egyptians and five more foreigners with unknown identities. More than 30 Al Qaeda operatives were arrested in those operations.
Wednesday, 23 December 2009
Top leaders of Al Qaeda in Yemen likely killed in new raids
By Nasser Arrabyee/24/12/2009
More than 30 Al Qaeda operatives including top leaders were killed when warplanes bombed a hideout for Al Qaeda in Shabwah province, an official statement said Thursday.
The statement said the raid targeted an Al Qaeda meeting chaired by Nasser Al Wahayshi and the Saudi Saeed Al Shihri, the top leaders of the Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula.
No confirmation yet that the top leaders Al Wahayshi and Al Shihri were certainly killed, today's operation.
The statement which was issued by the country's highest security committee, said at 4 30 am today Thursday, the security forces implemented an anticipatory strike against Al Qaeda in Rafdh area in Al Saeed district in Shabwah province south east of the country.
More than 30 Al Qaeda operatives, Yemenis and non-Yemenis, were killed in the operation, said the statement.
The terrorists were planning for taking retaliatory acts for the last Thursday's operation in Al Majalah in Abyan, said the statement .
The security committee, said the strikes and hunt down would continue until the terrorists are permanently eradicated.
The committee also warned Yemeni citizens from providing any kind of cooperation to Al Qaeda elements.
Last Thursday at dawn also, Yemeni security forces supported with warplanes, implemented three simultaneous operations against Al Qaeda in three different places in Yemen killing more than 24 terrorists including Pakistanis, Saudis, and Egyptians and five more foreigners with unknown identities. More than 30 Al Qaeda operatives were arrested in those operations.
More than 30 Al Qaeda operatives including top leaders were killed when warplanes bombed a hideout for Al Qaeda in Shabwah province, an official statement said Thursday.
The statement said the raid targeted an Al Qaeda meeting chaired by Nasser Al Wahayshi and the Saudi Saeed Al Shihri, the top leaders of the Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula.
No confirmation yet that the top leaders Al Wahayshi and Al Shihri were certainly killed, today's operation.
The statement which was issued by the country's highest security committee, said at 4 30 am today Thursday, the security forces implemented an anticipatory strike against Al Qaeda in Rafdh area in Al Saeed district in Shabwah province south east of the country.
More than 30 Al Qaeda operatives, Yemenis and non-Yemenis, were killed in the operation, said the statement.
The terrorists were planning for taking retaliatory acts for the last Thursday's operation in Al Majalah in Abyan, said the statement .
The security committee, said the strikes and hunt down would continue until the terrorists are permanently eradicated.
The committee also warned Yemeni citizens from providing any kind of cooperation to Al Qaeda elements.
Last Thursday at dawn also, Yemeni security forces supported with warplanes, implemented three simultaneous operations against Al Qaeda in three different places in Yemen killing more than 24 terrorists including Pakistanis, Saudis, and Egyptians and five more foreigners with unknown identities. More than 30 Al Qaeda operatives were arrested in those operations.
More than 30 terrorists killed including top leaders in new air raid
By Nasser Arrabyee/24/12/2009
More than 30 Al Qaeda operatives including top leaders were killed when an warplane bombed a hideout for Al Qaeda in Shabwa province, an official statement said Thursday.
The statement said the raid targeted a meeting chaired by Nasser Al Wahayshi and Saeed Al Shihri, the top leaders of the Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula.
The terrorists were planning for taking retaliatory acts for last Thursday's operation in Al Majalah in Abyan, security sources said. More details, later in the day.
More than 30 Al Qaeda operatives including top leaders were killed when an warplane bombed a hideout for Al Qaeda in Shabwa province, an official statement said Thursday.
The statement said the raid targeted a meeting chaired by Nasser Al Wahayshi and Saeed Al Shihri, the top leaders of the Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula.
The terrorists were planning for taking retaliatory acts for last Thursday's operation in Al Majalah in Abyan, security sources said. More details, later in the day.
Blockaded Al Houthi rebels want conditional withdrawal from Saudi lands
By Nasser Arrabyee/23/12/2009
Al Houthi rebels said Wednesday they are ready to withdraw from the Saudi territories they are occupying if the Saudi forces stopped their 'aggression.'
In a statement sent through emails, the rebels said," We are ready to withdraw if Saudis stopped aggression on us and prevented the Yemeni army from using their lands against us."
The rebels' statement comes only hours before the end of a 48-hour ultimatum given by the Saudi forces on Tuesday to the blockaded rebels to either withdraw or face strike.
Observers view the step from Al Houthi to withdraw only as a tactic to take breath or enter in direct negotiations with the Saudis to gain legitimacy.
"The rebels are not serious, and it is not the first time for them to lie, they want only to rescue them selves from the blockade they are in, and take a breath, then, they get back to fight," said Saeed Thabet, writer and political analyst.
The Saudi assistant minister of defense, Khaled bin Sultan, declared Tuesday the end of the military operations against the Al Houthi infiltrators giving the Al Houthis, blockaded in Al Jaberiah area, a 48-hour ultimatum to withdraw.
The Saudi officials said that 73 Saudi soldiers were killed, 26 went missing, and 470 were injured in the confrontations with the aggressors of Al Houthi, which began early last November.
Al Houthi rebels said Wednesday they are ready to withdraw from the Saudi territories they are occupying if the Saudi forces stopped their 'aggression.'
In a statement sent through emails, the rebels said," We are ready to withdraw if Saudis stopped aggression on us and prevented the Yemeni army from using their lands against us."
The rebels' statement comes only hours before the end of a 48-hour ultimatum given by the Saudi forces on Tuesday to the blockaded rebels to either withdraw or face strike.
Observers view the step from Al Houthi to withdraw only as a tactic to take breath or enter in direct negotiations with the Saudis to gain legitimacy.
"The rebels are not serious, and it is not the first time for them to lie, they want only to rescue them selves from the blockade they are in, and take a breath, then, they get back to fight," said Saeed Thabet, writer and political analyst.
The Saudi assistant minister of defense, Khaled bin Sultan, declared Tuesday the end of the military operations against the Al Houthi infiltrators giving the Al Houthis, blockaded in Al Jaberiah area, a 48-hour ultimatum to withdraw.
The Saudi officials said that 73 Saudi soldiers were killed, 26 went missing, and 470 were injured in the confrontations with the aggressors of Al Houthi, which began early last November.
Tuesday, 22 December 2009
Al Qaeda under fire in Yemen
By Nasser Arrabyee /23/12/2009
Al Qaeda in Yemen is outraging after the US-backed government killed and arrested dozens of them in three simultaneous operations in three different places last Thursday December 17.
The government vowed to continue crackdown on the terrorists wherever they are, as air raids continued Tuesday to bomb the area of Rafdh in Shabwa province where about 50 Al Qaeda operatives are hiding.
Al Qaeda says, it will strike back against the US and its agent, the Yemeni government.
The Thursday's operations, which targeted an Al Qaeda training camp in the south, and a group of 8 would-be suicide bombers in the north, have gained a regional and international support.
Nevertheless, such operations angered many local people because many women and children were killed in the operation, which targeted the training camp in Al Majalah, a mountainous and remote place in Abyan province close to Shabwah south of the country where Al Qaeda has been enhancing its presence.
In a tribal gathering held Monday in Al Majalah, the tribesmen from both provinces of Abyan and Shabwa, demanded a neutral investigation in what they called a massacre against civilians from the two tribes of Al Haidarah and Al Ambor.
Al Qaeda was openly present in the gathering with a defiant speaker promising the annoyed tribesmen that the victory against American is very soon.
He vowed to strike the US and its agents in retaliation for the people who were killed in the Thursday's raids.
"The war in Yemen is between Al Qaeda and US and not between Al Qaeda and the Yemeni army," said the man, who was unmasked with an armed bodyguard standing behind him.
Speaking to thousands of tribesmen, he said, "The soldiers should understand that we do not want to fight them, there is no problem between us and soldiers, the problem is between us and America, so, they must not stand with America, the victory is coming soon for us."
Sources, from the site of gathering, identified the man as Mohammed Saleh Al Awlaki, from Shabwah, and that he is relative to Fahd Al Kus'a, who was involved in the bombing of the USS Cole in 2000.
Observers say it was almost impossible to strike the training camp without casualties from women and children who were used as human shields by the terrorists.
"Al Qaeda everywhere is not only fighters alone, it's always, family , organization, mosque, and training camp, so apparently, it was almost impossible discriminate in that strike, " said Ahmed Al Sufi, President of the Democracy Development Institute, local NGO, based in Sana'a.
Al Qaeda leader Mohammed Saleh Al Kazimi, who was killed in the operation, along with his four family members, was living among Al Ambor tribe as a respectable Al Qaeda leader, according to local sources.
The sources said non-Yemeni AlQaeda fighters and also Yemenis (not from Abyan) were forming a group in Al Majalah under the leadership of Al Kazimi who was running the training camp, which was only tens of meters from his village where he, relatives, cousins, and his comrades from Al Qaeda live.
However, some local residents of Al Majalah, where the State's authority is almost absent, deny there is a training camp for Al Qaeda, but not deny the presence of Al Qaeda itself.
"There is no training camp here, Al Qaeda is walking in Sana'a and Aden and everywhere, why they (the government) only strike here," said Mukbel Mohammed Ali Al Ambori, in an interview over phone from Al Majalah.
"Mohammed Saleh Al Kazimi has the right to live with his family and relatives and cousins in
Al Ambor, and if he is Al Qaeda, then he should be punished alone."
"A total of 45 women and children, and more than 1000 various animals were killed from the Bedouins of Haidarah and Al Ambor," said Al Ambori, who is member of the local council of the area of Al Mahfad, which includes Al Majalah.
Despite all criticism, the strike against Al Qaeda is viewed by some analysts as the beginning of the end of at least the training activity in the country.
"The strike was strategic to rescue Yemen from becoming a save haven for the training camps of Al Qaeda," said Al Sufi, who expected a strong retaliation act from Al Qaeda even though.
"So, both governments should stand ready for confronting the possible retaliation attacks from Al Qaeda," he said.
"If Al Qaeda is not dismantled and cleared from Abyan, Shabwa, Mareb and Al Jawf, a disaster to the world, not only to Yemen, would happen," warns Al Sufi.
"Al Qaeda is only a tool for internationalize the conflicts inside the countries, so it must be uprooted from any country seeking security and stability."
However, Abdul Elah Haidar Shaya, an expert in terrorism affairs, played down the Thursday's operations against Al Qaeda saying they will only increase the new recruitment of Al Qaeda.
"The operation was against civilians, which means Al Qaeda will gain from that strike by recruiting a lot of angry people," he said.
While the government says, 34 Al Qaeda operatives were killed and 30 others were arrested in the three simultaneous operations in Sana'a, Arhab, and Abyan, the local residents in Al Majalah say 45 civilians were killed most of them were women and children.
The autopsies have confirmed that at least 12 dead bodies were wanted by the security authorities as al Qaeda operatives.
Mohammed Saleh Al Kazimi, Mukbel Abdullah Awadh Shiekh, Ahmed Abdullah Awadh, Methak Al Jalad, Abdullah Awadh Shiekh were confirmed dead in Al Majalah area according to an official statement.
Four others were killed in the operation implemented in Arhab, east of Sana'a province, where 8 would-be suicide bombers were planning to target Yemeni and western interests. The other four were arrested.
Two Saudi nationals, Ibrahim Al Najdi, Mohammed Rajeh Al Tharan, both wanted as Al Qaeda operatives, were found among the dead bodies.
Five more foreigners, with unknown identities, were also found.
Four other Al Qaeda injured men, Abdullah Salem Ali, Abdul Rahman Mohammed Kaed, Haidarh Salem Alia Fatah Al Amri, and Mohammed Ali Salem, were arrested later in a hospital where they are now having treatment under the supervision of the security authorities.
Inside the Yemeni capital, more than 29 Al Qaeda members were arrested on the same day of these operations.
The 29 men, aged 20s, were supposed to help the 8 would-be suicide bombers of Arhab to implement their tasks against Yemeni and Western targets.
The arrests took place without any clashes as the raids on the houses were according to very accurate information about the men.
The leader of Al Qaeda in Arhab area, Aref Mujali, brother of Hezam Mujali who escaped the raid, was arrested in the operation.
Aref and Hezam Mujali are the sons of Yahya Mujali, an Al Qaeda operative who was killed in his house in clashes with security forces in Al Rawdha area in the city of Sana'a in 2003.
The leading member of Al Qaeda Fawaz Al Rabyee got married to the daughter of Mujali before he was killed in a hunt down operation at an outskirt of the capital Sana'a in 2006.
Monday, 21 December 2009
Air raids kill 60 rebels, Al Houthi Accuses Saudi fighters
By Nasser Arrabyee/21/12/2009
More than 60 Al Houthi rebels were killed in air raids which targeted groups of rebels barricaded in about six houses in Razeh, west of Sa'ada, local sources said Monday.
The destroyed houses belong to Mohammed Zaid Abu Talib, Abdul Salam Abu Talib, and Yahya Al Wajeeh, all of them are known as Al Houthi fighters, the sources said.
Some women and children who were in the houses and were used by the rebel fighters as human shields, were also found under the rubbles, said the sources.
Al Houthi rebels confirmed the air strikes on the houses accusing the Saudi warplanes of implementing the air raids.
Al Houthi said in a statement sent through emails that more than '54 civilians including women and children were killed when the Saudi warplanes bombed the houses of Mohammed Zaid Abu Talib, Mohammed Hassan Al Houthi, Ahmed Zaid Abu Talib, Abdul Salam Zaid Abu Talib, and Abdul Azeez Abu Talib, in Razeh'
Immediately after the air raids, the local sources said, Al Houthi fighters arrested 10 local residents from the targeted village in Razeh and took them to an unknown place. Al Houthi fighters accused the 10 arrested people of giving intelligence information to the Yemeni army on their whereabouts.
Meanwhile, military and independent sources repeatedly said Monday that the top leader of the rebels Abdul Malik Al Houthi was killed along with three of his bodyguards in an air raid which targeted the house he was in, in Wadi Al Hebal in Sakain district, west of Sa'ada, at 10:30 pm Saturday.
The rebels Ahmed Yahya Azzan, Fayz Hassan Uri, and Abdullah Al Akbari, were the bodyguards who were killed with him.
Commenting on the alleged murder of their top leader, Al Houthi rebels, in a statement, did not confirm or deny, but they only said, "These are imaginary victories".
In the framework of tightening the noose on the rebels in Sa'ada, more than 25 different cars laden with supply materials to the rebels, were seized in different places and roads in Sa'ada over the past few days, said the Ministry of Interior in a statement Monday.
A total of 8 rebels led by Sultan Turki Kharsan, were arrested in the neighboring province of Al jawf, the statement said.
Three Al Houthi rebels were referred Monday to the prosecution in Sana'a for charges of spying for Iran.
More than 60 Al Houthi rebels were killed in air raids which targeted groups of rebels barricaded in about six houses in Razeh, west of Sa'ada, local sources said Monday.
The destroyed houses belong to Mohammed Zaid Abu Talib, Abdul Salam Abu Talib, and Yahya Al Wajeeh, all of them are known as Al Houthi fighters, the sources said.
Some women and children who were in the houses and were used by the rebel fighters as human shields, were also found under the rubbles, said the sources.
Al Houthi rebels confirmed the air strikes on the houses accusing the Saudi warplanes of implementing the air raids.
Al Houthi said in a statement sent through emails that more than '54 civilians including women and children were killed when the Saudi warplanes bombed the houses of Mohammed Zaid Abu Talib, Mohammed Hassan Al Houthi, Ahmed Zaid Abu Talib, Abdul Salam Zaid Abu Talib, and Abdul Azeez Abu Talib, in Razeh'
Immediately after the air raids, the local sources said, Al Houthi fighters arrested 10 local residents from the targeted village in Razeh and took them to an unknown place. Al Houthi fighters accused the 10 arrested people of giving intelligence information to the Yemeni army on their whereabouts.
Meanwhile, military and independent sources repeatedly said Monday that the top leader of the rebels Abdul Malik Al Houthi was killed along with three of his bodyguards in an air raid which targeted the house he was in, in Wadi Al Hebal in Sakain district, west of Sa'ada, at 10:30 pm Saturday.
The rebels Ahmed Yahya Azzan, Fayz Hassan Uri, and Abdullah Al Akbari, were the bodyguards who were killed with him.
Commenting on the alleged murder of their top leader, Al Houthi rebels, in a statement, did not confirm or deny, but they only said, "These are imaginary victories".
In the framework of tightening the noose on the rebels in Sa'ada, more than 25 different cars laden with supply materials to the rebels, were seized in different places and roads in Sa'ada over the past few days, said the Ministry of Interior in a statement Monday.
A total of 8 rebels led by Sultan Turki Kharsan, were arrested in the neighboring province of Al jawf, the statement said.
Three Al Houthi rebels were referred Monday to the prosecution in Sana'a for charges of spying for Iran.
Saturday, 19 December 2009
25 Al Houthi rebels killed
By Nasser Arrabyee/20/12/2009
More than 25 Al Houthi rebels were killed and about 10 supply cars were destroyed in special operations implemented by the Yemeni army against hideouts of the rebels in different places in Sa'ada during the last 24 hours, military and independent sources said Sunday.
The top leader of the rebels Abdul Malik Al Houthi escaped to unknown place after the warplanes targeted his hideouts in Dhahyan and Mutrah, thr sources said.
Yosuf Al Madani, brother in law of Abdul Malik, is the leader now in Dhahyan and Mutrah, according to the military sources.
The fighter jets targeted the rebels' leadership centres in the two main strongholds of Dhahyan and Mutrah almost during all Saturday and Friday inflicting heavy damages in casualties and equipment on the rebels.
The leader of rebels im Maran Hassan Hamoud Ghuthayah, was killed with a number of his aides in a special operation against his hideout in Maran, the military sources said.
Two more hideouts in Bani Muath under the leadership of Mohammed Ali Ghail and AhmedAli Ghail were also destroyed by air raids, the military sources said.
On their part, Al Houthi rebels said that Saudi warplanes implemented 41 raids on them at the Yemeni Saudi border areas like Razeh, Al Malahaid, Shada and Maran on Saturday. They also said more than 1011 Saudi missiles were fired against them on the same day.
More than 25 Al Houthi rebels were killed and about 10 supply cars were destroyed in special operations implemented by the Yemeni army against hideouts of the rebels in different places in Sa'ada during the last 24 hours, military and independent sources said Sunday.
The top leader of the rebels Abdul Malik Al Houthi escaped to unknown place after the warplanes targeted his hideouts in Dhahyan and Mutrah, thr sources said.
Yosuf Al Madani, brother in law of Abdul Malik, is the leader now in Dhahyan and Mutrah, according to the military sources.
The fighter jets targeted the rebels' leadership centres in the two main strongholds of Dhahyan and Mutrah almost during all Saturday and Friday inflicting heavy damages in casualties and equipment on the rebels.
The leader of rebels im Maran Hassan Hamoud Ghuthayah, was killed with a number of his aides in a special operation against his hideout in Maran, the military sources said.
Two more hideouts in Bani Muath under the leadership of Mohammed Ali Ghail and AhmedAli Ghail were also destroyed by air raids, the military sources said.
On their part, Al Houthi rebels said that Saudi warplanes implemented 41 raids on them at the Yemeni Saudi border areas like Razeh, Al Malahaid, Shada and Maran on Saturday. They also said more than 1011 Saudi missiles were fired against them on the same day.
Friday, 18 December 2009
12 Al Qaeda men confirmed dead including five foreigners
By Nasser Arrabyee/19/12/2009
A total of 12 Al Qaeda men were confirmed as dead after analysis of the dead bodies of at least 40 who were killed a security operation against a training camp in Al Majalah, Abyan, south of Yemen, said a security official said Saturday.
The Mohammed Saleh Al Kazimi, Mukbel Abdullah Awadh Shiekh, Ahmed Abdullah Awadh, Methak Al Jalad, Abdullah Awadh Shiekh were confirmed dead in Al Majalah area, the unnamed official said in statement published the State-run media.
Two Saudi nationals, Ibrahim Al Najdi, Mohammed Rajeh Al Tharan were among a group who were buried in Sairah Cemetery, Mudiah district, Abyan, the official said.
Five more foreigners, with unknown identities, were buried in Zarah Cemetery in Lawdar district, Abyan, the official added.
The official also said that targeted training camp was established under protection from Tarek Al Fadhli, Abdul Munem Al Fathani, and Mohammed Saleh Al Kazimi.
The official also identified five men of those who were injured in the same operation as Abdullah Salem Ali, Abdul Rahman Mohammed Kaed, Haidarh Salem Alia Fatah Al Amri, and Mohammed Ali Salem, the official they were all Al Qaeda operatives and they are now having treatment under the supervision of the security authorities.
The official said that three security soldiers and two normal citizens were injured when a group of Al Qaeda elements, led by Ali Alawi Yahmur, attacked a security vehicle after the Thursday's strike nearby Mudiah.
For Arhab and Sana'a operations, the official said that the number of Al Qaeda operatives who were arrested after the Thursday's operation raised to 29 men including the 13 who were arrested inside the city of Sana'a on the same day.
Operation in Arhab was against a group of AlQaeda elements including 8 suicide bombers, led by Aref Mujali and Hezam Mujali, and they were about to implement operations with car bombs and explosive belts, the official said.
However, Abdul Elah Haidar Shaya , an expert in terrorism affair, downplayed the two operations of Al Majala and Arhab saying it will only increase the new recruitment of Al Qaeda.
"For Arhab, it was only clashes between the tribesmen and security forces, no Al Qaeda men were there," Shaya , who is originally from Arhab, told Gulf News.
When asked why the tribesmen clashed with the security men, he said the tribesmen get angry when any one attacks them whatever the reason was and whoever the attacker was.
"For Al Majalah, it was against civilians, which means Al Qaeda will gain from that strike by recruiting a lot of angry people," he said.
When asked, were the Al Qaeda members living in the Al Majalah with their families, he said,"The only Al Qaeda man was Mohammed Saleh Al Kazimi, who was killed with his whole family."
A total of 12 Al Qaeda men were confirmed as dead after analysis of the dead bodies of at least 40 who were killed a security operation against a training camp in Al Majalah, Abyan, south of Yemen, said a security official said Saturday.
The Mohammed Saleh Al Kazimi, Mukbel Abdullah Awadh Shiekh, Ahmed Abdullah Awadh, Methak Al Jalad, Abdullah Awadh Shiekh were confirmed dead in Al Majalah area, the unnamed official said in statement published the State-run media.
Two Saudi nationals, Ibrahim Al Najdi, Mohammed Rajeh Al Tharan were among a group who were buried in Sairah Cemetery, Mudiah district, Abyan, the official said.
Five more foreigners, with unknown identities, were buried in Zarah Cemetery in Lawdar district, Abyan, the official added.
The official also said that targeted training camp was established under protection from Tarek Al Fadhli, Abdul Munem Al Fathani, and Mohammed Saleh Al Kazimi.
The official also identified five men of those who were injured in the same operation as Abdullah Salem Ali, Abdul Rahman Mohammed Kaed, Haidarh Salem Alia Fatah Al Amri, and Mohammed Ali Salem, the official they were all Al Qaeda operatives and they are now having treatment under the supervision of the security authorities.
The official said that three security soldiers and two normal citizens were injured when a group of Al Qaeda elements, led by Ali Alawi Yahmur, attacked a security vehicle after the Thursday's strike nearby Mudiah.
For Arhab and Sana'a operations, the official said that the number of Al Qaeda operatives who were arrested after the Thursday's operation raised to 29 men including the 13 who were arrested inside the city of Sana'a on the same day.
Operation in Arhab was against a group of AlQaeda elements including 8 suicide bombers, led by Aref Mujali and Hezam Mujali, and they were about to implement operations with car bombs and explosive belts, the official said.
However, Abdul Elah Haidar Shaya , an expert in terrorism affair, downplayed the two operations of Al Majala and Arhab saying it will only increase the new recruitment of Al Qaeda.
"For Arhab, it was only clashes between the tribesmen and security forces, no Al Qaeda men were there," Shaya , who is originally from Arhab, told Gulf News.
When asked why the tribesmen clashed with the security men, he said the tribesmen get angry when any one attacks them whatever the reason was and whoever the attacker was.
"For Al Majalah, it was against civilians, which means Al Qaeda will gain from that strike by recruiting a lot of angry people," he said.
When asked, were the Al Qaeda members living in the Al Majalah with their families, he said,"The only Al Qaeda man was Mohammed Saleh Al Kazimi, who was killed with his whole family."
Thursday, 17 December 2009
Yemen warns against cooperation with escaping Al Qaeda men
By Nasser Arrabyee/18/12/2009
The Yemeni government called upon the citizens to cooperate with security forces for hunting down the Al Qaeda operatives who escaped the Thursday's attacks.
The government also warned from providing any kind of cooperation with the fleeing terrorists, saying any one who cooperates with them will be held responsible and accountable.
That was in a statement released after a meeting held by the country's supreme security committee, which praised the security men as heroes for implementing the Thursday's operations against Al Qaeda.
The Presidents of US and Egypt immediately congratulated the Yemeni President after those successful operations, confirming they would stand with Yemen's unity, security, and stability.
According security sources, the second man in Al Qaeda in Yemen, Qasem Al Raimi, survived the attack on the 8 would-be suicide bombers in Arhab at the far east of Sana'a province at the borders of Mareb and Al Jawf provinces.
Al Raimi and Hezam Mujali and a third man believed to be an Arab, escaped at the last minute before the attack started on the 8 suicide bombers who were in the next door.
About 10 of Al Qaeda elements of those who were killed in the Thursday's attacks on terror hideouts in Abyan , were not Yemenis, the security sources said Friday.
The sources said that analysis of the dead bodies is continuing to know the identities of all those killed in those operations.
The sources confirmed that the leader of Al Qaeda in Abyan, Mohammed Saleh Al Kazimi, was among those who were killed in the attacks on the training camp in Al Majalah area, Al Mahfad, Abyan province, south of the country.
A group of 30 of Al Qaeda fighters were killed in the training camp in Al Majalah according to the official statement.
Independent sources from Abyan, said, however, about 50 people were killed, and 60 were injured including women children. The independent sources said that most of Al Qaeda operatives were living and training in the same area with their women, children, and relatives who support them.
For the operation in Arhab, in which four of the 8 suicide bombers, aged 17-20, were killed and four were arrested, the sources said, the 13 terrorists who were arrested in the city of Sana'a at the same time, were supposed to help the bombers implement their tasks against Yemeni and Western targets. The arrests took place without any clashes, the raids on the house were according to very accurate information about the men.
The sources confirmed that the leader of Al Qaeda in Arhab area, Aref Mujali, brother of Hezam Mujali, was arrested in the operation.
Aref and Hezam Mujali are the sons of Yahya Mujali, an Al Qaeda operative who was killed in his house in clashes with security forces in Al Rawdha area in the city of Sana'a in 2003.
The leading member of Al Qaeda Fawaz Al Rabyee got married to the daughter of Mujali before he was killed in a hunt down operation at an outskirt of the capital Sana'a in 2006.
The Yemeni government called upon the citizens to cooperate with security forces for hunting down the Al Qaeda operatives who escaped the Thursday's attacks.
The government also warned from providing any kind of cooperation with the fleeing terrorists, saying any one who cooperates with them will be held responsible and accountable.
That was in a statement released after a meeting held by the country's supreme security committee, which praised the security men as heroes for implementing the Thursday's operations against Al Qaeda.
The Presidents of US and Egypt immediately congratulated the Yemeni President after those successful operations, confirming they would stand with Yemen's unity, security, and stability.
According security sources, the second man in Al Qaeda in Yemen, Qasem Al Raimi, survived the attack on the 8 would-be suicide bombers in Arhab at the far east of Sana'a province at the borders of Mareb and Al Jawf provinces.
Al Raimi and Hezam Mujali and a third man believed to be an Arab, escaped at the last minute before the attack started on the 8 suicide bombers who were in the next door.
About 10 of Al Qaeda elements of those who were killed in the Thursday's attacks on terror hideouts in Abyan , were not Yemenis, the security sources said Friday.
The sources said that analysis of the dead bodies is continuing to know the identities of all those killed in those operations.
The sources confirmed that the leader of Al Qaeda in Abyan, Mohammed Saleh Al Kazimi, was among those who were killed in the attacks on the training camp in Al Majalah area, Al Mahfad, Abyan province, south of the country.
A group of 30 of Al Qaeda fighters were killed in the training camp in Al Majalah according to the official statement.
Independent sources from Abyan, said, however, about 50 people were killed, and 60 were injured including women children. The independent sources said that most of Al Qaeda operatives were living and training in the same area with their women, children, and relatives who support them.
For the operation in Arhab, in which four of the 8 suicide bombers, aged 17-20, were killed and four were arrested, the sources said, the 13 terrorists who were arrested in the city of Sana'a at the same time, were supposed to help the bombers implement their tasks against Yemeni and Western targets. The arrests took place without any clashes, the raids on the house were according to very accurate information about the men.
The sources confirmed that the leader of Al Qaeda in Arhab area, Aref Mujali, brother of Hezam Mujali, was arrested in the operation.
Aref and Hezam Mujali are the sons of Yahya Mujali, an Al Qaeda operative who was killed in his house in clashes with security forces in Al Rawdha area in the city of Sana'a in 2003.
The leading member of Al Qaeda Fawaz Al Rabyee got married to the daughter of Mujali before he was killed in a hunt down operation at an outskirt of the capital Sana'a in 2006.
34 Al Qaeda elements killed inclduding leader, 17 arrested
By Nasser Arrabyee/17/12/2009
A group of 34 Al Qaeda elements were killed and 17 others were arrested in three big hunt down operations implemented by the Yemeni security forces in three different places in the country, said an official statement on Thursday.
The operations took place in Abyan, south of the country, Sana'a city, and Arhab at northern outskirt of Sana'a, the capital.
The statement said that Al Qaeda elements had plans to strike schools and other Yemeni and Western interests.
The group in Arhab was made of 8 suicide bombers, provided with explosive belts, the statement said.
The operation started at 5 am Thursday morning by launching an attack on the group killing 4 of them and arresting 4.
For Abyan, the attack was supported by warplanes, which targeted a training camp in the mountain of Al Mahfad, Majalah area.
The operation took place while the terrorists were training, and about 30 of them were killed including the leader Mohammed Saleh Al Kazmi, according to the statement and local sources.
The terrorists who were receiving training in Al Mahfad camp included foreigners.
For the operation inside the capital Sana'a, the security forces raided some monitored houses arresting 13 Al Qaeda elements but no clashes took place.
Local sources said the people in Abyan were expecting such an operation because they noticed the camp was under surveillance for months.
The Yemeni government said the hunt down against the terrorists would continue until they are permanently eradicated.
A group of 34 Al Qaeda elements were killed and 17 others were arrested in three big hunt down operations implemented by the Yemeni security forces in three different places in the country, said an official statement on Thursday.
The operations took place in Abyan, south of the country, Sana'a city, and Arhab at northern outskirt of Sana'a, the capital.
The statement said that Al Qaeda elements had plans to strike schools and other Yemeni and Western interests.
The group in Arhab was made of 8 suicide bombers, provided with explosive belts, the statement said.
The operation started at 5 am Thursday morning by launching an attack on the group killing 4 of them and arresting 4.
For Abyan, the attack was supported by warplanes, which targeted a training camp in the mountain of Al Mahfad, Majalah area.
The operation took place while the terrorists were training, and about 30 of them were killed including the leader Mohammed Saleh Al Kazmi, according to the statement and local sources.
The terrorists who were receiving training in Al Mahfad camp included foreigners.
For the operation inside the capital Sana'a, the security forces raided some monitored houses arresting 13 Al Qaeda elements but no clashes took place.
Local sources said the people in Abyan were expecting such an operation because they noticed the camp was under surveillance for months.
The Yemeni government said the hunt down against the terrorists would continue until they are permanently eradicated.
Wednesday, 16 December 2009
34 Al Qaeda elements killed, 17 arrested
By Nasser Arrabyee/17/12/2009
A group of 34 Al Qaeda elements were killed and 17 others were arrested in three big hunt down operations implemented by the Yemeni security forces in three different places in the country, said an official statement on Thursday.
The operations took place in Abyan, south of the country, Sana'a city, and Arhab at northern outskirt of the Sana'a, the capital.
The statement said that Al Qaeda elements had plans to strike schools and other Yemeni and Western interests.
The group in Arhab was made of 8 suicide bombers, provided with explosive belts, the statement said.
A group of 34 Al Qaeda elements were killed and 17 others were arrested in three big hunt down operations implemented by the Yemeni security forces in three different places in the country, said an official statement on Thursday.
The operations took place in Abyan, south of the country, Sana'a city, and Arhab at northern outskirt of the Sana'a, the capital.
The statement said that Al Qaeda elements had plans to strike schools and other Yemeni and Western interests.
The group in Arhab was made of 8 suicide bombers, provided with explosive belts, the statement said.
Special operations against Al Houthi rebels continue
By Nasser Arrabyee/17/12/2009
Two Al Houthi rebels blew themselves up to break one-week long blockade being imposed on less than 40 rebels barricaded in mosques of the old city of Sa'ada, military and independent sources said Thursday.
No soldier was harmed by the suicide bombing which came after armed vehicles entered the old city destroying the wall of the city from the northwestern direction by a tractor, the sources said.
More than seven rebels were killed when tanks fired at them at their barricade in a mosque in the old city, the sources added.
The army implemented the storming operation against about 300 rebels after about two months of blockading. Dozens were killed and about 200 hundred were surrendered or arrested.
The army focused recently on special operations by air raids and artillery against assemblies and supply movements of the Al Houthi rebels.
According to a statement by the ministry of defense, two cars laden with weapons and two weapons stores were destroyed in Al Mahthar and Al Mashtal areas. Many rebels were killed and injured in those operations including the field leaders Mutafa Shamoos and Abdul Salam Salman.
Five hideouts were destroyed in Haidan, and the the areas around the city of Sa'ada including the hideouts of the field leaders Saleh Al Sumat and Fayez Al Qershi.
The 9-year old girl, Abeer Mohammed Al Harazi was killed when Al Houthi rebels fired at soldiers in the areas around Sa'ada city, local source in Sa'ada city.
The rebels also killed Zarkria Saleh Al Mahthari when he refused to stop his car for the rebels.
On their part, Al Houthi rebels continued their accusations that US warplanes were bombing all the time during Thursday, Wednesday, Tuesday, and Monday. Both Yemen and US denied these allegations.
In their last statement sent Thursday through emails, the rebels said US warplanes struck Al Kharebah area in the north of Sa'ada destroying a house and killing 7 people inside.
Observers excluded any direct American involvement in the war against Al Houthi saying the aim of the Al Houthi accusations is only to gain sympathy and support.
The political analyst Fares Al Saqaf, said the accusations are untrue and Al Houthi wants only gain the sympathy of Shiite in the other countries, and also he wants raise the morale of his fighters that they are fighting three big States.
Two Al Houthi rebels blew themselves up to break one-week long blockade being imposed on less than 40 rebels barricaded in mosques of the old city of Sa'ada, military and independent sources said Thursday.
No soldier was harmed by the suicide bombing which came after armed vehicles entered the old city destroying the wall of the city from the northwestern direction by a tractor, the sources said.
More than seven rebels were killed when tanks fired at them at their barricade in a mosque in the old city, the sources added.
The army implemented the storming operation against about 300 rebels after about two months of blockading. Dozens were killed and about 200 hundred were surrendered or arrested.
The army focused recently on special operations by air raids and artillery against assemblies and supply movements of the Al Houthi rebels.
According to a statement by the ministry of defense, two cars laden with weapons and two weapons stores were destroyed in Al Mahthar and Al Mashtal areas. Many rebels were killed and injured in those operations including the field leaders Mutafa Shamoos and Abdul Salam Salman.
Five hideouts were destroyed in Haidan, and the the areas around the city of Sa'ada including the hideouts of the field leaders Saleh Al Sumat and Fayez Al Qershi.
The 9-year old girl, Abeer Mohammed Al Harazi was killed when Al Houthi rebels fired at soldiers in the areas around Sa'ada city, local source in Sa'ada city.
The rebels also killed Zarkria Saleh Al Mahthari when he refused to stop his car for the rebels.
On their part, Al Houthi rebels continued their accusations that US warplanes were bombing all the time during Thursday, Wednesday, Tuesday, and Monday. Both Yemen and US denied these allegations.
In their last statement sent Thursday through emails, the rebels said US warplanes struck Al Kharebah area in the north of Sa'ada destroying a house and killing 7 people inside.
Observers excluded any direct American involvement in the war against Al Houthi saying the aim of the Al Houthi accusations is only to gain sympathy and support.
The political analyst Fares Al Saqaf, said the accusations are untrue and Al Houthi wants only gain the sympathy of Shiite in the other countries, and also he wants raise the morale of his fighters that they are fighting three big States.
34 Al Qaeda operatives killed and 17 arrested
A total of 34 Al Qaeda elements were killed and 17 others arrested in big security operations in Abyan, south of Yemen, and Sana'a and Arhab north of Yemen, said the Yemeni goverment in an official statement early Thursday. Later for for details.
Tuesday, 15 December 2009
Will GCC and US rescue Yemen from collapse?
By Nasser Arrabyee/15/12/2009
The leaders of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) said they would provide Yemen with all kind of support to confront Al Houthi armed rebellion and for preservation of unity, security and stability.
They also said the security of Saudi Arabia and Yemen, both of them are in war with the Iranian-backed Al Houthi Shiite rebels, is the security of the GCC countries, according to the joint statement released at the end of the 30th summit which was concluded in Kuwait late Tuesday December 15th.
This expected support to Yemen and Saudi Arabia comes at the time when both armies of Yemen and Saudi Arabia appear to be determined to defeat militarily the rebels or the infiltrators as Saudis call them.
Both armies say this defeat, which will end the war, has become very close. Yemen has been in the war for more than 4 months and Saudi Arabia for more than one month.
As the army tightens the noose on the rebels in Sa'ada, which has become blockaded from all directions, Al Houthi started to say it is not the Yemeni army that fights but the 'Saudi and American armies'.
Although Saudi forces are now focusing only on cleaning their borders from the Al Houthi infiltrators and not implementing any operation inside the Yemeni territories, Al Houthi rebels alleged that the Saudi fighter jets struck the area of Bani Mueen in Razeh, west of Sa'ada more than 50 times killing more 70 and injuring more than 100 people of them only on Sunday December 13th.
The spokesman of the Yemeni army Askar Zuail, said on the same day, however, Bani Mueen was the stronghold of the rebels in Razeh, and the air raids were carried out by the Yemeni warplanes, not the Saudis, against Al Houthi fighters in that area.
Only one day after Al Houthi accused the Saudi warplanes of striking his followers, he accused the American fighters of implementing air raids on his areas in Sa'ada.
"The American warplanes carried out more than 28 air raids on Razeh, Shada, Dhyah, and Ghamer, from evening Sunday until dawn today Monday, with very advanced warplanes, and huge bombs, and they (Americans) were monitoring the our moving cars with satellites," said a statement sent by Al Houthi rebels through emails on Monday December 14th.
The Yemeni government denied any direct American participation in the war, although it said the American government supports the war against the Al Houthi armed rebellion.
Al Houthi accusation for America, came one day after the commander of US Central Command, General David Petraeus said in press statements his country is providing security support to Yemen within the framework of military cooperation provided by Washington to its allies in the region.
He emphasized that American ships based in Yemeni waters are not only there for monitoring but for also for stopping the flow of arms to the Al Houthi rebels.
Observers view these conflicting and strange statements of Al Houthis about the war as an indication that his followers are drawing their last breath and the army is about to defeat them and end the war.
Last week, the Yemeni army implemented a big storming operation against the old city of Sa'ada where about 300 rebels have been using their families and families of their neighbors who are not Houthis as human shields for more than two months.
Dozens from both sides, mainly from the rebel side, were killed and injured, and more than 200 rebels surrendered and about 130 families displaced to safer places under the supervision of the local authority in the city of Sa'ada.
Only about 40 rebels now are still barricading in the mosques and few houses at the northwestern corner of the old city according to statements by the governor of Sa'ada Hassan Mana'a on Tuesday December 15.
The rebels outside Sa'ada city failed over the last two days to reduce the pressure on their comrades surrounded in the mosques of the old city despite their repeated suicide attacks on the troops positioning in the areas around the city of Sa'ada like Muhdha, Makash and Al Sama'a.
The big numbers of those rebels who surrender themselves to the army and the tribal chiefs and those who escape in big groups from the blockaded Sa'ada to the neighboring province of Al Jawf in the east, and also the number of the field leaders being killed in special operations, all these indications are also viewed by some observers that the war is about to end.
For instance, 10 Al Houthi rebels including two well-known leaders surrendered themselves to the Yemeni army and showed readiness to fight against the rebels earlier this month.
The surrender took place in Harf Sufyan, the most important frontline in the south of Sa'ada province.
The 10 rebels, who surrendered through the local tribal sheikh Hamed Mused Kazma, were all from the tribe of Al Shahwani.
All of the 10 were shown by State-run TV expressing their repentance and refusal of the rebellion, and expressing their readiness to fight against the rebels.
The local authority in Sa'ada and the army keep calling upon the misled fighters of Al Houthi to surrender and return to their houses and families and that the government will protect them from any danger.
For those rebels who escaped to the neighboring province of Al Jawf, they were surrounded in a cave by the army and local tribesmen who do not want the instability to spill over to their areas, so the rebels were forced to escape again or surrender.
To show the tribesmen of Al Jawf that any cooperation with the fleeing rebels is a red line, the government sent fighter jets to strike Al Zaher area where the rebels desperately tried to position in that cave.
The air strikes also destroyed the 3-floor house of the tribal sheikh Hassan Abdullah Hamtan, in which the fugitive rebels had meetings.
The house lies in the village of AlSa'amoom, in the district of Al Zaher, which is only about 60 km east of the main frontline of Harf Sufyan. Many people and tribal sheikhs in this area are cooperating with the rebels not necessarily for sectarian reasons but only to anger the government, which they accuse of ignoring them.
The owner of the house, which was destroyed, Sheikh Hassan Abdullah Hamtan has three sons fighting with Al Houthi rebels according reliable source from the same area.
Many of the fleeing rebels surrendered so far, either to the security authorities or to tribal chiefs they trusted.
The leader of the approximately 50-member group who escaped to Al Jawf earlier this month, Muhy Al Deen Al Ansi was arrested by tribesmen loyal to the government.
Earlier, the top leader of the rebels, Abdul Malik Al Houthi said in statements he would send fighters to open a new frontline against the Saudi forces in Najran, which is close to the far north of Al jawf.
The rebels apparently try to take revenge on the normal people for what they are facing from the army.
For instance, last week they injured seriously three children, two women, and an over-aged man when they pounded the two houses of Mabrook Saleh Al Ghulaisi and Hsaasn Ahmed Al Ghanin in the village of Al Bada'a in Harf Sufyan, only for not evacuating their houses for the rebels, according to sources from the victim families.
Whether the war against Al Houthi rebels in the north has come to an end or not according to these indications, it is only one of three big challenges facing Yemen now and making it close to failure.
The second challenge facing Yemen at the same time is the increasing calls for separation from disgruntled groups in the south. Al Qaeda, which is exploiting both south and north problems to recruit more and more, is waiting eagerly for the collapse to happen to declare its big victory.
At the meantime, the Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh, on Tuesday December 15th, determined the 26th of current December as a date for starting a national dialogue which include all the political, tribal, religious and social forces to rescue his country from this possible collapse.
In a letter addressed to the chairman of Shura, Saleh said, under the ceiling of constitution and unity, the dialogue will include all the 111- member Shura council, Saleh's appointed advisory council, the first and second man of every political party, 22 religious scholars, heads of the parliamentary blocks in the House of Representatives, the first person of every civil society organization, 22 tribal chiefs and secretary generals of the local councils from all over the country.
The leaders of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) said they would provide Yemen with all kind of support to confront Al Houthi armed rebellion and for preservation of unity, security and stability.
They also said the security of Saudi Arabia and Yemen, both of them are in war with the Iranian-backed Al Houthi Shiite rebels, is the security of the GCC countries, according to the joint statement released at the end of the 30th summit which was concluded in Kuwait late Tuesday December 15th.
This expected support to Yemen and Saudi Arabia comes at the time when both armies of Yemen and Saudi Arabia appear to be determined to defeat militarily the rebels or the infiltrators as Saudis call them.
Both armies say this defeat, which will end the war, has become very close. Yemen has been in the war for more than 4 months and Saudi Arabia for more than one month.
As the army tightens the noose on the rebels in Sa'ada, which has become blockaded from all directions, Al Houthi started to say it is not the Yemeni army that fights but the 'Saudi and American armies'.
Although Saudi forces are now focusing only on cleaning their borders from the Al Houthi infiltrators and not implementing any operation inside the Yemeni territories, Al Houthi rebels alleged that the Saudi fighter jets struck the area of Bani Mueen in Razeh, west of Sa'ada more than 50 times killing more 70 and injuring more than 100 people of them only on Sunday December 13th.
The spokesman of the Yemeni army Askar Zuail, said on the same day, however, Bani Mueen was the stronghold of the rebels in Razeh, and the air raids were carried out by the Yemeni warplanes, not the Saudis, against Al Houthi fighters in that area.
Only one day after Al Houthi accused the Saudi warplanes of striking his followers, he accused the American fighters of implementing air raids on his areas in Sa'ada.
"The American warplanes carried out more than 28 air raids on Razeh, Shada, Dhyah, and Ghamer, from evening Sunday until dawn today Monday, with very advanced warplanes, and huge bombs, and they (Americans) were monitoring the our moving cars with satellites," said a statement sent by Al Houthi rebels through emails on Monday December 14th.
The Yemeni government denied any direct American participation in the war, although it said the American government supports the war against the Al Houthi armed rebellion.
Al Houthi accusation for America, came one day after the commander of US Central Command, General David Petraeus said in press statements his country is providing security support to Yemen within the framework of military cooperation provided by Washington to its allies in the region.
He emphasized that American ships based in Yemeni waters are not only there for monitoring but for also for stopping the flow of arms to the Al Houthi rebels.
Observers view these conflicting and strange statements of Al Houthis about the war as an indication that his followers are drawing their last breath and the army is about to defeat them and end the war.
Last week, the Yemeni army implemented a big storming operation against the old city of Sa'ada where about 300 rebels have been using their families and families of their neighbors who are not Houthis as human shields for more than two months.
Dozens from both sides, mainly from the rebel side, were killed and injured, and more than 200 rebels surrendered and about 130 families displaced to safer places under the supervision of the local authority in the city of Sa'ada.
Only about 40 rebels now are still barricading in the mosques and few houses at the northwestern corner of the old city according to statements by the governor of Sa'ada Hassan Mana'a on Tuesday December 15.
The rebels outside Sa'ada city failed over the last two days to reduce the pressure on their comrades surrounded in the mosques of the old city despite their repeated suicide attacks on the troops positioning in the areas around the city of Sa'ada like Muhdha, Makash and Al Sama'a.
The big numbers of those rebels who surrender themselves to the army and the tribal chiefs and those who escape in big groups from the blockaded Sa'ada to the neighboring province of Al Jawf in the east, and also the number of the field leaders being killed in special operations, all these indications are also viewed by some observers that the war is about to end.
For instance, 10 Al Houthi rebels including two well-known leaders surrendered themselves to the Yemeni army and showed readiness to fight against the rebels earlier this month.
The surrender took place in Harf Sufyan, the most important frontline in the south of Sa'ada province.
The 10 rebels, who surrendered through the local tribal sheikh Hamed Mused Kazma, were all from the tribe of Al Shahwani.
All of the 10 were shown by State-run TV expressing their repentance and refusal of the rebellion, and expressing their readiness to fight against the rebels.
The local authority in Sa'ada and the army keep calling upon the misled fighters of Al Houthi to surrender and return to their houses and families and that the government will protect them from any danger.
For those rebels who escaped to the neighboring province of Al Jawf, they were surrounded in a cave by the army and local tribesmen who do not want the instability to spill over to their areas, so the rebels were forced to escape again or surrender.
To show the tribesmen of Al Jawf that any cooperation with the fleeing rebels is a red line, the government sent fighter jets to strike Al Zaher area where the rebels desperately tried to position in that cave.
The air strikes also destroyed the 3-floor house of the tribal sheikh Hassan Abdullah Hamtan, in which the fugitive rebels had meetings.
The house lies in the village of AlSa'amoom, in the district of Al Zaher, which is only about 60 km east of the main frontline of Harf Sufyan. Many people and tribal sheikhs in this area are cooperating with the rebels not necessarily for sectarian reasons but only to anger the government, which they accuse of ignoring them.
The owner of the house, which was destroyed, Sheikh Hassan Abdullah Hamtan has three sons fighting with Al Houthi rebels according reliable source from the same area.
Many of the fleeing rebels surrendered so far, either to the security authorities or to tribal chiefs they trusted.
The leader of the approximately 50-member group who escaped to Al Jawf earlier this month, Muhy Al Deen Al Ansi was arrested by tribesmen loyal to the government.
Earlier, the top leader of the rebels, Abdul Malik Al Houthi said in statements he would send fighters to open a new frontline against the Saudi forces in Najran, which is close to the far north of Al jawf.
The rebels apparently try to take revenge on the normal people for what they are facing from the army.
For instance, last week they injured seriously three children, two women, and an over-aged man when they pounded the two houses of Mabrook Saleh Al Ghulaisi and Hsaasn Ahmed Al Ghanin in the village of Al Bada'a in Harf Sufyan, only for not evacuating their houses for the rebels, according to sources from the victim families.
Whether the war against Al Houthi rebels in the north has come to an end or not according to these indications, it is only one of three big challenges facing Yemen now and making it close to failure.
The second challenge facing Yemen at the same time is the increasing calls for separation from disgruntled groups in the south. Al Qaeda, which is exploiting both south and north problems to recruit more and more, is waiting eagerly for the collapse to happen to declare its big victory.
At the meantime, the Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh, on Tuesday December 15th, determined the 26th of current December as a date for starting a national dialogue which include all the political, tribal, religious and social forces to rescue his country from this possible collapse.
In a letter addressed to the chairman of Shura, Saleh said, under the ceiling of constitution and unity, the dialogue will include all the 111- member Shura council, Saleh's appointed advisory council, the first and second man of every political party, 22 religious scholars, heads of the parliamentary blocks in the House of Representatives, the first person of every civil society organization, 22 tribal chiefs and secretary generals of the local councils from all over the country.
Monday, 14 December 2009
Al Houthi accuses America of striking his fighters, one day after accusing Saudi Arabia
By Nasser Arrabyee/ 14/12/2009
Al Houthi rebels said that American warplanes were striking them in different areas of Sa'ada from evening Sunday until dawn Monday.
This accusation came only one day after the rebels accused the Saudi warplanes bombing them in Razeh killing and inuring more than 170 of them. The Yemeni army said the warplanes were Yemenis.
"The American warplanes carried out more than 28 air raids on Razeh, Shada, Dhyah, and Ghamer, from evening Sunday until dawn today Monday, with very advanced warplanes, and huge bombs, and they (Americans) were following the moving cars with satellites," said a statement sent by Al Houthi rebels through emails Monday.
The Al Houthi statement came while the Yemeni army is tightening the noose on the rebels in the three main frontlines with Yemeni warplanes flying over the capital Sana'a around the clock in their way back and to the remaining strongholds of the rebels.
Al Houthi also said in their statement that, " More than 375 missiles were fired from the Saudi territories to Al Malahaid, Al Mamdood mountain, Al Dukhan mountain , Al Rumaih mountain, and bombardment continued until dawn Monday."
Meanwhile, the Yemeni ministry of interior said in a statement Monday that the security forces arrested the Yemeni Ghalib Ali Mohammed Al Fakeh in the Yemeni -Saudi Al Towal outpost with 100,000 Saudi Riyals in his possession. Al Fakeh was smuggling the money to the rebels.
Al Houthi rebels said that American warplanes were striking them in different areas of Sa'ada from evening Sunday until dawn Monday.
This accusation came only one day after the rebels accused the Saudi warplanes bombing them in Razeh killing and inuring more than 170 of them. The Yemeni army said the warplanes were Yemenis.
"The American warplanes carried out more than 28 air raids on Razeh, Shada, Dhyah, and Ghamer, from evening Sunday until dawn today Monday, with very advanced warplanes, and huge bombs, and they (Americans) were following the moving cars with satellites," said a statement sent by Al Houthi rebels through emails Monday.
The Al Houthi statement came while the Yemeni army is tightening the noose on the rebels in the three main frontlines with Yemeni warplanes flying over the capital Sana'a around the clock in their way back and to the remaining strongholds of the rebels.
Al Houthi also said in their statement that, " More than 375 missiles were fired from the Saudi territories to Al Malahaid, Al Mamdood mountain, Al Dukhan mountain , Al Rumaih mountain, and bombardment continued until dawn Monday."
Meanwhile, the Yemeni ministry of interior said in a statement Monday that the security forces arrested the Yemeni Ghalib Ali Mohammed Al Fakeh in the Yemeni -Saudi Al Towal outpost with 100,000 Saudi Riyals in his possession. Al Fakeh was smuggling the money to the rebels.
Sunday, 13 December 2009
Yemeni fighters, not Saudi, struck the rebels in Razeh, army spokesman says
By Nasser Arrabyee/14/12/2009
The spokesman of the Yemeni army Askar Zuel denied that Saudi warplanes struck rebels' positions in Razeh west of Sa'ada on Sunday, saying the warplanes were Yemenis.
Al Houthi rebels had alleged that the Saudi fighter jets struck the area of Bani Muen in Razeh more than 50 times killing more 70 and injuring more than 100 people of them.
"Bani Meen is the stronghold of the rebels in Razeh, and the air raids were carried out by Yemeni warplanes against Al Houthi fighters in that area," Zuel told reporters Monday. The military official did not give any more details about the air strikes, which were described as the bloodiest in the area of Razeh near the Saudi borders.
Eyewitnesses and local sources, the raids targeted groups of Al Houthi fighters and about 100 of them were killed and injured.
An in air raids on Mutrah, the main stronghold of the rebel leadership, Mohammed Badr Al Deen Al Houthi, brother the top leader Abdul Malik, miraculously survived an raid which targeted his hideout on Sunday in Mutrah. The air strikes continued Monday as the sounds of the war planes could be heard over the capital Sana'a since very early morning.
Meanwhile, at least five field leaders of Al Houthi rebels were killed in special operations in the areas around Sa'ada city and Al Malahaid, according to military sources.
Four of them were killed in the areas around Sa'ada city, where rebels try continuously to implement suicide attacks on the troops to reduce the pressure on their comrades blockaded in the old city of Sa'ada.
These four were identified as Hussein Besher, Hussein Najm, Abdullah Kaed Al Bude'e and Abu Hadi. The fifth rebel field leader was identified as Faraj Ahmed Salem Faraj. He was killed with a number of rebels when their two cars were destroyed in Al Malahaid.
Sources from the neighboring eastern province of Al Jawf said Monday that four rebels surrendered themselves to the deputy governor of Al Jawf. The field leader Naji Rukan was one of those surrendered the sources said.
The spokesman of the Yemeni army Askar Zuel denied that Saudi warplanes struck rebels' positions in Razeh west of Sa'ada on Sunday, saying the warplanes were Yemenis.
Al Houthi rebels had alleged that the Saudi fighter jets struck the area of Bani Muen in Razeh more than 50 times killing more 70 and injuring more than 100 people of them.
"Bani Meen is the stronghold of the rebels in Razeh, and the air raids were carried out by Yemeni warplanes against Al Houthi fighters in that area," Zuel told reporters Monday. The military official did not give any more details about the air strikes, which were described as the bloodiest in the area of Razeh near the Saudi borders.
Eyewitnesses and local sources, the raids targeted groups of Al Houthi fighters and about 100 of them were killed and injured.
An in air raids on Mutrah, the main stronghold of the rebel leadership, Mohammed Badr Al Deen Al Houthi, brother the top leader Abdul Malik, miraculously survived an raid which targeted his hideout on Sunday in Mutrah. The air strikes continued Monday as the sounds of the war planes could be heard over the capital Sana'a since very early morning.
Meanwhile, at least five field leaders of Al Houthi rebels were killed in special operations in the areas around Sa'ada city and Al Malahaid, according to military sources.
Four of them were killed in the areas around Sa'ada city, where rebels try continuously to implement suicide attacks on the troops to reduce the pressure on their comrades blockaded in the old city of Sa'ada.
These four were identified as Hussein Besher, Hussein Najm, Abdullah Kaed Al Bude'e and Abu Hadi. The fifth rebel field leader was identified as Faraj Ahmed Salem Faraj. He was killed with a number of rebels when their two cars were destroyed in Al Malahaid.
Sources from the neighboring eastern province of Al Jawf said Monday that four rebels surrendered themselves to the deputy governor of Al Jawf. The field leader Naji Rukan was one of those surrendered the sources said.
Fighter jets target leadership hideouts and Al Houthi rebels hide in mosques
By Nasser Arrabyee/13/12/2009
Hideouts of the leadership of Al Houthi rebels in Mutrah, the main stronghold, were destroyed by the Yemeni fighter jets, military sources said Sunday.
Weapons' store and workshops for making mines and explosives in the same area were also destroyed, the sources said.
The sources also said that the remaining of the rebels inside the old city of Sa'ada have started to barricade inside the mosques after their women and children displaced from the houses to safer places in response to the calls of the army.
More than 100 families displaced from the old city of Sa'ada on Saturday and Sunday, and the rebel fighters transferred to the mosques to obstruct the army from eradicating them, said to the sources.
The remaining rebels, estimated at 200, being blockaded in the mosques, have only the option of surrender or death, as they will not be able to receive any supply from any place, said the sources.
The rebels outside Sa'ada city failed over the last two days to reduce the pressure of their comrades surrounded in the mosques of the old city despite repeated suicide attacks on the troops positioning in the areas around the city of Sa'ada like Muhdha, Makash and Al Sama'a.
Meanwhile, independent sources said that fighter jets bombed Sunday after noon groups of rebels in Muen area in Razeh district west of Sa'ada, killing and injuring dozens of them.
In a statement sent through emails by Al Houthi rebels, they said the fighters were Saudi and that they killed more than 70 people and injured more 100 in the Suk Muen in Razeh area.
They also said, in the statement, that the Saudi fighters implemented 50 air strikes 13 of them on north and east of Dhahyan city, about 40 km north west of Sa'ada city, and the others were on border areas with Saudi Arabia like Al Jabri centre, Jabal Al Rumaih, Al Ghawyah, and Al Majda'a.
Earlier in the day, the Yemeni security forces arrested a man in his way to deliver 50,000 US dollars to Al Houthi rebels in Sa'ada, said security sources Sunday.
The terrorist Hussein Mohammed Jubran, was arrested in Al Buqa'a with 10 million Yemeni riyals (50,000US$) in his possession, the sources said.
Jubran confessed that the money was the salaries of Al Houthi fighters in Razeh and Al Malahaid west of Sa'ada. Jubran also confessed that he had already delivered 20 million Yemeni Riyals (100,000 US$) two weeks ago to the rebels in Al Malahaid.
Meanwhile, security sources said that 11 Al Houthi rebels were arrested late at night Saturday in the old city of Sa'ada where the army has been implementing a storming operation from house to house for the 7th consecutive day to clean the city from the rebels.
More than 100 rebels have surrendered so far and dozens were killed and injured in the battles.
Saturday, 12 December 2009
Rebel arrested with 50,000 US$ in his possession
By Nasser Arrabyee/13/12/2009
The Yemeni security forces arrested a man in his way to deliver 50,000 US dollars to Al Houthi rebels in Sa'ada, said security sources Sunday.
The terrorist Hussein Mohammed Jubran, was arrested in Al Buqa'a with 10 million Yemeni riyals (50,000US$) in his possession, the sources said.
Jubran confessed that the money was the salaries of Al Houthi fighters in Razeh and Al Malahaid west of Sa'ada. Jubran also confessed that he had already delivered 20 million Yemeni Riyals (100,000 US$) two weeks ago to the rebels in Al Malahaid.
Meanwhile, security sources said that 11 Al Houthi rebels were arrested late at night Saturday in the old city of Sa'ada where the army has been implementing a storming operation from house to house for the 7th consecutive day to clean the city from the rebels.
More than 100 rebels have surrendered so far and dozens were killed and injured in the battles.
The Yemeni security forces arrested a man in his way to deliver 50,000 US dollars to Al Houthi rebels in Sa'ada, said security sources Sunday.
The terrorist Hussein Mohammed Jubran, was arrested in Al Buqa'a with 10 million Yemeni riyals (50,000US$) in his possession, the sources said.
Jubran confessed that the money was the salaries of Al Houthi fighters in Razeh and Al Malahaid west of Sa'ada. Jubran also confessed that he had already delivered 20 million Yemeni Riyals (100,000 US$) two weeks ago to the rebels in Al Malahaid.
Meanwhile, security sources said that 11 Al Houthi rebels were arrested late at night Saturday in the old city of Sa'ada where the army has been implementing a storming operation from house to house for the 7th consecutive day to clean the city from the rebels.
More than 100 rebels have surrendered so far and dozens were killed and injured in the battles.
Friday, 11 December 2009
90 Al Houthi rebels surrender
By Nasser Arrabyee/12/12/2009
The number of Al Houthi rebels who surrendered themselves until due to the storming operation being implemented by the army for the fifth consecutive day in the old city of Sa'ada raised to 90 including 30 women, said security and independent sources in Sa'ada Saturday.
The sources said the remaining rebels are now under tightened blockade in the in the northwestern part of the old city where about 400 rebels have been barricading since the beginning of the war in August 10th.
The rebels in the old city have been trying to control the whole city of Sa'ada where which is full control of the local authority and army.
The sources said that the 30 women, who were cooperating with Al Houthi fighters in the old city, were put in the hotels of the city before their relatives were summoned by the security authorities to take them.
The women were released home after each male relative of the 30 women wrote a pledge note that the women will never cooperate with Al Houthi rebels any more and that they will keep in their houses.
All the 60 men were put in custody under investigations, the sources said.
The spokesman of the army, Askar Zuel, and deputy minister of interior Mohammed Al Kawsi, who supervise the storming operation of the old city, confirmed that the noose is increasingly being tightened on the remaining rebels. Both officials expected the remaining rebels to surrender during the coming few hours.
The spokesman of the army also said that the army was advancing in the other frontlines.
Weapons store of the rebels was destroyed in Muhdha, in the areas surrounding the city of Sa'ada, and the rebel field leader Saeed Ali Mohammed Meftah was arrested in Harf Sufyan, he said.
Politically, the Yemeni foreign minister Abu Bakr Al Querbi, is heading for Kuwait later today Saturday to hand a letter to Emir of Kuwait from President Ali Abdullah Saleh on the latest development in Yemen.
Al Querbi said in a statement he would brief the leaders of GCC in their summit conference to held during 14 and 15 December in Kuwait, on the developments in Yemen far from the exaggeration of media.
Thursday, 10 December 2009
Ethiopians and Somalis outflow into Yemen continues
By Nasser Arrabyee/11/12/2009
A total of 182 illegal Ethiopian immigrants including 23 women were arrested in the three Yemeni provinces of Mareb, Abyan and Taiz, said the Ministry of Interior Friday.
A group of 83 Ethiopian men, aged 25-40, were arrested in Mareb and handed over to the immigration office in Sana'a for deporting procedures, the ministry said in a statement.
Another of group 66 Ethiopians including 8 women were arrested in Ahwar coast in Abyan province, and 33 including 15 women in Dhubab coast in Taiz province.
During last November, a total of 2690 Somali immigrants including 720 women, and 49 children arrived to Yemeni coasts in about 52 smuggling boats. A group of 100 of them drowned in the sea and 20 died of hunger, said statement of the ministry.
The security authorities expected about 14,000 more Somalis to arrive in the Yemeni coasts during December.
The security authorities also said they are investigating with 28 smugglers who were arrested in Dhubab and Hodeidah coast last week.
A total of 182 illegal Ethiopian immigrants including 23 women were arrested in the three Yemeni provinces of Mareb, Abyan and Taiz, said the Ministry of Interior Friday.
A group of 83 Ethiopian men, aged 25-40, were arrested in Mareb and handed over to the immigration office in Sana'a for deporting procedures, the ministry said in a statement.
Another of group 66 Ethiopians including 8 women were arrested in Ahwar coast in Abyan province, and 33 including 15 women in Dhubab coast in Taiz province.
During last November, a total of 2690 Somali immigrants including 720 women, and 49 children arrived to Yemeni coasts in about 52 smuggling boats. A group of 100 of them drowned in the sea and 20 died of hunger, said statement of the ministry.
The security authorities expected about 14,000 more Somalis to arrive in the Yemeni coasts during December.
The security authorities also said they are investigating with 28 smugglers who were arrested in Dhubab and Hodeidah coast last week.
Wednesday, 9 December 2009
More Al Houthi surrenders as army continues combing the old city of Sa'ada
By Nasser Arrabyee/09/12/2009
More than 20 Al Houthi rebels surrendered in the old city of Sa'ada where the army is still blockading the remaining rebels in some houses of the city, for the third consecutive day, said local sources Wednesday.
The army had stormed the city early Monday to target, about 400 Al Houthi rebels who have been barricading in houses and mosques of two neighborhoods of the antiquarian city.
At least 15 rebels were killed, 20 injured and 30 surrendered in the first day.
Al Houthi rebels denied that they had any fighters in the old city of Sa'ada.
"It was only unjust aggression to destroy the antiquarian houses and mosques of the city after more than three months of blockade against the citizens," said Al Houthi in a statement sent through emails Wednesday.
In the same statement, Al Houthi said the 'citizens' of the old city of Sa'ada repelled 'with the help of Allah' a big attack by the army against the city from four directions.
The army is almost controlling the two neighborhoods of Najran and Al Toot, where Al Houthi fighters positioned, but some of them still resist from some houses until today, said military sources participating in the cleaning operation Wednesday.
A workshop in the old city for making explosives and mines for the rebels was destroyed Tuesday, said the sources.
Meanwhile, the spokesman of the government Hassan Al Lawzi said the army was advancing against the rebels and the end of the war has become very imminent.
He told reporters that the recent arrests and surrenders of the rebel leaders have revealed very important information that will help to end the war.
The Ministry of Defense said Wednesday in a statement that seven rebels including three field leaders were killed in Al Malahaid. The dead field leaders were identified as Abdu Yahya Yousef Al Arashi, Ahmed Dhaif Allah Jabal, and Ahmed Mused Al Madaka.
Two rebels, identified only by their surnames as Al Awadi and Al Hamzi, were arrested nearby Al Mazrak camp for refugees far west of Sa'ada, said the Ministry of Interior Wednesday.
More than 20 Al Houthi rebels surrendered in the old city of Sa'ada where the army is still blockading the remaining rebels in some houses of the city, for the third consecutive day, said local sources Wednesday.
The army had stormed the city early Monday to target, about 400 Al Houthi rebels who have been barricading in houses and mosques of two neighborhoods of the antiquarian city.
At least 15 rebels were killed, 20 injured and 30 surrendered in the first day.
Al Houthi rebels denied that they had any fighters in the old city of Sa'ada.
"It was only unjust aggression to destroy the antiquarian houses and mosques of the city after more than three months of blockade against the citizens," said Al Houthi in a statement sent through emails Wednesday.
In the same statement, Al Houthi said the 'citizens' of the old city of Sa'ada repelled 'with the help of Allah' a big attack by the army against the city from four directions.
The army is almost controlling the two neighborhoods of Najran and Al Toot, where Al Houthi fighters positioned, but some of them still resist from some houses until today, said military sources participating in the cleaning operation Wednesday.
A workshop in the old city for making explosives and mines for the rebels was destroyed Tuesday, said the sources.
Meanwhile, the spokesman of the government Hassan Al Lawzi said the army was advancing against the rebels and the end of the war has become very imminent.
He told reporters that the recent arrests and surrenders of the rebel leaders have revealed very important information that will help to end the war.
The Ministry of Defense said Wednesday in a statement that seven rebels including three field leaders were killed in Al Malahaid. The dead field leaders were identified as Abdu Yahya Yousef Al Arashi, Ahmed Dhaif Allah Jabal, and Ahmed Mused Al Madaka.
Two rebels, identified only by their surnames as Al Awadi and Al Hamzi, were arrested nearby Al Mazrak camp for refugees far west of Sa'ada, said the Ministry of Interior Wednesday.
Tuesday, 8 December 2009
Hideouts of fleeing Al Houthi rebels destroyed
By Nasser Arrabyee /08/12/2009
The Yemeni fighter jets struck Al Houthi rebels in Al Zaher area in the neighboring province of Al Jawf where fleeing rebels try to open a new front against the Yemeni and Saudi forces, said sources Tuesday.
The air strikes, launched late after noon Tuesday, destroyed the 3-floor house of the tribal sheikh Hassan Abdullah Hamtan, in which the fugitive rebels had meetings, the sources said.
The military sources said all rebels in the house were killed by the raids.
Eyewitness said they saw dead bodies of women and children under the rubbles of the destroyed house.
The house lies in the village of AlSa'amoom, in the district of Al Zaher, which is only about 60 km east of the main frontline of Harf Sufyan. Many people and tribal sheikhs in this area are cooperating with the rebels not necessarily for sectarian reasons but only to anger the government which they accuse of ignoring them.
The owner of the house which was destroyed tonight, sheikh Hassan Abdullah Hamtan has three sons fighting with Al Houthi rebels.
"Sheikh Hamtan himself is not fighting with the rebels but his sons are, and he said many times to the government officials he cannot prevent the armed people in his tribes from fighting with the rebels," said a tribal sheikh from Al Jawf on condition of anonymity.
All kinds of supply to the rebels come from Al Zaher area which is close to Sa'ada and Harf Sufyan.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Interior said in a statement that five fleeing rebels were arrested Tuesday in the district of Al Zaher. The statement mentioned the five men by names, from which it was clear the detainees were not from Al Jawf province.
The air strikes also targeted late Tuesday a group of rebels led by Abdu Naji Abu Rass in the area of Barat Al Anan in Al Jawf province.
The military sources said the air raids destroyed the hideout of the rebels killing and injuring several of them.
Air strikes on Al Jawf hideouts continued until late at night on Tuesday.
The Yemeni fighter jets struck Al Houthi rebels in Al Zaher area in the neighboring province of Al Jawf where fleeing rebels try to open a new front against the Yemeni and Saudi forces, said sources Tuesday.
The air strikes, launched late after noon Tuesday, destroyed the 3-floor house of the tribal sheikh Hassan Abdullah Hamtan, in which the fugitive rebels had meetings, the sources said.
The military sources said all rebels in the house were killed by the raids.
Eyewitness said they saw dead bodies of women and children under the rubbles of the destroyed house.
The house lies in the village of AlSa'amoom, in the district of Al Zaher, which is only about 60 km east of the main frontline of Harf Sufyan. Many people and tribal sheikhs in this area are cooperating with the rebels not necessarily for sectarian reasons but only to anger the government which they accuse of ignoring them.
The owner of the house which was destroyed tonight, sheikh Hassan Abdullah Hamtan has three sons fighting with Al Houthi rebels.
"Sheikh Hamtan himself is not fighting with the rebels but his sons are, and he said many times to the government officials he cannot prevent the armed people in his tribes from fighting with the rebels," said a tribal sheikh from Al Jawf on condition of anonymity.
All kinds of supply to the rebels come from Al Zaher area which is close to Sa'ada and Harf Sufyan.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Interior said in a statement that five fleeing rebels were arrested Tuesday in the district of Al Zaher. The statement mentioned the five men by names, from which it was clear the detainees were not from Al Jawf province.
The air strikes also targeted late Tuesday a group of rebels led by Abdu Naji Abu Rass in the area of Barat Al Anan in Al Jawf province.
The military sources said the air raids destroyed the hideout of the rebels killing and injuring several of them.
Air strikes on Al Jawf hideouts continued until late at night on Tuesday.
At least 15 rebels killed, 30 surrendered in hideouts storming
By Nasser Arrabyee/08/12/2009
At least 15 Al Houthi rebels were killed and more than 30 of them surrendered after the storming operation by the army on their hideouts in the old city of Sa'ada, said independent sources and military officials Tuesday.
The army stormed the old city early Monday and controlled almost all the neighborhoods and houses from which the rebels used to fire at the soldiers who have been surrounding the city since the beginning of the war in August 10.
Other than those rebels who were killed, injured, arrested or surrendered, and escaped after that special storming operation, there are still few of them in some houses in the old city until now and they still resist the soldiers, said the sources from city Tuesday.
Sporadic clashes continued Tuesday in the streets of the city where dozens of dead bodies from both sides could be seen easily, the sources said.
The army commanders expect to permanently clean the city from the rebels within the coming 24 hours. The sources said the residents of the city are waiting eagerly to get their life back to normal after long time of blockade and sufferings.
The spokesman of the army Askar Zauel, security forces are combing the few remaining parts of the city to clean it from the rebels. The security forces are using loudspeakers to tell the rebels to surrender.
He said 12 rebels at least were killed and 24 surrendered and five arrested in the storming operation.
Zauel also said that army was advancing in the other front lines in Harf Sufyan and Al Malahaid.
Four cars laden with weapons and ammunitions were destroyed in Wadi Ayan in Harf Sufyan, he said.
One car laden with armed rebels was destroyed in Thuaeb, he said.
The spokesman also said at least five rebels were killed when tribesmen loyal to the government attacked positions of rebels in Haidan, an important stronghold of the rebels.
Meanwhile, tribal sources from the neighboring province of Al Jawf said the local tribesmen with support from the army cleaned their areas from the rebels who escaped from Sa'ada.
The Dahm tribes, Thu Hussein, led by Sheikh Hadi bin Ghalia, and Sheikh Khaled bin Kharsan, seized two cars, weapons, ammunitions, and 40 anti-tanks mines after they blockaded the fugitive rebels and forced them to escape from their areas, the sources said.
Dahm tribesmen men also found a big quantity of women clothes which were used by the rebels to disguise while escaping from place to place, the sources added.
On their part, Al Houthi rebels said Tuesday in a statement sent through emails, that Saudi air strikes and artillery bombardments continued on their positions in the western frontline of Al Malahaid.
The statement counted 18 air raids on Al Dhaher, Jabal Al Dood, Majda'a, Al Malahaid and Al Husama.
At least 15 Al Houthi rebels were killed and more than 30 of them surrendered after the storming operation by the army on their hideouts in the old city of Sa'ada, said independent sources and military officials Tuesday.
The army stormed the old city early Monday and controlled almost all the neighborhoods and houses from which the rebels used to fire at the soldiers who have been surrounding the city since the beginning of the war in August 10.
Other than those rebels who were killed, injured, arrested or surrendered, and escaped after that special storming operation, there are still few of them in some houses in the old city until now and they still resist the soldiers, said the sources from city Tuesday.
Sporadic clashes continued Tuesday in the streets of the city where dozens of dead bodies from both sides could be seen easily, the sources said.
The army commanders expect to permanently clean the city from the rebels within the coming 24 hours. The sources said the residents of the city are waiting eagerly to get their life back to normal after long time of blockade and sufferings.
The spokesman of the army Askar Zauel, security forces are combing the few remaining parts of the city to clean it from the rebels. The security forces are using loudspeakers to tell the rebels to surrender.
He said 12 rebels at least were killed and 24 surrendered and five arrested in the storming operation.
Zauel also said that army was advancing in the other front lines in Harf Sufyan and Al Malahaid.
Four cars laden with weapons and ammunitions were destroyed in Wadi Ayan in Harf Sufyan, he said.
One car laden with armed rebels was destroyed in Thuaeb, he said.
The spokesman also said at least five rebels were killed when tribesmen loyal to the government attacked positions of rebels in Haidan, an important stronghold of the rebels.
Meanwhile, tribal sources from the neighboring province of Al Jawf said the local tribesmen with support from the army cleaned their areas from the rebels who escaped from Sa'ada.
The Dahm tribes, Thu Hussein, led by Sheikh Hadi bin Ghalia, and Sheikh Khaled bin Kharsan, seized two cars, weapons, ammunitions, and 40 anti-tanks mines after they blockaded the fugitive rebels and forced them to escape from their areas, the sources said.
Dahm tribesmen men also found a big quantity of women clothes which were used by the rebels to disguise while escaping from place to place, the sources added.
On their part, Al Houthi rebels said Tuesday in a statement sent through emails, that Saudi air strikes and artillery bombardments continued on their positions in the western frontline of Al Malahaid.
The statement counted 18 air raids on Al Dhaher, Jabal Al Dood, Majda'a, Al Malahaid and Al Husama.
Monday, 7 December 2009
The Yemeni army storms the old city of Sa'ada
By Nasser Arrabyee/07/12/2009
The Yemeni army stormed the old city of Sa'ada where groups of Al Houthi rebels have been hiding among the local residents since the beginning of war in august 10, said military sources Monday.
The soldiers are chasing the rebels from house to house, as the tanks and artillery pound the houses where the rebels fire at the soldiers, said the military sources who are participating in the attack.
The rebels, who are local residents of the city, were using the majority of the residents as human shields during the last long period.
The government did not take the step of storming the old city of Sa'ada earlier in order not to harm this majority of people who are not with Al Houthi.
The sources said many were killed and injured from both sides in the storming operation, which started early morning Monday.
The raid on the rebels' houses in the old city of Sa'ada came only one day after the rebels said in a statement they would control the who city of Sa'ada very soon.
The army seems to be determined to clean the city of the rebels this time given the big size of the storming operation.
Meanwhile, two field leaders of Al Houthi rebels were killed and six others were arrested in special operations implemented by the government troops in different places of the war-torn Sa'ada, said the Ministry of Defense Monday in a statement .
The terrorist field leaders Ali Ali Al Moayad and Tarek Sajjan were killed in Al Madaka of Shada district west of Sa'ada, said the Ministry's statement.
The two field leaders Muhy Al Deen Yahya Al Ansi and Ali Ahmed Nasser Al Dhafari were among the six field leaders who were arrested in diffirent places in Sa'ada and the neighboring province of Al Jawf.
The field leader Muhy Al Deen Al Ansi was the leader of about 50-70 rebels who escaped from Sa'ada to the nieghbouring Al Jawf province where the local tribesmen imposed a tight blockade on them forcing them to leave Sunday December 6th to an unknown area.
The top leader of the rebels, Abdul Malik Al Houthi said in statements he had ordered the group to go and open a new front against the Saudi forces in Najran, which is close to the far north of Al jawf.
On their part, Al Houthi rebels who face increasingly tightened blockade from the Saudi army in the west and the Yemeni army in the east and south of Sa'ada, intensified their bombardments on the houses of the citizens whom they accuse of cooperating with the army.
The rebels injured seriously three children and two women and an over-aged man when they pounded the two houses of Mabrook Saleh Al Ghulaisi and Hsaasn Ahmed Al Ghanin in the village of Al Bada'a in Harf Sufyan, tribal and military sources said Monday.
The tribal sources identified the victims as the 10-year old boy Ahmed Saleh Al Ghulaisi, the 8-year old girl Rabe'ah Saleh Al Ghulaisi, the 2-year old boy Ghaleb Ahmed, and the two women Khadeeja Abdullah Ghaleb Al Ghanin, and Ferdoos Ghaleb Al Ghanin.
The rebels also killed a man and injured another when opened fire on the citizens in Beer Ghazi area for not fighting with them against the government troops.
The Yemeni army stormed the old city of Sa'ada where groups of Al Houthi rebels have been hiding among the local residents since the beginning of war in august 10, said military sources Monday.
The soldiers are chasing the rebels from house to house, as the tanks and artillery pound the houses where the rebels fire at the soldiers, said the military sources who are participating in the attack.
The rebels, who are local residents of the city, were using the majority of the residents as human shields during the last long period.
The government did not take the step of storming the old city of Sa'ada earlier in order not to harm this majority of people who are not with Al Houthi.
The sources said many were killed and injured from both sides in the storming operation, which started early morning Monday.
The raid on the rebels' houses in the old city of Sa'ada came only one day after the rebels said in a statement they would control the who city of Sa'ada very soon.
The army seems to be determined to clean the city of the rebels this time given the big size of the storming operation.
Meanwhile, two field leaders of Al Houthi rebels were killed and six others were arrested in special operations implemented by the government troops in different places of the war-torn Sa'ada, said the Ministry of Defense Monday in a statement .
The terrorist field leaders Ali Ali Al Moayad and Tarek Sajjan were killed in Al Madaka of Shada district west of Sa'ada, said the Ministry's statement.
The two field leaders Muhy Al Deen Yahya Al Ansi and Ali Ahmed Nasser Al Dhafari were among the six field leaders who were arrested in diffirent places in Sa'ada and the neighboring province of Al Jawf.
The field leader Muhy Al Deen Al Ansi was the leader of about 50-70 rebels who escaped from Sa'ada to the nieghbouring Al Jawf province where the local tribesmen imposed a tight blockade on them forcing them to leave Sunday December 6th to an unknown area.
The top leader of the rebels, Abdul Malik Al Houthi said in statements he had ordered the group to go and open a new front against the Saudi forces in Najran, which is close to the far north of Al jawf.
On their part, Al Houthi rebels who face increasingly tightened blockade from the Saudi army in the west and the Yemeni army in the east and south of Sa'ada, intensified their bombardments on the houses of the citizens whom they accuse of cooperating with the army.
The rebels injured seriously three children and two women and an over-aged man when they pounded the two houses of Mabrook Saleh Al Ghulaisi and Hsaasn Ahmed Al Ghanin in the village of Al Bada'a in Harf Sufyan, tribal and military sources said Monday.
The tribal sources identified the victims as the 10-year old boy Ahmed Saleh Al Ghulaisi, the 8-year old girl Rabe'ah Saleh Al Ghulaisi, the 2-year old boy Ghaleb Ahmed, and the two women Khadeeja Abdullah Ghaleb Al Ghanin, and Ferdoos Ghaleb Al Ghanin.
The rebels also killed a man and injured another when opened fire on the citizens in Beer Ghazi area for not fighting with them against the government troops.
Sunday, 6 December 2009
Are Al Houthi rebels drawing the last breath?
By Nasser Arrabyee/06/12/2009
Al Houthi rebels killed the 11-year old Bashar Ahmed Ali Al Rawdi because his father did not agree to join them for fighting with them against the troops, tribal and military sources said Sunday.
The child Al Rawdi was kidnapped first to press on the father to open his house as position for the rebels in Al Okab near the city of Sa'ada, the sources said.
At least two of Al Houthi fugitive rebels were killed and several others were injured and arrested in Sha'ab Al Sama'a in Khab area of Al Jawf where local tribesmen blockaded them for two days, said sources from the same area Sunday.
Earlier in the week, more than 50 rebels had escaped from Sa'ada to Sha'ab Al Sama'a north east of Sa'ada, close to Saudi province of Najran, where they claimed to open a new front against the Saudi forces.
Early morning Sunday the rebels escaped again to an unknown area outside the province of Al Jawf after the tribesmen of Dahm in Al Jawf with support from the government troops closed in on them killing at least two and arrested about five, said the sources who are close to the tribesmen.
The tribesmen also seized two cars and weapons and ammunitions belonging to rebels, the sources added.
Meanwhile, the ministry of defense said in a statement Sunday that one of the most dangerous leaders of the rebels in Harf Syfyan was killed in a special operation implemented by highly trained Special Forces who focus nowadays on the leaders of the rebels.
The dead body of the leader, identified as Abdullah Tawk, was transported to Al Kareb area in Harf Sufyan, the statement said.
The statement said the army intensified the blockade on the rebels from all directions in the three main frontlines: Harf Sufyan, the areas around the Sa'ada city, and Al Malahaid far west of Sa'ada near the border with Saudi Arabia.
Observers see that the war is about to finish given the escape in groups of the rebels to the neighboring province of Al Jawf, and the groups that surrender themselves to the army through tribal chiefs including prominent leaders, and the increasing number of leaders being killed over the in special operations.
Al Houthi rebels, on their part, said they killed seven soldiers in their suicide and repeated attacks on the city of Sa'ada, which is surrounded by huge forces.
They said in a statement sent through emails Sunday that they are still determined to control the city of Sa'ada, "very soon".
The rebels also threatened to open new fronts from different places to fight the Saudi forces. Sha'ab Al Sama'a in Khab area in Al Jawf was one of these places which the rebels wanted to use for fighting the Saudi forces, but without success.
Al Houthi rebels killed the 11-year old Bashar Ahmed Ali Al Rawdi because his father did not agree to join them for fighting with them against the troops, tribal and military sources said Sunday.
The child Al Rawdi was kidnapped first to press on the father to open his house as position for the rebels in Al Okab near the city of Sa'ada, the sources said.
At least two of Al Houthi fugitive rebels were killed and several others were injured and arrested in Sha'ab Al Sama'a in Khab area of Al Jawf where local tribesmen blockaded them for two days, said sources from the same area Sunday.
Earlier in the week, more than 50 rebels had escaped from Sa'ada to Sha'ab Al Sama'a north east of Sa'ada, close to Saudi province of Najran, where they claimed to open a new front against the Saudi forces.
Early morning Sunday the rebels escaped again to an unknown area outside the province of Al Jawf after the tribesmen of Dahm in Al Jawf with support from the government troops closed in on them killing at least two and arrested about five, said the sources who are close to the tribesmen.
The tribesmen also seized two cars and weapons and ammunitions belonging to rebels, the sources added.
Meanwhile, the ministry of defense said in a statement Sunday that one of the most dangerous leaders of the rebels in Harf Syfyan was killed in a special operation implemented by highly trained Special Forces who focus nowadays on the leaders of the rebels.
The dead body of the leader, identified as Abdullah Tawk, was transported to Al Kareb area in Harf Sufyan, the statement said.
The statement said the army intensified the blockade on the rebels from all directions in the three main frontlines: Harf Sufyan, the areas around the Sa'ada city, and Al Malahaid far west of Sa'ada near the border with Saudi Arabia.
Observers see that the war is about to finish given the escape in groups of the rebels to the neighboring province of Al Jawf, and the groups that surrender themselves to the army through tribal chiefs including prominent leaders, and the increasing number of leaders being killed over the in special operations.
Al Houthi rebels, on their part, said they killed seven soldiers in their suicide and repeated attacks on the city of Sa'ada, which is surrounded by huge forces.
They said in a statement sent through emails Sunday that they are still determined to control the city of Sa'ada, "very soon".
The rebels also threatened to open new fronts from different places to fight the Saudi forces. Sha'ab Al Sama'a in Khab area in Al Jawf was one of these places which the rebels wanted to use for fighting the Saudi forces, but without success.
Friday, 4 December 2009
6 Al Houthi field leaders killed and 10 surrendered
By Nasser Arrabyee/05/12/2009
A total of 10 Al Houthi rebels including two leaders surrendered themselves to the Yemeni army and showed readiness to fight against the rebels, military and tribal sources said Saturday.
The surrender took place on Friday in Harf Sufyan, the most important frontline in the south of Sa'ada province.
The sources identified the 10 rebels who surrendered through the local tribal sheikh Hamed Mused Kazma, as Fares Nasser Al Shahwani, Jamil Ali Al Shahwani, Saleh Nasser Al Shahwani, Radman Othman, Ahmed Hadi Al Shahwani, Bakil Yahya Al Shahwani, Mujahed Nasser, Muhsen Abdullah, Ahmed Naji Al Shahwani, and Ali Muhsen Al Shahwani.
Farres Nasser Al Al Shahwani, and Jamil Ali Al Shahwani were field leaders in Harf Sufyan frontline, the sources said.
The tribal sources said those who surrendered themselves expressed their repentance and refusal of the rebellion, and also expressed their readiness to fight against the rebels.
Earlier, the army and the local authority in Sa'ada called upon the misled fighters of Al Houthi to surrender and return to their houses and families and that the government will protect them from any danger.
Meanwhile, military sources said that 6 field leaders of Al Houthi rebels were also killed over the last two days in fierce battles in Harf Sufyan where the army is betting that the war will be over when Harf Sufyan is under its control.
The dead field leaders were identified as Musfer Al Namer (specialized in communication), Zakaria Hassan Al Houthi, Yahya Mohammed (Abu Salem), Ali Dhaif Allah Al Khawlani,Abdullah Khater, and Yahya Hussein Al Houthi.
The sources also said that three field leaders of the rebels were referred Saturday to the prosecution for charges of participating in the armed rebellion.
On their part, Al Houthi rebels, said in a statement sent through emails, that Saudi air strikes and artillery bombardment continued Friday and Saturday on the areas of Al Husama, Jabal Al Dukhan, and Jabal Al Dood. They also said that Saudi forces are preparing for a ground attack on Al Malahaid from the direction of Al Rumaih mountain. The rebels said they destroyed three Saudi tanks on Friday.
A total of 10 Al Houthi rebels including two leaders surrendered themselves to the Yemeni army and showed readiness to fight against the rebels, military and tribal sources said Saturday.
The surrender took place on Friday in Harf Sufyan, the most important frontline in the south of Sa'ada province.
The sources identified the 10 rebels who surrendered through the local tribal sheikh Hamed Mused Kazma, as Fares Nasser Al Shahwani, Jamil Ali Al Shahwani, Saleh Nasser Al Shahwani, Radman Othman, Ahmed Hadi Al Shahwani, Bakil Yahya Al Shahwani, Mujahed Nasser, Muhsen Abdullah, Ahmed Naji Al Shahwani, and Ali Muhsen Al Shahwani.
Farres Nasser Al Al Shahwani, and Jamil Ali Al Shahwani were field leaders in Harf Sufyan frontline, the sources said.
The tribal sources said those who surrendered themselves expressed their repentance and refusal of the rebellion, and also expressed their readiness to fight against the rebels.
Earlier, the army and the local authority in Sa'ada called upon the misled fighters of Al Houthi to surrender and return to their houses and families and that the government will protect them from any danger.
Meanwhile, military sources said that 6 field leaders of Al Houthi rebels were also killed over the last two days in fierce battles in Harf Sufyan where the army is betting that the war will be over when Harf Sufyan is under its control.
The dead field leaders were identified as Musfer Al Namer (specialized in communication), Zakaria Hassan Al Houthi, Yahya Mohammed (Abu Salem), Ali Dhaif Allah Al Khawlani,Abdullah Khater, and Yahya Hussein Al Houthi.
The sources also said that three field leaders of the rebels were referred Saturday to the prosecution for charges of participating in the armed rebellion.
On their part, Al Houthi rebels, said in a statement sent through emails, that Saudi air strikes and artillery bombardment continued Friday and Saturday on the areas of Al Husama, Jabal Al Dukhan, and Jabal Al Dood. They also said that Saudi forces are preparing for a ground attack on Al Malahaid from the direction of Al Rumaih mountain. The rebels said they destroyed three Saudi tanks on Friday.
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