SA’ADA, FEB. 7 – Despite the Houthis’ acceptance of government conditions and announcing a ceasefire, armed conflict continue in Sa’ada and Amran governorates towards the north of Yemen.
Around 23 Yemeni soldiers were killed during military operations in Sa’ada on Friday, February, 5, according to Houthis and tribal sources.
Tribal leaders said that 15 of the Yemeni soldiers were killed in an ambush that was set up by Houthis on the road between Sa’ada and Al-Jawf.
The same sources added that the strike that took place on Friday afternoon in the area of Wadi Al Abu Jabara that follows Waela tribe in the north east of Sa’ada by Houthis targeted two military containers loaded with food stuff.
The other eight Yemeni soldiers among them one official were killed in confrontations with Houthis in one of the old city neighbourhoods in Sa’ada in an attempt by the governmental forces to attack the old city.
But, Houthis did not reveal their loss during those confrontations.
In the same context, Houthis said in their website that in their conformations Saudi forces shelled 25 air raids on wide areas of the northern Yemen.
They said that the raids centred in the areas of Muthalth shda, the district of Ghimr, Al-Nawa’a, Al-Dhahir, Al-Mahather, Al-Shaef, Al-Malahidh, Al-Hisama, and the area of Al-Farha in which many houses were destroyed and many people were killed.
In a relative incident with Sa’ada crisis and weapons smugglers, Hasan Mana’a, the elected governor of Sa’ada was resigned by republican decree and the colonel Taha Hajr was appointed instead of him, according to the defence ministry website, 26 September.
This comes after few days since Fares Mana’a, the governor’s brother and the head of the mediation committee between Houthis and the government was arrested with other weapons smugglers.
The governor defended the arrest of his brother under the accusation of weapon smuggling in an interview with Al-Shark Al-Awsat newspaper.
He considered his brother as struggler and does not have any relation with Houthis.
Mana’a’ arrest came after the government published the black list of the weapons smugglers including his name at the end of 2009.
On the other hand, five civilians were killed due to missiles shelling by Houthis on the house of one parliamentarian who is an important tribal leader in Sa’ada, Othman Majali, according to the local authority in the governorate.
The parliamentarian’s son, Hammid is one of the victims, according to the same source.
The same source added that Majali is an influential tribal leader who joined the Yemeni government in its war against Houthis.
A statement by Abdul Malek Al-Houthi, the leader of the Houthis, said that if operations against them were stopped, they would cease fire. He also pointed out that they would accept an exchange of prisoners between the Houthis and Saudi Arabia and added that they want to stop this bloodshed.
Earlier, last Sunday, the National Defence Council stipulated that the Houthis need to follow the six conditions set by the government. The council also announced that the government found no objections to stopping the war but only on the conditions that would leave no chance of the Houthis resuming the war and exchanging the Yemeni and Saudi prisoners with no further delay.
Many doubt the state’s acceptance of this Houthi submission, saying that the state just wants to prove its superiority by continuing the war in order to accomplish a complete triumph.
Yemeni political analysts said that both parties, the Yemeni government and the Houthis, have become so tired of the war that they want to end it with the least damage.
The Yemeni government stipulated that the Houthis must stop penetrating into Saudi land.
Abdul Malek Al-Houthi said earlier on T.V that this is the fourth time they have announced a ceasefire. He added that they hope the government understands that the Houthis have a great desire to stop this conflict.
Mohammad Abdul Majeed Al-Kubati, the Director of External Relationships in the Ruling Party, said that the government rejected the initiative by the Houthis because they had not promised to stop attacks against Saudi Arabia and demanded that the government implement their ceasefire first
The Supreme Security Committee gave its conditions last August. These were, namely, the ceasefire, the opening of roads, the returning what has been plundered, the releasing of prisoners, the withdrawal from all governates, not interfering in state affairs and, finally, stopping all aggression towards Saudi Arabia.
Last Sunday witnessed further conflict between the Houthis and the Yemeni army.
Tribal sources said that these confrontations happened on the Sa’ada frontlines near Harf Sufian and Al-Malaheeth in which the army destroyed an area used by the Houthis.
The same sources confirmed that many Houthis were killed and injured during more confrontations in Bani Mo’ath, in Sa’ada.
They added that Abu Malek, a Houthi leader and trainer, was killed.
From their side, Houthis said in a statement that the Saudi air force had launched 9 air raids on Al-Malaheeth and Al-Hasama areas in Sa’ada.
On Monday, the Yemeni army tried to penetrate into Dhahr Al-Himar and the fighting between them continued until the afternoon.
A statement by the Houthis denied such confrontations with the Yemeni or the Saudi armies, saying that they do not have any snipers working with them.
Worth mentioning is that Salem Al-Whoshi, was badly injured during an ambush in Sa’ada and some sources say that he was shot in the neck.