Army fails to quell rebellion, Sa’ada war continues [Archives:2007/1047/Front Page]
By: Mohammed bin Sallam
SA'ADA, May 2 ) An informed tribal source reports that armed confrontations continue in 12 Sa'ada districts, causing immense loss of life and property. The same individual noted that Houthi fighters do not remain in the same place for long, but rather attack the Yemeni army at a particular site and then move on to another.
Clashes also continue nonstop in Dhahian, located very near Sa'ada city, with the Yemeni army and Houthi loyalists exchanging fire using both light and heavy weaponry from time to time.
Likewise, confrontations are ongoing in Bani Mu'ath, with the Yemeni army commencing a new invasion at the beginning of last week after an offensive attack employing all types of heavy and medium-sized weaponry in those areas.
Soldiers now are combing the area in search of Houthi loyalists still hiding there. Once the army feels the area has been cleared, new Houthi elements emerge.
Meanwhile, areas outside of Sa'ada city, including those in Sahar and Al-Safra, experienced relative calm over the past few days after Houthis abandoned them. However, Houthi fighters returned and positioned themselves on mountains located between Sa'ada city and Dammaj in Al-Safra district, as well as mountains near Kahlan area east of Sa'ada.
Houthis centered in Wadi Al-Ghail and Al-'Adhal Mountains wage daily attacks on army sites situated on Al-Qahlah and Al-Sinarah Mountains with the aim of reaching a military encampment positioned in Kahlan area near Sa'ada city because it's one of the camps providing all army forces with weapons and munitions.
Last Monday, fierce clashes occurred in several Al-Safra districts and expanded to include Sahar district's Al-Sinarah and Al-Ablah Mountains. Fighting also ignited in the mountains behind Sa'ada city toward the area of Dammaj, including Al-Qahlah, Al-'Adhal and Al-Ghail Mountains in Al-Safra district.
Moreover, last Sunday evening and Monday morning Houthi elements attacked a camp affiliated with the First Armored Division led by Brig. Ali Muhsen Al-Ahmar positioned in Sa'ada city; however, losses on both sides remain unknown.
Sources report that “Houthis assaulted and seized army sites in Al-Ablah, Al-Sinarah and Al-Abdeen areas at the beginning of this week; however, the Yemeni army sought the help of fighter planes to raid those areas.”
Intermittent clashes occurred on numerous Sa'ada fronts, with fighter planes raiding Al-Qal'ah area in Razih district and Al-Gharshah area in Ghamer district, as well as areas in Baqem district.
Sources also mention that the Yemeni army has blocked the road linking Ghamer and Razih districts in order to separate Houthis in those areas. Residents there are suffering much, with a sack of wheat going for YR 8,000 and sugar at YR 12,000.
For his part, leader Abdulmalik Al-Houthi declared that Sa'ada governorate is being exposed to massacre and that his followers have seized four of its 15 districts, Al-Tajamou newspaper reported.
The leader denied allegations that Houthis are receiving foreign assistance and noted that they are fighting according to their autonomous capabilities, adding, “The capabilities of Sa'ada's sons are great. They are ready to do more.” He added that they are getting their weapons by attacking military sites and buying them from arms markets.
Member of Parliament Yahya Al-Houthi, currently living in Germany, told Al-Jazeera satellite television channel, “The military solution will be of no avail, even if the battle lasts 400 or 500 years.”
He further denied allegations by Yemeni authorities indicating that the movement is receiving foreign aid. “Had we foreign assistance, we would have been at the doors of Sana'a,” the MP stated.
U.S. Deputy Ambassador to Yemen Nabeel Khoury expressed his nation's concern about the nonstop Sa'ada war, pointing out that such conflict may expand to other Yemeni areas. He also stressed the importance of finding a solution that ensures the rights of all Yemenis.
“There should be equal treatment between all citizens. The real risk comes from the arms trade,” Khoury noted.
He insinuated that he isn't speaking about those Yemenis with one or two pieces of weaponry, but rather arms tradesman, who bring in a large ship filled with all types of weapons, noting that such a phenomenon should end.
Furthermore, Khoury criticized Yemeni Prime Minister Ali Mujawar's comments considering military action as the last and only option for handling the Sa'ada conflict.
He also advised the Yemeni government to follow all measures and political solutions to halt the ongoing war in Sa'ada, as every war ends in peace; however, each peace should meet certain conditions.
This is the first time a high-ranking U.S. diplomat has spoken directly about the Sa'ada war, essentially holding the state accountable for the war by mentioning the arms trade and equal treatment of citizens.
Khoury's statement comes within the context of both regional and international concern about the Sa'ada war, with many parties expressing the risks of the situation's continued developments.
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