24 Al Houthi rebels arrested including most wanted one

By Nasser Arrabyee/30/09/2009

A total of 24 Al Houthi rebels were arrested including one of the most wanted list, said the Ministry of Defense Wednesday.

A group of 16 rebels were arrested in the old city of Sa'ada where hidden groups occasionally implement attacks on the security forces since the beginning of the war on August 10, said an official statement from the Ministry.

The security forces are now chasing three more rebels who escaped from the same group that was planning to implement terrorist acts, the statement said.

The 16 rebels were mentioned by names including Mohsen Saleh Al Hamzi, who is number 14 in the most wanted list of 55, which was announced by the government at the beginning of the confrontations.

The remaining 8 of them, who were also mentioned by names, were arrested in Alb area north east of the city of Sa'ada.

With these arrests, the number of those rebels who were arrested only in the old city of Sa'ada, has become 151. A group of 44 of whom were already referred to the prosecution for trials in charges of sabotage acts.

The military officials said a total of 4 vehicles laden with fuels were destroyed in Marran , west of Sa'ada city, in a development of a new tactic being adopted by the army to strike the supply and movement of the rebels.

Two cars laden with weapons were also destroyed in Al Okab area nearby Sa'ada city, the military officials said.

Stranded displaced people appeal for help

By Nasser Arrabyee/29/09/2009

About 70 displaced families stranded for two weeks now in Alab crossing in the far north of Sa'ada in the border with Saudi Arabia, appealed Tuesday to the President Ali Abdullah Saleh to coordinate with the Saudi authorities to allow them to enter Saudi territories where they have relatives who will help them.

"About 150 women and children are all staying in a mosque in Alab area and the men are staying in the land without even blankets," said Ahmed Hadi Sabhan, from Bakem area.

No relief organizations can reach the areas inside Sa'ada including Bakem area, far north of Sa'ada province, because the rebels are still blocking the main road in Harf Sufyan where the fiercest battles are going on.


More 60,000 people displaced because of the war, which erupted last August 10. The UN agencies estimated the total number of those who displaced from the first round of the war in 2004, at 150,000.

If the northern neighbor of Yemen, Saudi Arabia, and Arabia cooperates by allowing relief organizations to go through its territories, the humanitarian situation will get better. Reports said Tuesday that Saudi Arabia had agreed to cooperate for helping the displaced.



The government called the relief organizations working in Yemen to stop issuing releases and to go down to the fields and sites to help the displaced people. The government threatened to withdraw their licenses if they keep only "making media noise".

"Some NGOs are making just media noise, we will withdraw the licenses of these organizations if the do not come down to the fields for helping us," Said Abdul Kareem Rase Minister of Health and chairman of the ministerial committee that coordinates relief efforts.


" They should not just stay and issue press releases about the miserable conditions of the refugees."

Meanwhile, a government-supported popular committee was formed Tuesday to collect blood donations for the injured individuals of the army.

Zaid Ali Hajar, chairman of the committee, they will launch their work tomorrow Wednesday in Al Sabeen Square in Sana'a. The first stage will focus only on the blood donations while the following stages will include other popular donations for both soldiers and the displaced .

Last week, some international relief agencies, particularly, the British organization, Oxfam, warned of a humanitarian crisis in Yemen if the ceasefire is not reached.

28 Al Houthi rebels killed including leaders

By Nasser Arrabyee/29/09/2009

In continuation of the 49-day old war, 28 Al Houthi rebels were killed and several others injured in fierce battles in the areas around the city of Sa'ada north of the country, said the Defense Ministry Tuesday.

Three of those killed were field leaders and one of those injured was one of the most wanted 55 rebel leaders, the Ministry's statement said.

"The terrorist Abdullah Ali Al Kalat,known as Abu Amed, was killed with four others in the battles of Al Makash and Al Okab," said the statement.

The field leader Nasser Subhan Khatab, known as Abu Hamzah, was killed in Dammaj where Sunni extremists, Salafis, fight against Al Houthi Shiite rebels. The dead bodies of the field leader Yahya Ahmed Huseein Al Moayad and another called Abu Thar were found in Al Makash areas nearby the Sa'ada city.

The leader of rebels in Al Makash and Al Okab, Abdul Latif Hamoud Al Mahdi, number 39 of the most wanted list of 55, was injured in Al Okab.

A group of 20 rebels were killed in Jarman station areas, the statement added.

Meanwhile, a total of 44 rebels out of 127 arrested in Sa'ada city from the beginning of the war in August 10, were referred on Tuesday to the prosecution for trials in charges of carrying out sabotage acts, security sources said.


On his part, Al Houthi said his fighters killed and injured dozens of soldiers in those battles and destroyed a tank in the areas around the Sa'ada city.

The rebels leader said, in a statement sent through emails, that the government air fighters killed two women and 10-year old child in Manbah area on Monday.

He also said that the government prevented diesel and wheat from entering to Sa'ada through Barat road south east of Sa'ada.

No option for the rebels but to abide by the conditions, top defense panel

By Nasser Arrabyee/28/09/2009

The Yemen Supreme Defense Council said Al Houthi rebels have no option but to abide by the conditions set by the government for stopping the war on them in Sa'ada north of the country.

"The rebels have no option but to abide by the conditions of the government for stopping the war and saving the blood," said a statement issued by the council late Monday after a meeting chaired by President Ali Abdullah Saleh .

The meeting brought together senior officials of the State and the military and security commanders.

Meanwhile, five Al Houthi rebels were killed and several others injured when a group of them tried to attack the republican place in Sa'ada city, said a senior security official late Monday.

The Deputy Minister of Interior, Mohammed Abdullah Al Kawsi, said a counter-terrorism unit drove back the Al Houthi attackers and started an immediate combing operation in the areas where they may hide.

The security official who has been supervising special security operations inside and around the city of Sa'ada from the beginning of the war, said the repeated and suicide attacks nearby the republican palace is a sign of their being desperate.

"Repeating such failed and suicide attacks on the Palace reflects their deteriorating status and breakdown," said Al Kawsi. The official made it clear that the number of the rebels who were arrested in the city of Sa'ada from the beginning of confrontations until Monday, rose to 127.

36 Al Houthi rebels killed

By Nasser Arrabyee/28/09/2009

At least 36 Al Houthi rebels were killed in fierce battles in the areas around the city of Sa'ada, military officials said Monday.

In an official statement disseminated by the Sate-run TV, the Ministry of Defense said 17 rebels were killed in Al Okab and Al Makash in repeated and suicide attacks implemented by the rebels on Al Sama'a Mountain which overlooks the city of Sa'ada.

A group of 13 rebels were killed in the area of Al Kharab where tribesmen and the army fought against the rebels. And six rebels were killed in Al Madwar and Al Kaham area.

Three rebels were arrested in the old town of Sa'ada after they clashed with the security men. One of them was called Tawfik Mohammed Taninah, security sources said. Some zones of the old city witnessed sporadic clashes with rebels who live there as original residents. About 100 rebels were arrested from the beginning of this war in the city of Sa'ada which is under the control of army and local authority.

Field military sources confirmed Monday that fierce battles are also going on the other two main frontlines of Harf Sufyan and Al Malahaid where the army is making slowly but surly progress because of the strong resistance of the rebels.

The sounds of the Mig-29 fighters could be heard almost all day and night of Sunday over the capital Sana'a from where they take off to strike the rebels in fighting areas.

On his part, the rebel leader Abdul Malik Al Houthi appealed to the international community to interfere for protecting the civilians in the volatile areas in Sa'ada.

In a short video statement aired by Al Jazeera Satellite, Al Houthi, who directly spoke for the first time since the beginning of this war in August11, said the displaced people did not receive any assistance or protection.

The government said he is only shedding the crocodile tears and he is a criminal introducing himself as a victim.

"The criminal Al Houthi should realize there is no way before him but to accept the five conditions of the government for stopping the war. And they will be brought to justice sooner or later and the fate of the criminal Abdul Malik Al Houthi will not be better than the fate his slain brother Hussein," said an official statement commenting on Al Houthi's video.

Military sources said Monday that 20 Al Houthi rebels including 7 Somalis, who were fighting with Al Houthi, were arrested in Al Majza'ah in the main frontline of Harf Sufyan. More than 50,000 Somalis immigrants flowed to Yemen from the beginning of this year, according to UNHCR estimations.

71 rebels killed including three of the most wanted

By Nasser Arrabyee/27/09/2009

A total of 71 Al Houthi rebels were killed over the last two days including three leaders of the most wanted list of 55 whom the government announced at the beginning of the war on August 10, said the Ministry of Defense Sunday.

"The terrorist Jarallah Mohmamed Esmail along with 11 of his aides were killed in Al Malahaid, and terrorist Sulaiman Ahmed Al Ayani was killed with 7 of his aides also in confrontations in Al Malahaid," said the Ministry in an official statement.

The wanted leader Hassan Thaen was killed along with 11 of his aides in confrontations in Dammaj about 15 km south east of the city of Sa'ada, the statement said.

The Ministry said that 30 rebels were killed while trying to attack the strategic post of Shakra which was controlled by the army last week. The two rebel leaders Amar Hezam Thaiban, and Salem Hassan Salem were among those who were killed.

A Group of 12 rebels were killed in Dhahyan area, one of the most important strongholds, 35 km north west of Sa'ada city, by a missile fired from an aircraft.

On his part, the spokesman of the rebels, Mohammed Abdul Salam said his fighters killed a whole battalion of the soldiers in an ambush in Harf Sufyan on Saturday.

"While the battalion was creeping at 2 am early morning Saturday, at the area of Al Ghela which is parallel to Wadi Shabarek, in Harf Sufyan, the whole area, which was mined, turned to a volcano killing them all," the spokesman said in statement sent through emails.

The army said it defused more than 40 mines in Harf Sufyan area, which form the real strength of the rebels because of its rugged mountains and the mines planted by the rebels.

A group of nine people were executed by orders from the rebels leader Abdul Malik Al Houthi in Marran area last week when they tried to displaced to a safer place, President Ali Abdullah Saleh said in his speech Saturday on the occasion of the 47^th anniversary of the 26 September revolution. Saleh vowed to finish the rebels off even if takes him "five or six years".

The war will continue even years, says Saleh

By Nasser Arrabyee/26/09/2009


The Yemen President Ali Abdullah Saleh vowed Saturday to continue the war on Al Houthi rebels even years until they abide by the six conditions set by the government.

“We will not backtrack, we will not backtrack, let the battles continue five or six years, the war will not stop,” Saleh said on a ceremony held Saturday on the 47th anniversary of the 26 September revolution that ended a 1000-year long reign of the Zaidi-Shiite clerical rule in 1962.

"Yes, go ahead, do not stop it," some of the attendees were chanting in hall of the college of war where modest celebration was held.

Saleh said Al Houthi armed rebellion is a war against the revolution which overthrew their reactionary, backward, clerical, and tyrannical rule.

The battles between Al Houthi rebels and the government troops were going on in the three main frontlines while Saleh was speaking in the capital Sana'a.

More than 24 Al Houthi rebels were killed in Harf Sufyan and the places around the city of Sa'ada, military and independent local sources said.

Saleh said in his speech that Harf Sufyan is the most important battle.


And 9 soldiers, including a high ranking officer were killed and an armoured vehicle was destroyed in Al Okab nearby the Sa'ada city.

Aircrafts continued air strikes Saturday morning and afternoon in Harf Sufyan and the main strongholds of the rebels.

President Saleh called for national cooperation and coordination for ending the Al Houthi rebellion and Al Qaeda insurgency.

He excluded that his country will be like Somalia.

“It is impossible and further than the sun, that Yemen will be like Somalia as long as we have the national establishment of the army and rivers of blood are shedding everyday, you should know this, you hateful and ills," he said in reference to those who support the rebellion in and outside Yemen.

"Congratulations for the martyrs who race for martyrdom not for chairs of power."

He said the rebels want to restore the clerical rule of Imams.

“They want to rule Yemen by divine right to rule, it is reactionary and backward mentality."

He said a special department for caring of the families of the martyrs was under establishment in the office of the supreme commander of the armed forces.

He expected that money for treating the impacts of the war will be much more than 10 billion Yemen rials (50,000,000US$) which was estimated for reconstruction efforts at the end of the 5th round of the war in July 2008.

President Saleh called relief agencies to help the displaced people but without “media noise”

The state alone is responsible for the displaced people.
“We need your assistance but without noise," he said.

Last week, some relief agencies warned of deepening the humanitarian crisis if a cease-fire is not reached.

Army creeping towards last strongholds of the rebels

By Nasser Arrabyee 26/09/2008

The Yemeni army is launching a wide ground attack on Al Houthi rebels in the main frontline of Harf Sufyan, about 40 km south of the city of Sa'ada, military sources said Saturday.

"Units from at least three brigades started very early morning today a wide attack on the rebels moving towards Sa'ada and Mafrak Barat," said the sources.

"At six am the troops started moving, with the artillery and tanks bombarding from here in Shakra and Wadi Shahwan," said the sources referring to the two important posts controlled by the army last week.

If the army defeated the rebels in Harf Sufyan, the strongholds in Dhahyan, Naqa'a and Mutra will be easy to be controlled, as almost all the strength of the rebels concentrate in this area, military experts say.

Meanwhile, military officials said they formed field committees to receive the rebels who will surrender themselves during the battles.

"Large numbers of the rebels started to surrender themselves after the painful blows they suffered over the last few days in the three main frontlines," The Defense Ministry said in an official statement.

"So, we formed field teams to receive those who surrender themselves for giving them safety and treat them kindly and humanely."

The Military officials also said they destroyed Friday hideouts and arsenal of the rebels in the areas around the city of Sa'ada like Ghbeer, Mahtha, Al Okab and Al Makash.

The rebels said, in statements sent through emails, they destroyed a tank they repelled two attacks one in Al Makash, west of Sa'ada city, and the other in Al Okab, south of the city. Dozens of soldiers were killed and injured in those confrontations, the statements said.

Saleh calls Al Houthi rebels to abide by conditions for ending war

Saleh calls Al Houthi rebels to abide by conditions for ending war
By Nasser Arrabyee 25/09/2009

The Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh repeatedly called the Al Houthi rebels to abide by the conditions set by the government for ending the war against them.

"We call the rebels and the terrorists to abide by the conditions of the government for saving the blood," said President Saleh Friday in an address delivered on the eve of 26 September, which marks the 47th anniversary of September revolution.


The government insists the war will never stop until the rebels commits to the five conditions: Full withdrawal from all the districts they occupy and eliminating all checkpoints from all roads. Coming down from mountains and ending cutting roads and sabotage acts, returning all military and public equipments they seized during battles with the troops, handing over all kidnapped people, stopping interference in the local government's responsibilities.



President Saleh said the rebels want to bring back the hands of the clock to the time of clerical Imamite period.

Al Houthi rebels are accused of seeking to restore the clerical rule of the Zaidi-Shitte Imams, which was overthrown on September 26, 1962 ending a period of about 1000 years of the clerical rule.

Saleh said that the rebels receive advices from inside and outside Yemen to continue their rebellion

"The rebels are astray and whoever gives them the advices and consultations from inside and outside for settleing accounts with the government, are mistaken," Saleh said.

He said the government is more capable than ever before to crush their rebellion.
He called all Yemenis to stand unified for overcoming the challenges facing his country.

In addition to the Al Houthi armed rebellion, Yemen is facing increasing secession sentiment in the south, growing activity of Al Qaeda, and the economic deterioration.

The developments in the ground, fierce battles continued Friday in the three main frontlines with the aircraft bombing the strongholds in Dhahyan, Mutrah, and Naqa'a.

Military sources said that 11 Al Houthi rebels were killed Friday while trying to attack the positions of the army in areas around Shakra and Wadi Shahwan in Harf Sufyan front. One soldier was injured in those attacks, the sources said.

The Mig-29 fighters bombed Thursday and Friday locations of the rebels leaders in bani Muath, where the house the leader Saleh Habra, was destroyed by the air strikes, local sources said.

The army denied Friday allegations by Al Houthi rebels that they arrested more than 50 soldiers from the republican guards units in Harf Sufyan.

Some 93 Al Houthi rebels arrested

By Nasser Arrabyee/24/09/2009

A total of 93 Al Houthi rebels were arrested inside the city of Sa'ada where asleep cells occasionally clash with security over the last 44 days, said senior security official Thursday.

Two of them were arrested today Thursday, and 12 surrendered themselves yesterday Wednesday, said Mohammed Abdullah Al Kawsi, Deputy Minister of Interior, who is supervising special security operations to confront hidden groups of the Al Houthi rebels inside the old city of Sa'ada.

The whole city of Sa'ada is under the control of the local authority, but the rebels have been trying to put it under their control since the war erupted early last month.

Local sources confirmed that fierce fighting continued Thursday in the three main frontlines: Harf Sufyan, around Sa'ada city, and Al Malahaid.

A fourth frontline started to heat up over the last few days in Bakem areas, far north of Sa'ada city where tribal volunteers loyal to the government try to blockade the strongholds of the rebels in Mutrah, and Dhahyan from the north.


Dozens from both sides were killed and injured in battles, which took place Thursday about 10 km around the city of Sa'ada where the rebels still try to attack from three directions at least despite hundreds of them were killed so far in these places. The rebels destroyed Thursday an armored vehicle belonging to the army in Mahtha area around the city of Sa'ada, said local sources.



Independent and military sources said more than 20 Al Houthi rebels and four soldiers were killed Thursday in confrontations in the frontline of Harf Sufyan where the troops advance slowly towards Sa'ada city.

The rebels still position in mountains overlooking about 40 km long road between Sa'ada city and Shakra and Wadi Shahwan, the two latest posts controlled by the troops in Harf Sufyan front, in the south of Sa'ada city.

More than 14 rebels and 10 tribesmen were killed over the last 24 hours in heavy confrontations between government-supported tribesmen and Al Houthi rebels in Dammaj area about 15 km east of the city of Sa'ada. Dammaj is the location of a well-known extremist Sunni Salafi school, with thousands of students, which was founded early 1980s. Dammaj Salafi centre was one of the main reasons to establish the movement of Al Houthi who accuse the Salafis of fighting his Zaidi Shiite thoughts.

The military sources said that the troops controlled two new posts in Al Manzalah in the frontline of Al Malahaid in the far west of the city of Sa'ada.

Humanitarian situation

Human activists appealed the government of Yemen and Saudi Arabia to help hundreds of displaced people who are stranded in Al Mashnak area between the Saudi Arabia borders and confrontations of Al Manzalah frontline.

"I appeal the government of Yemen and the government of Saudi Arabia to solve the problem those people who can not enter Saudi Arabia and can not come here to Al Mazrak refugee camp," said the human right activist, Mahmoud Taha who came back from the refugee camp, far west of Sa'ada.

"The war is behind them and Saudi Arabia is in front of them, they stranded, they may die of hunger and thirst if they are not helped."

On his part, the governor of Sa'ada Hassan Mana'a accused Thursday Al Houthi rebels of fire artillery on the refugee camp of Al Azkol, about 15 km west of the city of Sa'ada.

Earlier in the day, the rebel leader Abdul Malik Al Houthi said the real war has not started yet, threatening to launch a war, which goes beyond the imagination of the government.

'War beyond imagination' Al Houthi threatens

By Nasser Arrabyee/24/09/2009

The Yemen rebel leader Abdul Malik Al Houthi says he has not started the war yet, despite the intensification of the battles day by day, with the military officials claiming the end of the armed rebellion is very close.

In a statements sent through emails, Al Houthi said his fighters withdraw from positions only as tactics for the war of attrition.

He threatened to launch a war "that can not be imagined" by the troops and whose results and consequences will be worse than all "the results and consequences" of the previous five rounds of war which started in the middle of 2004.

This is the third time, the rebel leader, released such threats, since the beginning of the war on August 10^th, 2009.

The rebel leader admitted that the army had controlled important positions in Harf Sufyan, the most important frontline of the rebels.

"We attacked the position of Al Shakra at the beginning of this war and we controlled it and seized all equipments, and then we left the position," he said in his statement.

He denied any progress achieved by the troops in Harf Sufyan after the state-run TV showed the troops controlling it and the places around it in the direction of Sa'ada city.

Al Houthi accused the government of killing the prisoners of war and mutilating their bodies, pretending that his fighters "kindly treat the prisoners of the war according to the Islamic instructions." The rebel leader refers to the video footages shown by the state-run TV for positions controlled by the army in Harfy Sufyan with dead bodies thrown in the ground.

Meanwhile, the security authorities in Sa'ada city said Thursday they had arrested a group of 8 rebels including two leaders.

"The two terrorists and rebel leaders, Ali Ebrahim Abdul Elah Al Hashush and Qasem Abdullah Ali Bashir were arrested during a search operation implemented in cooperation with the citizens in the old city of Sa'ada," said a security statement.

The security forces are still implementing special operations in the city of Sa'ada to finish off the asleep cells who attack the security men from time to time.

On Wednesday, the Deputy Minister of Interior Mohammed Abdullah Al Kawsi, who supervises those special operations in the old city of Sa'ada, said 12 rebels of these asleep cells surrendered them selves.

The battles continued Thursday in the three main frontline of Harf Sufyan, around Sa'ada city, and Al Malahaid, while the aircrafts continued bombing the main strongholds of the rebels in Dhahyan, Mutrah and Naqa'a.

Yemen welcomes calls for cease-fire, fighting continues

Yemen welcomes calls for cease-fire, fighting continues

By Nasser Arrabyee/23/09/2009

The Yemeni government welcomed Wednesday external calls for cease-fire to deliver assistance to the displaced people because of the going war between its troops and Al Houthi rebels in the north of the country.

The step came after calls from relief agencies who warned of a humanitarian crisis if an immediate cease-fire is not reached.

The US Department of Sate also called Wednesday for immediate cease-fire to enable the relief agencies to help tens of thousands of displaced people. It said about 3 million US dollars will be sent to help the displaced people. Earlier in the month, the UN said it needs about 24 million US dollars to help about 150,000 displaced persons over the coming four months.

The government blamed the rebels for breaking the cease-fire it announced last Saturday by attacking the troops in the three main frontline and other places.

"The terrorists, and rebels continued breaking the cease-fire despite the fact that the government is still committing to the cease-fire decision which was announced last Saturday," said the government statement.

"The troops now are only repelling the attacks being launched by the rebels and terrorists who broke the cease-fire in Sa'ada city, Harf Sufyan, Al Malahaid, Bakem, and Damajj."

"The government is doing all its best to facilitate the movement of the aid agencies to help the displaced people, but the rebels are still planting mines in the roads to obstruct the aid efforts, to exploit the humanitarian issue."

Meanwhile, local sources confirmed that fierce battles continued Wednesday in the three main fronts of Sa'ada, Harf Sufyan, and Al Malahaid.

More than 15 Al Houthi rebels were killed when they launched an attack on the Salafi School in Dammaj killing six Salafis, local sources said.

The clashes between the extremist Sunni Salafis and Al Houthi Shiite rebels, continued until late Wednesday, the sources confirmed

The Ministry of Interior said Wednesday that 12 Al Houthi rebels surrendered themselves in the city of Sa'ada.

The Ministry also said that the Deputy Minister of Interior Mohammed Abdullah Al Kawsi survived an assassination attempt carried out by Al Houthi rebels inside the city of Sa'ada.

Al Kawsi has been supervising special security operations inside the old city of Sa'ada where some residents who fight with Al Houthi, used their houses as barracks from the beginning of the war early last August.

The assassination attempt against Al Kawsi came after the blockaded Al Houthi supporters in the old city of Sa'ada, pretended they would surrender themselves to Al Kawsi. They were only planning to kill him.

Over the last two days, the army allegedly killed about 230 rebels, in fierce battles, which indicated the progress of the troops.

For the first time, the state-run TV showed Wednesday the troops advancing in Harf Sufyan and controlling the important positions of Al Shakra and Shahwan with tens of Al Houthi dead bodies thrown on the ground.

Al Houthi side played down the alleged victories of the government troops saying the army is breaking down before his fighters.

"The government tries to make illusive victories to cover up the troops' breakdown which broke its pride and solemnity," said Al Houthi statement, which was sent through emails.

Some 76 rebels killed 150 injured

By Nasser Arrabyee/22/09/2009

A total 76 Al Houthi rebels were killed and 150 others injured in seemingly decisive battles in Sa'ada, north of Yemen, said the Defense Ministry late Tuesday.

The Ministry said, in a statement, that 26 rebels of those killed were field leaders.

A group of 50 rebels were killed and 100 others injured in the frontline of Al Malahaid, west of Sa'ada, where rebels tried to block the highway between Yemen and Saudi Arabia, the statement said.

A group of 26 rebels were killed and 50 others injured in the second frontline of Harf Sufyan where rebels block the road between the capital Sana’a and the city of Sa'ada.

The rebels still position in mountains overlooking about 50km of this road. The army is advancing very slowly because the road mines were planted along the road.

The military statement said that those human damages came after the rebels implemented “suicide and desperate” attacks on the troops who directed painful blows on the rebels over the last two days.

Meanwhile, five Al Houthi rebels were arrested and three surrendered in the city of Sa'ada where they formed a terrorist cell carrying out terrorist acts, security sources said.

The places surrounding the Sa'ada city, the third main frontline in the 42-day old war, witnessed also fierce battles today Tuesday where more than 16 rebels were killed in attacks on Al Okab and Al Ain, and Al Sama'a.

Al Houthi side denied any attacks carried out by his fighters saying they are defending themselves and repelling the attacks.

"The army tried to launch assaults on these areas but we, with the help of Allah, fought them back," said Al Houthi spokesman Mohammed Abdul Salam, in statements sent to media through emails.

Some 16 Al Houthi rebels killed

By Nasser Arrabyee/22/09/2009

More than 16 Al Houthi rebels were killed in fierce confrontations with the army around Sa'ada city, military sources said Tuesday.

At least 13 Al Houthi rebels were killed in an assault they launched against the mountain of Al Sama'a which overlooks the city of Sa'ada, said the sources .

The other attackers of Al Houthi rebels escaped after the army thwarted their attack, said the sources.

A sniper killed three rebels in Harf Sufyan.

"The sniper, the hero soldier, Zaidan Al Ansi killed today three rebels including a field leader, while infiltrating to Wadi Shahwan, in Harf Sufyan," said an official statement," said a military statement.

"A number of soldiers and citizens were martyred and injured in those attacks," the statement said.

Four cars laden with weapons and ammunitions were destroyed in the west of Dammaj and Al Ain checkpoint, the statement said.

The rebels also attacked the village of Al Okab, which around to the city of Sa'ada, and they positioned there after the citizens left their houses, added the sources.

The spokesman of Al Houthi, Mohammed Abdul Salam, denied that the rebels launched attacks insisting they were only defending themselves.

"The army forced tens of families to leave their houses in Bani Muath, Al Okab, Mazrat Al Hadi, and Manzel Al Hadi," he said.

"The army tried to launch assaults on these areas but we, with the help of Allah, fought them back."

The confrontations continued Tuesday in the three main frontlines: around Sa'ada city, Harf Sufyan, and Al Malahaid. Three fragile truces failed to stop the war which erupted on August 10^th, 2009.

At least 150 Al Houthi rebels killed in heavy battles

By Nasser Arrabyee/20/09/2009

At least 150 Al Houthi rebels were killed and 20 injured and 70 arrested around Sa'ada city in the fiercest battles since the war erupted early last August, local sources said Sunday. Two soldiers were killed in repelling those attacks, according to the same sources.

The sources made it clear that Al Houthi rebels tried to attack and control the city of Sa'ada from three directions early morning on Sunday but the troops drove them back killing all these numbers.

Neither the army nor Al Houthis rebels confirmed the number of the causalities, but military officials confirmed that the army drove back hundreds of Al Houthi rebels who tried to attack Sa'ada city from three directions early morning Sunday, the first day of Eid Al Fetr.

The rebels and terrorists attacke Makash check point, Ain check point, and mountain of Al Sama'a," said a military statement.

The military officials said only heavy "losses were inflicted on the rebels in those attacks," without mentioning the number of the casualties.

More than six Al Houthi rebels were also killed in attacks they tried to restore a position which was controlled by the army two days ago in Harf Sufyan, one of the three main frontlines where the rebels block the road between the capital Sana'a and Sa'ada city.

“Al Houthis tried to restore Al Shaqra position in Harf Sufyan, but the army repelled them and killed six of them while the rest escaped," local sources said.

Al Houthi, in statements sent to media, denied the attacks around Sa'ada city and in Harf Sufyan saying the government was only using them as justifications to continue its aggression.

Fighting continued despite ceasefire

By Nasser Arrabyee 19/09/2009


AlMazrak refugee camp, west of Saada, where I wrote the story: Fighting continued Saturday in the north of Yemen despite a conditional ceasefire declared by the government.

Military officials said that Al Houthi rebels did not comply with the ceasefire and continued attacking the troops in the three main front lines of the 39-day-old fighting.

“The saboteurs and terrorists did not comply with the ceasefire declared this morning and continued their attacks on our troops,” military sources said.

Local sources in Harf Sufyan said that the troops are advancing towards Al Amar area which is close to city of Saada.

Earlier in the day, the government declared a ceasefire in fighting with Al Houthi rebels in north-western areas in order to secure the passage of humanitarian aid to tens of thousands of people.

The truce, which begins at midnight and would last for the Musilims’ Eid al- Fetr holiday, was announced in response to appeals from international relief agencies, the official Saba news agency reported

The Defence Ministry said in a statement the ceasefire was conditional on the rebels complying with six terms. It said the rebels should withdraw from areas they control release soldiers they captured during the fighting.

Among the other conditions were the rebels' compliance with the constitution and their surrender of military equipment seized from the army.

The government had also welcomed a call of Hassan Nasrallah, Secretary General of
Lebanese Hezbollah, for a cease-fire in Saada.

We appreciate Nasrallah's call for a cease-fire to avoid further bloodshed, but this war has been imposed on the government, official statement said.

Killing of civilians investigated

By Ashwaq Arrabyee 17/09/2009


The government ordered investigation into allegations of killing more than 80 displaced people in the fighting between the troops and Al Houthi rebels, Security sources said on Thursday.

The security sources said that a committee was formed to investigate in the allegations that air strikes targeted displaced people in the area of Al Adi, east of Harf Sufyan, the main front where the rebels block the main road between the Capital Sana’a and Saada.

Earlier in the day, the local official of Amran governorate, where Harf Sufyan is, said, “there is no camp for the internally displaced persons IDPs in Al Adi area which is used by Al Houthi rebels to attack the troops.

The sources said the troops killed at earlier time three rebel leaders known as Abo Bara, Abo Hamza and Abo Saleh in Al Adi area.

Furthermore, the Supreme Security Committee which supervises the 37-day-old war said that Al Houthi rebels prevented the people in Al Adi area from displacing to safe place to use them as human shields.

Local sources said on Thursday that 87 people including women and children were buried in mass graves in Al Adi area where they were killed after air strikes hit them on Wednesday.

On their part, the tribal Sheikhs of Sufyan condemned the attack and demanded the president and the defence minister to form a committee to investigate into the incident.

Some 30 rebels killed in decisive battles

By Nasser Arrabyee/15/09/2009

A total of 30 Al Houthi rebels were killed and more than 20 were injured in heavy and seemly decisive battles around the Sa'ada city, military sources said Tuesday.

The sources said that 12 rebels were killed and 15 others were injured in Al Talah area, about 10 km North West of the Sa'ada city.

The rebel leaders, Mahdi Mohammed Amer Oraig and Ali Mahdi Mohammed Uraig were among the dead, the sources said.

More than 18 rebels were killed and many others injured when they tried to attack the Al Jabal Al Ahmar which overlooks the city of Sa'ada said the sources.

Further, the rebel leader Abdul Muhsen Tawos, known as Abu Adel was killed while moving in his pick up car in Al Mahather around the city of Sa'ada.

"The terrorist Ali Hussein Badr Al Deen Al Houthi, and another one called Abu Al Abas were injured in clashes with the troops in Marran area ," said the source referring to the son of Hussein Al Houthi the slain founder the rebellion movement.

The rebels took their injured from Al Khafji area to Bani Muath using four cars, the sources said.

A workshop for making mines and explosives were destroyed in Haidan west of city of Sa'ada , and ammunition store and two cars laden with weapons were destroyed in the areas around the same city, the sources said.

The army is still implementing combing operations until late Tuesday in Al Arkaba, Al Mudeer, Raik, Al Sarah, said the sources.

Further, more than five rebels were arrested in the battles of Al Malahaid front west of Sa'ada where the rebels tried to block the high way between Yemen and Saudi Arabia.

On their part, Al Houthi rebels implemented special operations against military and security leader over the last few days.

Two security men were injured Tuesday when the security director of the neighboring province of Al Jawf, Ali Zaid escaped an assassination attempt planned by Al Houthi supporters in this area.

"The security director survived from that attempt , but two of his bodyguards were injured," said Al Jawf governor, Hussein Hazeb.

The colonel Saleh Al Malwi and six of his soldiers were killed in an ambush made by Al Houthi rebels earlier this week in Harf Sufyan front.

The president Ali Abdullah Saleh attended Monday the funeral of Al Malwi who was buried in cemetery of martyrs in Sana'a.

Sa'ada people want rebellion to end

By Nasser Arrabyee/14/09/2009

A total of 100 leading people from Sa'ada province asked the government Monday to continue crushing the armed rebellion of Al Houthi and not accept any mediation.

"We, the sons of Sa'ada province, strictly refuse any mediation unless the Al Houthi rebels surrender themselves to justice," said a statement signed by the 100 tribal shieks and MPs and officials of the local authority.

They said Al Houthi is deceiving the mediators when his end becomes close.

"We noticed that when the army tightens the noose on the rebels and gets closer to the end, they call for a cease-fire only to take breath and get back to rebellion again as it happened in the previous times."

"If they did not surrender, the government must continue eradicating this malignant cancer which obstructed the development.

The MPs Faiz Al Awjari, Othman Mugali, and Abdul Kareeem Jadban were at the top of those who urged the government to end the rebellion by force.

On his part, the Prime Minister Ali Mojawar confirmed Monday that his government would continue crushing the rebellion in all areas of Sa'ada.

"The government is determined to continue taking its constitutional responsibility for protecting the citizens and deter all the outlaws," Said Mojawar.

"The last hideouts of the rebels are now collapsing and all Sa'ada areas will be cleaned up from them, and security and stability will be back to normal."

Meanwhile, fierce battles are continuing in three main fronts, Al Malahaid, Harf Sufyan, and the areas close to the Sa'ada city.

Experts say that Al Houthi rebels are scattering their efforts in many directions.

Local sources said, in Bakem, north of Sa'ada Al Houthi opened a new front with the tribal and religious leaders. They controlled the police station there, which was bombed by aircrafts hours after their seizure, sources said Monday.

The religious leader Hussein Haidar, whose brother Ibrahim was killed Sunday by Al Houthis, is leading now tribal groups against the rebels in Bakem, the sources said.

About seven soldiers were killed Sunday in an ambush made by Al Houthis in Muthalath Barat in the road of Harf Sufyan where army is advancing towards the city of Sa'ada, which is controlled by the local authority.

The Mig-29 fighters continued Monday to bomb the main strongholds of the rebels leadership in Dhahyan, Mutrah, and Naqa'a.

The tribal Sheikh Ali Naji was killed by Al Houthis in Dammaj, 10 km south east of Sa'ada city, where tribesmen are cooperating with the army.

More 22 rebels killed in heavy battles

By Nasser Arrabyee 13/09/2009

More than 22 Al Houthi rebels were killed and many others injured in heavy fighting north of Yemen, said military sources Sunday.

More than 15 rebels were killed the in heavy battles in Al Malahaid, west of Sa'ada , where the rebels tried to block the high way between Saudi Arabia and Yemen, the sources said.

Seven more rebels were killed in the ongoing battles to secure the strategic road of which leads to the last strongholds of the rebels, the sources said.

The army started early morning Sunday to implement a wide attack an attempt to completely control the hills and mountains overlooking the nearly 70 km road between Harf Sufyan and Sa'ada.

Eyewitnesses said that aircrafts continued bombing the posts and hideouts of the rebels in Harf Sufyan all the day, and efforts of removing the mines planted by the rebels on the road from Harf Sufyan to Sa'ada are in full swing.

"I saw the fighters bombard the remaining posts and fortifications of the rebels here in this area all the day," said journalist Mahmoud Taha from Al Jabal Al Aswad in Harf Sufyan.

"Also I saw the minesweepers destroying the mines in the town of Harf Sufyan and areas around it."

Al Houthi's office said in statements sent to media that the Mig-29 fighters continued bombardment around the clock in all areas of Sa'ada, Harf Sufyan and Al Malahaid.

Rebels arrested and surrendered in heavy battles

By Nasser Arrabyee 12/09/2009

The Yemen army destroyed several posts and hideouts of Al Houthi rebels inflicting heavy damages on them, military sources said Saturday.

According to a statement issued by the Supreme Security Committee which supervises the war, tens of the rebels were arrested and surrendered after their posts and hideouts were destroyed in Al Malahaid, Sa'ada, and Harf Sufyan, the three main fronts of the 32-day old fighting.

The troops face difficulties heading because of the mines planted by the rebels in the road between Harf Sufyan and Sa'ada where even the humanitarian aids can not be delivered.

The spokesman of Al Houthi rebels, Mohammed Abdul Salam, said, however, that 85 soldiers including high ranking officers were arrested with their weapons after they controlled their post in Al Shukrah in Harf Sufyan.

"Three brigades of the army launched an attack on us in Harf Sufyan, but they were surprised when we turned from defenders into attackers ," Abdul Salam said in statements sent by emails.

The military officials say the intensification of the rebels' attacks over the last two days was a sign that the war will end soon.

Eyewitnesses said late Saturday that aircrafts continued bombing the posts and hideouts of the rebels in Harf Sufyan all the day, and efforts of removing the mines planted by the rebels on the road from Harf Sufyan to Sa'ada are in full swing.

"I saw the fighters bombard the remaining posts and fortifications of the rebels here in this area all the day," said journalist Mahmoud Taha from Al Jabal Al Aswad in Harf Sufyan.

"Also I saw the minesweepers destroying the mines in the town of Harf Sufyan and areas around it."

Meanwhile, five Al Houthi supporters were arrested in the neighbouring province of Hajja while they were trying to smuggle money and fuels for the rebels in Sa'ada, said security sources Saturday.

The five men were described as the "dangerous" elements who raise money and collect equipments and weapons for the rebels.

Investigations are going on with them to know who was behind the support and, then, they will be brought to justice, the sources said.

The sources said the rebel leader Mohammed Abdul Majeed Al Hadi was killed on Saturday in Bakem area north of Saada in clashes with security.

On his part, Abdul Kareem Al Iryani, the political advisor of President Saleh, expected a big defeat for theAl Houthi rebels.

"The horns of the Satan which appeared from the mountains of Marran will be defeated soon by the constitutional legitimacy,” said Al Iryani Friday while attending a Ramadan night.

“They do not have an objective and they can not work politically in the framework of the constitution, so they will yield at the end of the day, and will find themselves even outside the six terms set by the State.”