Situation in Sa’ada worsens

By Muhammed Bin Sallam

Yemen Times

SANA’A, Sept. 2, 2009 —

Tribal sources said that war between the government army and the Houthis has expanded to include all the districts of Sa’ada, in addition to Harf Sufian, and Amran district adjacent to Sa’ada.

“Government forces reinforced their fighting mechanisms to a great extent,” said the sources. “They mobilized hundreds of tanks, armored vehicles and Catoosa rocket launchers. In addition, they intensified the air raids launched by fighter planes and bombardiers against the Houthis’ sites.”

The sources said “The two sides talk about victories they have gained. The Houthis said that they controlled many military sites last Monday, including a Taiban area in Al-Malahidh district and Al-Maqash site located south of Sa’ada city and seized weapons and ammunition in the sites.”

A military source within the leadership of the northwest area mocked the allegations of the Houthis controlling a Taiban military site.

He said that the Houthis circulated this news to hide the defeat that they sustained and raise the spirits of their supporters. He said that the air force had destroyed many Houthi strongholds and fortresses.

The Ministry of Defense’s website reported that the air force launched strikes against the Houthis in the areas of Saqain, Yasnam, Soudan, Al-Anad and Marran and Sa’ada.

The source said that military has developed new tactics against the Houthis, who sustained huge loss in Souq Al-Lail, Al-Amara, Al Abyan, Azzan, Mahdha, Sunbul and Al-Ghalit areas.

He pointed out that military destroyed a number of transportation means and weapons belonging to the Houthis, and cleared a number of places where the Houthis were stationed. He added that the army raided gatherings of Houthis in areas of Al-Majda’a, Al-Dhahra, Shada, Al-Rawn and Al-Matalla hill.



Media war

For the first time since the conflict began in 2004, the Ministry of Defense began issuing public statements about conflict, which is being called the Sixth War. The Houthis have broadcast video on a number of Iranian and Iraqi channels depicting what they say are captured goods, weapons and military camps.

Last week, the office of the Houthis’ leader issued a video, which was broadcast by the Iranian Alalam channel about a number of military sites in Saqain, Al-Malahidh, Al-Hasama and Al-Mahather. In the video, Houthis wandered inside military camps after the army withdrew. The video also shows artillery, which the Houthis said they have seized. A number of Houthis were seen on tanks and armored vehicles chanting slogans against the US and Israel.

A military source denied allegations that the Houthis had taken control of Military Division 105 and seized its ammunition. He said they were fabrications for the media.

The state-run Saba News Agency said that military units continue chasing the Houthis in Mahdha area, causing a huge loss. The army had already cleared farms in Al-Husaini, Al-Kubri and Al-Anqara of Houthis entrenched in the area, according to the military source.

He confirmed that the army plans to continue attacks on Houthis in Al-Dhaher and Al-Tabab areas near Al-Mashabih area.

The Houthis said last Monday that “all the military sites belonging to Infantry Division 105 located in Asfal Marran area and Al-Malahidh surrendered to the Houthis.”

“The military division surrendered after a tightened siege and military and logistic supplies were cut by the division’s leadership,” said the Houthis. “After the military division surrendered, its members were allowed to withdraw, carrying with them their personal arms only, without ammunition. They left behind seven tanks, heavy artillery and machine guns, ammunition and supplies which they have been collecting since the fifth war ended.”

The statement said that the Houthis controlled Al-Madraj military site in Harf Sufian district and seized its supplies and equipment including a tank. It said that “the number of tanks seized by the Houthis is eight.”

The Yemeni Ministry of Foreign Affairs summoned the Iranian and Iraqi ambassadors to Sana’a and gave them letters of official condemnation for their countries’ official and media stands toward the war in Sa’ada. Yemen accuses Iran and Iraq of offending Yemen through their support of the Houthis in Sa’ada.



Rejected truce

Mohammmed Abdul Salam, official spokesman for the Houthis, said that Houthis’ leader, Abdul Malek Al-Houthi, announced early this week an initiative to stop the war. He said that the initiative aims to “spare blood, protect the country against instability and make use of its economic resources.”

Abdul Salam added in a statement to Al-Jazeera channel that “the initiative includes a cease-fire by the Houthis in all fronts of war, unblocking roads for delivery of humanitarian aid for displaced people and citizens of Sa’ada and Amran, end entrenchment and restore situation as it was in the past.”

He said the Houthis aimed to apply the initiative immediately after it was announced.

“Success of the initiative will be measured through the government’s response on behalf of the country’s stability,” added Abdul Salam. He said that the local mediation committee knew about it, and denied any foreign pressure or intervention.

The government rejected the initiative and demanded that the Houthis abide by the six conditions announced by the government, and circulated by media last week.

Mohammed Al-Dhaheri, professor of political science at Sana’a University, called upon the government to make use of this initiative and accept it, adding that the war cannot be resolved militarily. He said that the initiative came at an appropriate time because thousands of people have been displaced and the situation in the battlefield has reached an impasse.



Humanitarian situation

Human Rights Watch called on the two warring parties in Sa’ada early this month to facilitate access for humanitarian aid, journalists and human rights activists in areas of conflict.

“Anecdotal information suggests that the humanitarian situation in Sa’ada is worsening,” said HRW. “Outbreaks of many epidemic diseases are likely scenario as most of the public health programs and facilities are non-functional.”

The organization added that there are “approximately 150,000 internally displaced persons and tens of thousands of people indirectly affected by the conflict.”

The US Agency for International Development or USAID announced its plan to offer $2.5 million in aid, including 3440 tons of wheat and 460 tons of beans for IDPs. The first shipment of wheat is expected to arrive soon, according to a statement issued by the US Embassy in Sana’a.

“While the United States recognizes the responsibility of the government of Yemen to defend its national territory against armed rebellion, this responsibility must be exercised in a manner that minimizes risk to the non-combatant civilian population,” said the statement.

“The United States calls on both parties to the conflict to ensure the security of international relief workers in the region, and the safe passage of emergency relief supplies to camps housing internally displaced persons.”

Humanitarian organizations said that thousands of displaced people suffer shortages of food and basic needs in IDP camps. They said that IDPs in Al-Mazaraq camp in Haradh near the Saudi border also suffer from overpopulation as the war continued to drive people from their homes.

IDPs said that Al-Mazraq camp is short of food, and they have only bread. In addition, they lack utensils for cooking, which prompts them eat one meal a day. They also said he camp is short of bathrooms and women can use the bathrooms once every 24 hours, at night. And. situation for displaced people continues to worsen due to rain.