Situation in Yemen increasingly dire as violence escalates

Sabri Mujahid
For Al-Shorfa.com
2009-10-03

Yemeni demonstrators demanding the release of detainees in southern Yemen. (AFP/Getty Images)

SANAA — Violence in Yemen is rapidly worsening. Government sources indicate that more than 70 Houthi rebels have been killed since Sept. 26 as a result of the ongoing bombing campaigns launched by the Yemeni air force. Three of Yemen's most wanted rebels were among them.

A Ministry of Defence official stated that, "Terrorist Jarallah Mohmamed Esmail and 11 of his aides have been killed, and terrorist Sulaiman Ahmed Al-Ayani and seven of his aides were killed." A senior Houthi leader, Hassan Thaen, and 11 of his aides were also killed 15 kilometres from the northern city of Saada, which has witnessed the worst of the violence.

At least 30 rebels were killed after attempting to enter Al-Shaqra, a strategic town on the outskirts of Saada. Among the 30 people killed, two of them, Amar Hezam Thaiban and Salem Hassan Salem, were prominent Houthi leaders.

Abdul-Malik Al-Houthi, leader of the rebel group, said that despite the heavy losses, his group will continue to "defend itself" for as long as the government attacks continue. He claimed the government is waging "a cultural war" against the Houthis, and asserted they have long suffered from discrimination.

The Houthis are a Shiite minority in predominantly-Sunni Yemen, but they have long been a thorn in the side of the central government. The group carried out its first rebellion against the current government of President Abdullah Saleh in 2004. While the last five years have witnessed sporadic fighting, security observers say that the latest violent events are the worst in the history of the conflict.

Unfortunately, dozens, if not hundreds, of civilians also have been killed or wounded during fighting that has continued for nearly two months.

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