The sixth Sa’ada war began on Tuesday as army personnel carried out offenses and airstrikes against Houthi loyalists in many districts of the war-torn province.
Houthis recorded on Tuesday 30 airstrikes by fighter jets and helicopters against villages in various districts, most notably in Malahidh and nearby areas.
Heavy mortars and Katyusha missiles were also fired at Dhahian town, eight kilometers north of Sa’ada city. Dhahian is the second biggest town in the province, with tens of thousands of people, most of who are Houthi supporters.
Army forces, backed by hundreds of tribesmen from Hashid Tribe, are clashing with Houthis in several areas including Al Khamis, Al-Anad, Al-Khafji, Al-Saifi, Razih, Al-Hasafa, Shada, Khawlan Bani Amer, Bani Maadh, Al-Mahadhir, Saiqain, Matra and Majaz.
The sixth war between government forces and Houthis broke out just hours after the Supreme Security Committee, chaired by President Ali Abdullah Saleh, held a meeting warning Houthis against breaching a truce reached last year. Until now, there have been no neutral or reliable reports of casualties on either side.
Houthis field leader Abdulmalik Al-Houthi denounced the latest military operations, describing them as “criminal acts.” He accused the government authorities of breaching the truce and targeting innocent children and women in their homes.
In a statement published on his Web site, Al-Houthi said, “The army airstrikes hurt dozens of civilians including a 7-year-old girl and a 4-year-old child. The little girl may die of her critical injury.”
The field leader accused the government of waging a new war against Sa’ada residents.
“We care about peace and stability more than any other party,” he said. “Saada residents pay the price of what happens at the various levels…they are the first people to respond to any calls for reconciliation and truce.”
Short-term truce
Houthis and mediation committees selected by the government reached a short-term truce earlier this week, leading to a ceasefire. But during the truce, Houthis took over new mountaintop positions once used by the army.
Terms of the truce stipulated that both sides resume dialogue after Ramadan. They, however, traded accusations over breaching the truce just hours after the truce was signed. Houthis accused military leaders of violating the truce as they continue firing at Houthi positions with various types of heavy and light weapons.
Houthis Spokesman Sheikh Saleh Habra told the Yemen Times by phone Wednesday morning that “Clashes between Houthi followers and government troops are going fierce in many areas, particularly Malahidh.”
“Our followers took control of Malahidh from all directions, in addition to positions of Al-Kassar and Safia, which have been used by the army until Yesterday,” Habra added.
“The army launched airstrikes against some Sa’ada areas targeting civilians. We recorded 30 raids in which heavy grenades were used, intimidating women and children.”
“Our supporters resisted the army fighter jets using anti-crafts and forcing these fighters to go higher to avoid being hurt,” he maintained. “Over the past few days, we took control of more than 12 military positions and found large amounts of arms, more than two million bullets of different sizes, and many Katyusha missiles.”
The Yemen Times attempted to contact government officials to respond to what Habra said, but all of them declined to speak about the issue and promised to appoint a military spokesman as soon as possible.
The mediation committee, comprised of Sheikh Faris Manaa, Brig. Abdulaziz Al-Dhahab and Houthi representatives, reached an agreement on Saturday stipulating three main terms, one of which is that gunfire must be ceased in all fronts and the truce shall be placed into effect as of Sunday morning.
However, influential military leaders breached the agreement, according to Houthis.
According to tribal sources, these military leaders ordered troops to carry out offensives and fire missiles against Houthi villages in an attempt to foil mediation efforts led by Al-Dhahab, who was appointed by Saleh for this purpose.
The second term stipulated that Houthis must release war prisoners (officers and soldiers), held during the most recent fighting in the Shada and Saqain areas. Houthis said they are holding hundreds of government soldiers.
In return, the government must release detained Houthis.
The third term states that all the checkpoints, set up by the army and Houthis on roads, must be removed. The term also stipulates that Houthi fighters must evacuate government facilities they are controlling in the Ghamr and Saqain districts.
Brig. Al-Dhahab served once as leader of Arooba Brigades and has close relationhip with President Saleh.
Saleh once appointed him to lead mediation efforts between the army and Houthis, but no tangible results were reached.
Ottawa International Poets and Writers for human Rights (OIPWHR)
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