What we know so far about the situation in Yemen
Former Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh said on Saturday he was ready for a “new page” in relations with the coalition fighting in Yemen. The call came as his supporters managed to control the majority of Sanaa.
The clashes extend to other neighborhoods in the direction of Saleh’s house (Reuters)
So far, here are the recent developments:
Sunday:
– Al-Houthi militias stormed the house of Mohammed Abdullah al-Qusi, the interior minister of the unrecognized coup government, a leader of the General People’s Congress party in Mina al-Asbahi, south of the capital, Sana’a, after they clashed with the house guards, killing three of them and detaining the rest.
– Yemeni Vice President Ali Mohsen al-Ahmar said that what happened in Sanaa is the result of the oppression by the Houthi militias and renewed his call to the masses to continue their struggle and docking with legitimacy until the defeat of the Iranian-backed Houthi militias
– The Popular Congress forces have strengthened their presence in Sana’a, especially in the vicinity of many vital facilities, ministries and government buildings. They tightened control over the northern entrance of the capital in the Azraq region, as well as at strategic positions south of the capital, and also reinforced their presence in the Ministry of the Interior, Defense, Najda Aid Camp and the International Airport.
– Yemeni media outlets said that the clashes continued until dawn on Sunday amid explosions, and that the capital was completely paralyzed, with schools and universities closed and the streets cleared of bystanders and vehicles.
– A video online allegedly showed dozens of Houthi militiamen being captured in Sanaa by Republican Guards’ forces affiliated with former President Ali Abdullah Saleh.
– The command of the General People’s Congress in support of legitimacy in Yemen said it supports the “popular uprising against Houthi militias and called on everyone to unite to deter the Iranian project in the country.”
– The Arab coalition in support of legitimacy in Yemen launched five airstrikes on Houthi posts in heights in South Sanaa, including Al-Rayan hills that overlook the neighborhood of Hadda.
– UAE National Emergency Crisis and Disaster Management Authority, NCEMA, has denied claims made by Houthi militias in Yemen of a missile launch towards the country’s airspace.
Saturday:
-Three mediations between Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh and the Houthis have failed since yesterday.
-UAE said that Qatar has attempted to mediate in order to save Houthis.
-On Saturday, Saleh called on the Arab coalition to halt its operations, promising to open a “new page” with them after two years of fighting, especially after being an ally to the Houthi rebels.
– Saleh called upon the soldiers and officers who were excluded to return to their camps, in a clear message for escalation and confronting the Houthis.
– In a televised speech broadcast by Al-Masirah channel, Al-Houthi described the events in Sanaa as a coup and a betrayal.
– Every two or three hours, confrontations against Houthi militia resume in the neighborhoods controlled by Saleh and his followers in the political district and Al Jazaer-Algeria neighborhood.
– The clashes extend to other neighborhoods in the direction of Saleh’s house west of the Kamim market.
– Four hours ago, Saleh’s followers took control of a Houthi headquarter in the political district near Ibn Majid school.
– Since 1 am on Saturday, clashes between the followers of Saleh and al-Houthi have spread to important neighborhoods and they are still ongoing.
– The Houthis stationed four tanks in the streets to intimidate the people in Sanaa, and one of the tanks was headed to the political district but could not enter.
– The general situation in Sanaa is tragic amid fears of a war.
– The majority of the rescue guard and the military police rejected the orders of the Houthi leaders.
– Tribes began to move to bolster the position of Saleh and took control of the South Sanaa gate.
– The slogan of the marches is: ‘No more Houthis after today.’
– A spokesman for al-Houthi militias said that killing former president Ali Abdullah Saleh is now justified
– Three Houthi leaders have been killed since yesterday, in addition to dozens of deaths of individuals. These Houthi leaders are Hamza Yahya al-Mukhtar, Ali Khraim and Abdullah bin Salem Sharif.
– Two Houthi leaders, Mutahar al-Kahlani and Ibrahim al-Wajih, were arrested during the liberation of two military institutions.
– Saleh’s supporters control the headquarters of the presidency, military sites and important Arab embassies.
– Meanwhile, the Arab coalition forces are calling on Yemenis to circumvent the ‘intifada’.
– Saleh’s forces, with a help from tribes, control ministries of Interior , defense and the north entrance of Sanaa.
Source:english.alarabiya.net