DTN News: Yemeni Army In Fresh Attack On Houthis Rebels

DTN News: Yemeni Army In Fresh Attack On Houthis Rebels

*Source: DTN News / Int'l Media

(NSI News Source Info) SANAA, Yemen - August 12, 2009: Yemen's army has launched aerial, artillery and missile strikes on the heights of Matra and Dhahian, two strongholds of Houthi rebels in Sa'ada province.

Since last July, tensions have been rising between Houthis and the army in Sa'ada province despite a declaration by the Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh claiming that the conflict was over.

Sa'ada, in northwestern Yemen, is located on the border with Saudi Arabia. The country's Supreme Security Committee said in a statement that the assault was "the last option after the rebels rejected to respond to the call of peace made by the government."

The committee said the government ordered the army to launch the attack "to protect the citizens in line with its constitutional responsibility." Meanwhile, the media office of rebel leader Abdul-Malik al-Houthi said in a statement that fighter jets bombarded the Matra town, which locates the group's headquarters.

Yemeni army soldiers stand on missile launchers during a military parade in Sanaa May 21, 2009. The parade was held to mark the 19th anniversary of the country's Unity Day.

"This is the beginning of the sixth aggression (war) against us," DPA cited the statement as saying. Since 2004, thousands of people have died in clashes between government forces and Houthis, who reject the current administration and want a restoration of the Zaidi clerical regime overthrown in a 1962 military coup.

Houthis belong to the Zaidi sect, which is an offshoot of Shi'ism.