Written By: Nasser Arrabyee
Yemen Observer, Dec 5, 2009 - 11:54:37 AM

A total of 10 al-Houthi rebels including two leaders surrendered themselves to the Yemeni army and showed readiness to fight against the rebels, military and tribal sources said Saturday.

The surrender took place on Friday in Harf Sufyan, the most important frontline in the south of Sa'adah province.  

The sources identified the 10 rebels who surrendered through the local tribal sheikh Hamed Mused Kazma, as Fares Nasser al-Shahwani, Jamil Ali al-Shahwani, Saleh Nasser al-Shahwani, Radman Othman, Ahmed Hadi al-Shahwani, Bakil Yahya al-Shahwani, Mujahed Nasser, Muhsen Abdullah, Ahmed Naji al-Shahwani, and Ali Muhsen al-Shahwani.

Fares Nasser al-Shahwani, and Jamil Ali al-Shahwani were field leaders in Harf Sufyan frontline, the sources said.

The tribal sources said those who surrendered themselves expressed their repentance and refusal of the rebellion, and also expressed their readiness to fight against the rebels.

Earlier, the army and the local authority in Sa'adah called upon the misled fighters of al-Houthi to surrender and return to their houses and families and that the government will protect them from any danger.

Meanwhile, military sources said that 6 field leaders of al-Houthi rebels were also killed over the last two days in fierce battles in Harf Sufyan where the army is betting that the war will be over when Harf Sufyan is under its control.

The dead field leaders were identified as Musfer al-Namer (specialized in communication), Zakaria Hassan al-Houthi, Yahya Mohammed (Abu Salem), Ali Dhaif Allah al-Khawlani,Abdullah Khater, and Yahya Hussein al-Houthi. 

The sources also said that three field leaders of the rebels were referred Saturday to the prosecution for charges of participating in the armed rebellion. 

On their part, al-Houthi rebels, said  in a statement sent through emails, that Saudi air strikes and artillery bombardment continued Friday and Saturday on the areas of al-Husama, Jabal Al Dukhan, and Jabal al-Dood. They also said that Saudi forces are preparing for a ground attack on al-Malahaid from the direction of al-Rumaih Mountain. The rebels said they destroyed three Saudi tanks on Friday.

Yemeni army seizes control of several areas overlooking Syfyan

Written By: Abdul-Aziz Oudah
Yemen Observer, Dec 5, 2009 - 11:17:28 AM

Local sources have informed 26September.net that government security forces are now in control of several of the high plains overlooking the Sufyan-Jawf route, as well as the eastern high plains of Manasa and the high plains of al-Gullah on the northeast line of Barat.
 
The government secured control of these areas after troops carried out an extensive attack against insurgent elements, destroying their hideouts and roadblocks.  The government troops inflicted heavy losses in lives and materials on the insurgents and many of the rebels were seen fleeing the region.
 
Sources also disclosed that Yahia Hussein Hoi, who was considered to be the leader of the rebel groups, was killed during the past two days.  The sources also reported that many other rebels were killed in clashes with the army in Wadi Mathab.
 
In addition, the army, along with other security forces, also destroyed many of the rebels’ refuges and foiled a number of attempted attacks on military fortifications.  In the process, the government forces destroyed many of the rebels’ vehicles and prevented them from planting mines and other explosives.
 
Government forces also destroyed a number of other rebel vehicles in the region between Sabhla and Moharaq.
 
Sources from 26September.net also reported that at the Shi’b in Almlahiz, troops inflicted a devastating blow to one of the rebel strongholds.  Afterwards, rebels were seen evacuating their dead and wounded from the hideout.
 
There have also been reports that the rebels’ explosives expert, Musfir al-Namir, was killed in Jabal al-Damigh, when he was shot by army personnel.
 
Four other rebels were killed and three others injured in a car crash as they were fleeing one of the battle zones. The insurgents also experienced  a painful blow at the hands of armed forces in al-Malahez when four of the their leaders were killed. Three of the four leaders were identified as Zakria Hassan al-Houthi, Yahia Mohammed Ali (Ahi was nicknamed “Abu Salem” and was the rebel leader in the Bani al-Fam area), and Ali Daifalla al-Kholani, who was also known as Abdullah Khatir.
 
In the Bani Saiah area security forces destroyed a rebel vehicle, killing all those inside.
 
Several other insurgents were killed in Shada and the Saqeen Triangle, including the rebels Sadam Hassan Saleh Musri’ and Ahsan Aqaba.
 
A local source also stated that two people were killed by mines that were planted by Houthi elements in a road leading to a village in Wadi Jubara.
 
The source pointed out that this incidence should be added to the Houthis’ criminal record against the innocent people of the Sa’adah Governorate.
 
A security source also reported that a car carrying 33 tanks of gas to the Houthis was captured along with three rebels.
 
Meanwhile, King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz al-Saud of Saudi Arabia arrived on Wednesday to the Jizan area near the Saudi-Yemeni border in order to inspect the area which is witnessing extensive military operations in response to Houthi attempts to infiltrate the country.
 
The Houthis have confirmed that Saudi air strikes are on-going in Jabal al-Dukhan, Jabal al-Mudod, Jabal al-Rumaih, the Malahez and Shada districts, and the  neighboring villages along the border. The rebels added that the Saudi army carried out artillery attacks on Tuesday and have executed over 43 air strikes in those areas.  In a statement issued by the rebels, they said they would continue to oppose the Saudis’ military advances.  The Houthis added that Saudi air forces attacked Saqeen city on Wednesday afternoon, and that Saudi aircraft continued to patrol the province of Sa’adah throughout the day.