44 Houthi Fighters, Dozens of Yemeni Soldiers Killed, 68 Houthis Arrested, Including 26 Somalis

68 Houthi Fighters Arrested, Including 26 Somalis

Yemen Times,

Written By: Nasser Arrabyee

Date: Nov 20, 2009 - 9:30:46 PM

YEMEN -

A total of 68 al-Houthi rebels were arrested including 26 Somalis in different places in Sa'adah, defense ministry said Friday.

A group of six of them were arrested in al-Malahaid far west of Sa'adah and the 36 other were arrested in the areas around Sa'adah city, the ministry said in an official statement sent to media.

The terrorists Fayed Taleb Ghaithan, Abdullah Mohammed al-Khayami were among those arrested, the statement said.

The 26 Somalis, arrested while fighting with al-Houthi rebels against the government troops, were sent to the central prison in the capital Sana'a, where they will be referred to the prosecution on charges of participating in an armed gang for fighting with al-Houthi rebels.

Dozens of both sides were killed and injured when the army repelled an attack by al-Houthi rebels a government building at the outskirt of Sa'adah city known as al-Camp and called by al-Houthis the republican palace.

Despite the fact that Sa'adah city is surrounded by military camps from all directions since the beginning of this war last August, al-Houthi rebels have been trying to attack and control the city.

"The repeated failed attacks on Sa'adah is suicide acts from defeated elements led by the pampered child Abdul Malik al-Houthi who does not know the consequences of what's he doing," said the official statement.

The army continues tightening the noose on the rebels by imposing a blockade on the remaining strongholds from all directions. Thursday and Friday, leaflets calling the misled rebels to surrender, were distributed all over Sa'adah by helicopters.

"Return to your homes, your families, and safety is guaranteed for you, return to your children, who will raise and take care of your children if you do not return to them?," said some of the leaflets.

In al-Malahaid frontline where the rebels fight the two armies of Saudi Arabia and Yemen, eyewitnesses said they saw al-Houthi rebels transporting their dead bodies and injured in five cars on Thursday.

Meanwhile, the Saudi air strikes, artillery, and bombardments on the rebels' positions continued Thursday and Friday.

The Saudi website, Jazan news, said that 44 al-Houthi rebels were killed in combing operations by the Saudi army in the areas around the al-Dukhan mountain which overlooks the lands of both countries. The website also said that 3 Saudi soldiers were killed and 11 others injured two of them seriously, in those operations.

Jazan martyrs to be promoted posthumously

Muhammad Humaidan

Arab News, November 22, 2009

JEDDAH:

Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah has instructed the authorities to posthumously promote soldiers who died in recent battles with Yemeni infiltrators and to give their families the maximum available welfare benefits.

Military sources told Arab News that the King’s gesture would boost the morale of Saudi forces, which have been fighting to protect the Kingdom’s southern border with Yemen.

King Abdullah also instructed that the son of a slain soldier be given his father’s job, that his family be given SR1 million and that they are provided with suitable housing costing SR500,000.

The father and mother of the dead soldier will also receive a monthly stipend of SR3,000. Arrangements will also be made to pay off the man’s debts of up to SR500,000.

King Abdullah has also instructed the payment of SR100,000 to every injured soldier. Those with serious injuries would be promoted to the next rank and given the highest salary of that grade. The injured will also receive honorary medals.

Makkah Gov. Prince Khaled Al-Faisal on Saturday visited the family of Ahmed Saeed Al-Amry in Makkah’s Aziziya district. Al-Amry was killed during a battle with infiltrators. The governor also conveyed the condolences of King Abdullah and Crown Prince Sultan to the bereaved family. Prince Khaled said the Saudi leadership values the huge role played by the slain officers in defending the Kingdom’s borders.

Meanwhile, Saudi authorities have adopted several foolproof measures to prevent infiltrators from entering the Kingdom’s southern border with Yemen.

Sources also told Arab News that the standoff with Yemeni intruders would not last long. The sources said Saudi Armed forces are continuing their operation in valleys, farms and deserted houses to arrest infiltrators who try to sneak into the Kingdom’s border to take weapons, which have been stored in hideouts.

“The weapons include mortars, RPGs, light weapons and bombs which the infiltrators use to attack Saudi forces,” one source said.

Saudi forces continued their operations in the night, using F-15, Apachi and Tornado fighter jets in addition to Bradley armored fighting vehicles to track down the infiltrators.

The sources described the Yemeni infiltrators as supporters of the Al-Qaeda network, adding that the Saudi forces would continue their pounding of the border area including Jabal Al-Dukhan and Jabal Al-Dood to flush them out.

Fair Use Notice

This site contains copyrighted material the use of which has not always been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. We are making such material available in our efforts to advance understanding of environmental, political, human rights, economic, democracy, scientific, and social justice issues, etc. We believe this constitutes a 'fair use' of any such copyrighted material as provided for in section 107 of the US Copyright Law. In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, the material on this site is distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information for research and educational purposes. For more information go to: http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.shtml. If you wish to use copyrighted material from this site for purposes of your own that go beyond 'fair use', you must obtain permission from the copyright owner.