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| Arabia |
| Clash of the tribes, the Houthis marched on Amran |
| 2014-01-10 |
| [Yemen Post] Following weeks of intense fighting in between the Houthis, a Shiite group based in the northern province of Sa'ada and the Salafis, Sunni radical turbans who advocate a return to a more austere practice of Islam, the conflict has moved way beyond its point of origin, Dammaj. At the end of last October, state officials confirmed that following months of escalating tensions and threats of retaliations, Houthi ...a Zaidi Shia insurgent group operating in Yemen. They have also been referred to as the Believing Youth. Hussein Badreddin al-Houthi is said to be the spiritual leader of the group and most of the military leaders are his relatives. The Yemeni government has accused the Houthis of having ties to the Iranian government, which wouldn't suprise most of us. The group has managed to gain control over all of Saada Governorate and parts of Amran, Al Jawf and Hajjah Governorates. Its slogan is "God is Great, Death to America", Death to Israel, a curse on the Jews" ... turbans had moved against Salafi turbans in Dammaj, where the group settled its main regional religious centre, on account Dar al-Hadith were being used as a training camp for wannabe jihadists. While Salafis have always denied such allegations, calling on the government to intervene, the Houthis paid no heed to their objections and instead decided to move to the offensive. Within weeks the whole of Sa'ada fell victim to the sectarian spat, literally held hostage in between the two religious factions. Incensed Houthi rustics have managed to score a series of victory against the Salafis, to such an extent that Sheikh Sadiq al-Ahmar, the powerful leader of the Hashid confederation of tribes and prominent figure of al-Islah party (Yemen most prominent Sunni faction) had to step in and involve his men. With fronts spread across the northern provinces of Sa'ada and al-Jawf, the Houthis have crossed earlier this week onto al-Ahmar's tribal territory in the province of Amran. Not only does Amran lies directly north of the capital, Sana'a, it is a main bastion for the Hashid. As fighting rages on this Wednesday, tribal sources confirmed that dozens of Hashid rustics had been killed since Monday and many more maimed. Ansar Allah, the Houthis' political arm posted a statement on its website stressing that its turbans had successfully managed to seize control over several Salafis' strongholds in Amran, thus claiming victory over al-Ahmar. Hashem al-Ahmar, younger brother to Sheikh Sadiq al-Ahmar is said to have barely escaped an ambush on Wednesday. Four of his relatives were allegedly killed. |
| Posted by:Fred |