Yemeni troops completed major operations in an offensive to end the rebellion of a rebel preacher in northern mountains, but were still trying to catch him as sporadic resistance continued.
| Surrounded him Soddy-style, did they? |
Army soldiers were facing "small pockets of resistance" in a number of villages in the rugged Marran mountains which were overrun by regular military forces since the onslaught started four days ago, military sources said. The offensive has left a total of at least 83 dead, including 41 soldiers and 42 militants, and about 95 wounded as the military battled through Hussein Badruddin Al-Houthi's stronghold, military and medics said. On Friday, army units combed the mountainous region in search of the rebel preacher and his followers in house-to-house search operations, they said. Skirmishes could also be heard in the northeastern suburbs of the main northern town of Saada, where government forces accused Houthi rebels of ambushing police and army troops. In one incident, four Houthi followers were killed and four others detained as they attacked police patrols, security sources said.
| "Yarrr! Take that, coppers!... Owwww! I quit!" |
On Friday, Army Chief of Staff Brig. Gen. Mohammad Al-Qassimi vowed that the army forces would end the rebellion within 12 hours and catch the outlawed preacher. Qassimi also said government forces were distributing food and medical supplies to residents of the villages which had been under virtual siege since the preacher launched his rebellion on June 18. |