SANAA: Yemen security forces said Tuesday that they had cleared new rebels strongholds while inflicting losses on the rebels in the process.
They (the forces) successfully foiled infiltration attempts by rebels in positions of Al-Aigab, Tabit Al-Masreen, Shea’r and many other places, a security source said on Tuesday.
The National Defense Council meeting, chaired by President Ali Abdullah Saleh, discussed a number of issues regarding the security situation in the northwest region but didn’t touch upon the rebel’s acceptance to the government’s six conditions for truce.
Instead, it lauded the ongoing security operations in Sa’ada as well as the forces success in tracking down on Al-Qaeda elements.
Maj. Gen. Yahya Mohammed Abdullah Saleh, Central Security commander, warned that war would erupt if there is no agreement between the two parties.
“We stress Houthis must not be given the chance to regroup and not to be a safe haven for criminals and muggers,” he said in press conference.
With regard to the six conditions, Gen. Yahya said that they are not strong and don’t represent the state and give the rebels the chance to regroup and wage a new war, adding that the leader of the rebels should lay down his arms and be brought to trial.
The minister of councils of Shoura and Parliament Affairs Ahmed Al-Kahlani said that the number of internally displaced persons (IDPs) could reach 200,000.
On Monday, Yahya Al-Houthi, the brother of the Houthi rebels’ leader, deplored the decision by a Yemeni court to sentence him to 15 years in prison in absentia on charges of forming a gang and supporting the insurgents.
