Reuters reports that at least two people have been killed in clashes between the Houthis and supporters of Ali Abdullah Saleh in Sana'a, the capital of Yemen. The Houthi-affiliated news agency confirmed the deadly confrontation 'between security forces and armed elements.' According to Reuters, the armed conflict occurred on the 4th of Shahrivar (August 26), after former members of the presidential guard opened fire on Houthi armed forces attempting to set up a checkpoint near the house of Saleh's son. Supporters of Saleh, the former president of Yemen, have been involved in the battle and uprising against Abdrabbuh Mansur Hadi, the UN-recognized president of Yemen. The shooting and clashes lasted several hours, leading to the blockage of the main road in the 'Hodeidah' area, southwest of Sana'a. The Houthi-controlled news agency reported that two Houthis were killed. The agency stated that the clash occurred between security forces and 'armed elements' who had taken refuge inside a building. According to this agency, the clashes eventually ended with the intervention of the capital's security forces. Other media outlets have reported a higher number of casualties on both sides, but this has not been confirmed at present. The alliance between Saleh's supporters and the Houthis has appeared fragile and unstable at times. Each side has viewed the other's goals with skepticism in various instances. It is said that there are not many similarities between the two groups in terms of ideological roots and beliefs. Supporters of the former president of Yemen held a demonstration in Sana'a on Thursday, which some reports described as a 'show of strength' against the Houthis. This demonstration occurred just a day after the Houthis strongly criticized the characterization of their group as a 'militia' by Saleh. Saleh's supporters and the Houthis have jointly fought against Hadi's pro-government forces in northern Yemen. Hadi's government is based in southern Yemen and is supported by a coalition led by Riyadh. The Saudi-led coalition has been involved in Yemen's battles since 2015, and since then, at least 10,000 people have been killed in the fighting. In one of the latest airstrikes by the coalition, between 12 to 14 people, including several children, lost their lives. Meanwhile, Yemen is on the brink of one of the worst cholera outbreaks in recent years. The World Health Organization announced in late August that 5,000 cholera cases are recorded daily in the country.
At Least Two Killed in Clashes Between Houthis and Supporters of Saleh in Yemen's Capital
Clashes in Sana'a between Houthis and supporters of former Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh resulted in at least two deaths. The conflict highlights the fragile alliance between the two groups, who have previously fought together against the UN-recognized government of Abdrabbuh Mansur Hadi. This situation is significant as it reflects ongoing instability in Yemen amidst a humanitarian crisis.
👥 Key Players
📰 What Happened
Clashes erupted in Sana'a between Houthis and supporters of former President Saleh, resulting in at least two deaths. The confrontation highlights the fragile alliance between the two groups amidst ongoing conflict against the UN-recognized government.
- The clashes were triggered by former members of Saleh's presidential guard opening fire on Houthi forces.
- The conflict has led to significant casualties and reflects the instability within the alliance between Saleh's supporters and the Houthis.
💡 Why It Matters
📚 Background
Yemen has been embroiled in a civil war since 2015, with various factions vying for control, leading to a severe humanitarian crisis.
🏷️ Entities Mentioned
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Translation confidence: 85%