Houthi Shiite Rebels 'Seize' Yemen's Presidential Palace

Reports from Yemen indicate that Houthi Shiite rebels have taken control of the presidential palace in Sana'a, the capital, an act described as a 'coup' by one of the country's military commanders. The clashes on Tuesday, January 30, began when the rebels attempted to establish a checkpoint around the palace, which eyewitnesses reported met resistance from the presidential guard. According to the Associated Press, Colonel Saleh al-Jamalani, the commander of the Yemeni presidential guard, stated that the rebels attacked the palace on Tuesday evening. He noted that the rebels were supported by infiltrators within the palace and proceeded to loot a weapons depot in the basement of the presidential building. The report adds that President Abdrabbuh Mansur Hadi was not present in the presidential palace at the time of the attack. Reuters reported that a Houthi leader denied the attack on the presidential palace for the purpose of seizing it, claiming their goal was to protect the location to prevent the palace's weapons from being stolen by security forces. The Associated Press reported that the president's residence was targeted by rebel fire for half an hour, but he was unharmed. The attack on the presidential palace occurred while both sides were negotiating the composition of an 85-member committee tasked with drafting Yemen's federal system laws according to the constitutional draft. Nadia al-Sakkaf, Yemen's information minister, tweeted that the president was targeted by rebels seeking to overthrow the regime. The rebels also besieged the home of Yemen's prime minister on Monday. In battles on Monday between the Houthis and the Yemeni army around the presidential palace, at least nine people were killed. The Houthi Shiites occupied Yemen's state radio and television the day before, and heavy armed presence was observed throughout Sana'a on Tuesday. Meanwhile, Agence France-Presse reported that the United Nations Security Council held a closed-door meeting moments ago to discuss the situation in Yemen. Jamal Benomar, the UN special envoy for Yemen, is currently reporting to the council. The report adds that the emergency Security Council meeting was convened at the request of Britain. Ban Ki-moon, the UN Secretary-General, has called for an immediate cessation of hostilities in the capital. Ban Ki-moon's press office released a statement quoting him as saying, 'The Secretary-General is deeply concerned about the worsening situation in Yemen.' Yemen has recently witnessed renewed clashes between government forces and the Houthis, who are supported by the Islamic Republic of Iran. This group seized large parts of Yemen's capital last September, but the presidential palace in the south of the city remained safe from their assault. Tensions escalated in recent days after the Houthis kidnapped Ahmed Awad bin Mubarak, the head of the Yemeni presidential office, on Saturday.