Date: Fri, 26 Sep 2014 22:19:14 +0200
Sanaa falls to rebels
In dramatic events Sunday, Sanaa fell under control of Shia Houthi, who have
won their demands but are now refusing to leave the capital, writes Nasser
Arrabyee
Friday,26 September, 2014
Yemen's capital Sanaa is now under the complete control of Shia Houthi
rebels. Fierce battles killed and injured some 500 people before the fall of
Sanaa.
The fragile army and security apparatus failed to respond when Houthi
fighters clashed with soldiers and tribal loyalists of General Ali Muhsen,
leader of the military wing of the Yemeni Muslim Brotherhood. Muhsen has
been the number-one enemy of Houthis since 2004, when he led the first war
against the Houthi movement in Saada, northern Yemen.
The war was not everywhere in Sanaa. It was only in three specific locations
in one geographic area north of the capital: the base of the First Armoured
Division, and nearby, the campus of Al-Eman University, and the state-run
TV, located on a hill near Zandani University and General Muhsen's base.
Al-Eman University is a religious institute led and owned by Abdul Majid
Zandani. Zamdani is one of the spiritual leaders of the Yemeni Muslim
Brotherhood. The US and the UN have both named Zamdani as a global
terrorist.
In less than 24 hours, late Sunday, all institutions (military, security,
and civil), and even the homes of important persons, came under the direct
control of Houthi fighters. That was after the fall of state TV, Al-Eman
University, and General Muhsen's base.
The base of General Muhsen had only a few soldiers and militants in it,
mostly students of Al-Eman University, and was officially no longer a
military base. Earlier this year, President Hadi issued a decree to turn the
base into an entertainment area for children, but General Muhsen had refused
to comply with the decree.
After the three places fell, one after the other, into the hands of Houthi
fighters, the whole of Sanaa fell under Houthi control within hours, if not
minutes. The army did engage with the rebel forces and Minister of Interior
Abdu Al Tareb called on all security forces to cooperate with Houthi
fighters.
General Muhsen left his base at noon Sunday with a large convoy of tanks and
armoured vehicles and immediately proceeded to President Hadi's palace where
the two men reportedly engaged in an angry, name-calling row, before the
general disappeared.
Hadi and UN envoy Jamal Bin Omar were left waiting for Muhdi Al-Mashat and
Hassan Al-Ezzi - two representatives of the top Houthi leader - to arrive to
sign what they called "The Agreement of Peace and National Partnership."
Al-Mashat and Al-Ezzi refused to sign the security part of the agreement
which requires the Houthi to withdraw their armed forces from Sanaa and
Amran.
According to the agreement, three Houthi demands will be met: a new
government will be formed, the price of oil will be lowered, and outcomes of
the national dialogue will be implemented.
With General Muhsen gone, the Brotherhood will be left with only their
political party, Islah. Muhsen represented the military wing of the Yemeni
Brotherhood after the Al-Ahmar family was defeated in Amran last August.
The Houthi are now trying to reconcile with Islah, absent the two defeated
wings. Houthi leader Ali Al-Bukhaiti thanked what he called the "national"
leaders of Islah for not taking part in the war against the Houthi.
What is the next step? Four scenarios appear possible: a Shia state led by
the Houthi and supported by Iran; a sectarian war like that in Iraq, with
Saudi Arabia supporting Sunnis and Iran supporting Shia; a state led by
strongman or dictator, like Ali Abdullah Saleh or his son, or anyone from
his party, supported by Saudi Arabia; or establishment of a civil and just
state that would protect the rights and liberties of Yemenis as individuals
and groups according to the "Peace Agreement" and the outcome of national
dialogue.
Sanaa falls to rebels
Houthi Shia rebels stand on a tank at the compound of the army's First
Armored Division in Sanaa (photo: AP)
(image/jpeg attachment: image001.jpg)