Yemeni protesters demand end to the civil war

Yemenis took to the streets on Friday demanding the fighting in Yemen come to an end. Although there are peace talks in Kuwait that appeared to be making progress they are now reported to have been suspended.

Thousands protested in the city of Taiz, which has been besieged for months by rebels who residents and aid groups complain have been indiscriminately shelling the city and blocking aid deliveries. In the city of Zinjibar, occupied by Al-Qeda forces, hundreds marched to demand their withdrawal. Al Qaeda in the Arab Peninsula (AQAP) and the Islamic State have been able to take advantage of the chaos produced by the war to strengthen their positions. An estimated 6,200 people have been killed in the war and it has created a horrible humanitarian situation with many Yemenis displaced and lacking food and access to proper medical care. Several hospitals and clinics have been bombed by the Saudi-led bombing campaign. The Saudis have used cluster bombs in several places and are accused of bombing civilian targets.

The Yemeni Government of PM Hadi suspended direct peace talks today after the Houthi rebels with its allies seized a military base north of Sanaa, the capital, according to two members of the official delegation to the talks.

The soldiers at the Umaliqa base had refused to take sides in the war between the Houthis and the Saudi-backed government of PM Hadi. The base is in an area controlled by the Houthis. The Houthi assault killed several soldiers who were defending the base. Prior to the attack, the Houthis had tolerated the neutrality of the soldiers. The surprise attack was made at dawn. The Houthis seized a large cache of weapons.

In talking to Reuters at the peace talks in Kuwait, one member of the government delegation said: "We have suspended the sessions indefinitely to protest these military actions and continued violations of the truce." Abdel-Malek al-Mekhlafi, the Yemeni foreign minister, and also the top government delegate to the talks said that the assault had "torpedoed" the talks. He saidon his Twitter account: "We will take the appropriate position in response to the Houthi crime at the Umaliqa base in Amran for the sake of our people and country." The Houthi spokesperson Mohammed Abdul-Salam dismissed the protest saying the government was wasting time and fabricating excuses to continue the war. The talks in Kuwait have been moving forward slowly since a truce declared on April 10. The truce has largely held although both sides accuse each other of violations. The Houthis accuse the Saudi-led coalition of violating the truce 4,000 times with shelling and bombing raids that raised tensions.

The UN envoy for Yemen, Ismail Cheik Ahmed, said in a press release on Saturday that the peace negotiations were off to an "encouraging start that will set the stage for a negotiated solution." Both sides have presented plans for peace and have agreed to respect UN resolutions on the conflict. He described the sessions as taking place in a positive and constructive atmosphere although he also admitted there were violations of the truce.

Yemen: Militants kill 32 troops in army base attack

Although the Yemeni military is claiming that it is winning the battle against militants who have occupied territory in Southern Yemen the actual situation seems more complex. The military does seem to have regained some territory including a strategic town of Lawdar.

However other areas are still under control of militants of Ansar al-Sharia and AQAP (Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula). The press and official pronouncements tend to link groups together perhaps to convince the U.S. that these are all Al Qaeda militants or Al Qaeda linked. It works.

The U.S. has been involved in several air strikes, including one that is said to have killed some militant leaders. Often strikes that are said to be by the government are no doubt by the U.S. Wikileaks cables revealed that at least the former government took credit for U.S. attacks so as to downplay U.S. involvement. Probably the present government is doing the same. There are U.S. Special Forces units operating in Yemen as well.

The struggle against militants has been costly as the most recent attack killed at least 32 soldiers. Some time ago the rebels raided a base outside of Zinjibar killing 185 soldiers and captured many others. Those captured were later released. See this article. The U.S. is strongly backing President Hadi as he has made a strong commitment to defeating Islamic. However Hadi faces opposition from within his government and two separatist movements as well as the Islamic militants who oppose his government. For more see this article.

Patrons of Sharia militants release 73 captured Yemeni soldiers

A provincial official said:"Al-Qaeda has released 73 soldiers they seized in the south in early March," The official was speaking in the city of Jaar which is held by the militant group Ansar Al-Sharia (Partisans of Sharia). The group is often said to be Al Qaeda linked or by this official simply Al Qaeda. This blurring of distinctions between groups is probably a deliberate tactic of Yemeni officials since the U.S. is bound to help them as long as they are fighting Al Qaeda.

The official claimed that two busloads of soldiers were driven from Jaar to Aden the main port city in the south. The official said that religious and tribal mediators had secured their release. There were rumors that they were to be executed. There is no account of what the militants were given in exchange. Perhaps there are promises that local tribes will not take part in government attempts to drive out the militants from areas they occupy.On March 4 the militants had successfully attacked an army base near Zinjibar killing 185 soldiers and capturing the 73 who are now released.

The president of Yemen Hadi recently held talks with the FBI director Robert Mueller. No doubt there will be renewed attempts to dislodge militants from areas they occupy. This will stir up more unrest in the south that already has a separatist movement as well as militant groups. For more see this article.

More U.S. drone attacks in Yemen and Somalia

The new emphasis on drone attacks in areas where the U.S.engages only in covert operations has been evident in the last few days. This article at longwarjournal covers attacks in Yemen and this article in Press TV covers attacks in Somalia.

According to the first article U.S. drone attacks killed five AQAP (Al Qaeda in the Arab Peninsula). A vehicle with the fighters in it was traveling near the town of Karma near the city of Assan in Shabwa province. The city of Azzan has been under AQAP control since June last year. The city of Zinjibar in Abyan province was also seized by Ansar Al Sharia.

The U.S. has stepped up strikes in Yemen carrying out four already this month. In March there were at least six strikes. Obviously the tempo of strikes is increasing. There are also Special Forces units on the ground but nothing has been said recently about them.

According to Press TV at least 31 people were killed in recent attacks near the town of Afmadow. A Somali military official confirmed the attack. The UN has condemned the drone attacks saying the are a threat to international law. The Obama administration is stepping up covert operations as it winds down conventional military operations in Afghanistan. The U.S. is resorting more and more to what Juan Cole calls shadow power.

Yemen: Government forces attack militants with U.S. help

Yemeni government forces are trying to wrest parts of southern Yemen from Al Qaeda and other Islamic militants who have occupied considerable swaths of territory while the country was in turmoil.

President Hadi the former protege and vice-president under Saleh has fired some Saleh loyalist from positions of power but a son of Saleh continues to run the elite Republican Guards.

Two who were fired refused to give up their positions and one general closed down the airport in the capital by surrounding it with loyal troops. The airport is open again now. See this article.



A mainly covert U.S. role in Yemen relies to a considerable extent on drones which are flown from a base in nearby Djibouti on the horn of Africa. There is also a secret base thought to be in Saudi Arabia.However, there are also special forces on the ground.

Yemeni officials also reported that the capital of Abyan province, Zinjibar was hit by missile fire from the Gulf of Aden. The Yemeni government does not have the capability to mount such an attack so no doubt it was mounted from U.S. warships. Zinjibar is occupied by the militant group Ansar al Sharia.

Hadi has so far thrown his lot in with the U.S. in making a priority attacks upon Al Qaeda and other militant groups such as Ansar al Sharia. Saleh alternated attacks with deals with the militants.

Since last May there have been 26 reported U.S,. drone strikes in Yemen. So far this year there have been a dozen already. However militants are stepping up attacks too often taking the battle to the military by attacking bases. The military has already suffered 250 killed this year and lost several bases to militants.

AQAP (Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula) and Ansar al Sharia have bet wen them captured a number of towns in southern provinces. They have often repelled attempts by government forces to retake the towns.

Ansar al-Sharia has been especially active wiping out some 150 government troops in an attack west of Zinjibar. Often weapons caches have been captured as well. In the captured towns the group imposes its own strict Sharia law.

The south of Yemen was long a separate state. There is a strong separatist movement as well as Islamic radicals active in the south. Many inhabitants feel abandoned by the central government and believe they get little or nothing from the union. For more see this article.

Yemen: 64 killed in southern Yemen battle with militants

Fighting in the southern Yemen town of Lawder has taken a toll of 64 according to reports. This includes 18 troops at a base that was attacked by militants from Ansar al-Sharia.

Anti-militant tribes helped out the military and also lost members. Reportedly the military retreated inside their fortified base. The Yemeni military reported provided tribe members with arms.

The town is on the one major highway in the province of Abyan. Militants hold much of the province. The capital Zinjibar fell to the Anar al-Sharia group almost a year ago. They hold areas north of the town of Lawder as well. Gaining control of Lawder would link areas they occupy. The U.S. has made drone attacks on areas controlled by the group which the U.S,. considers linked to Al Qaeda. For more see this article.

Yemen: Government troops suffer heavy casualties in clashes with militants

Abyan province was taken over by militants often linked with Al Qaeda some time ago. It seems that the government has not regained control as yet. Yemeni officials claim at least 85 government soldiers and 25 militants have begun since fighting began yesterday.

AP news reported a total on both sides of 106 people killed and 55 soldiers taken prisoner.. Militants mounted surprise attacks on army posts on the edge of the capital of Abyan Zinjibar. Some described the attacks as a massacre.

In Aden an official at a military hospital said that at least 103 soldiers have been killed. He claimed that many soldiers died as a result of wounds received in the attacks in Zinjibar. Al Qaeda linked fighters took control of Zinjibar back in May 2011.

Since President Hadi was sworn in on Feb. 25th there have been a series of militant attack. As Hadi vowed to keep up former president Saleh's attack against Al Qaeda a suicide bomber killed 26 soldiers outside a palace in the province of Hadramaut.

No doubt the U.S. will provide Hadi with support both from the air and on the ground with special forces. However, the militants seem to be taking the initiative and launching pre-emptive strikes themselves. For more see this article.

Not just militants are opposed to the new government. Many protesters wanted former president Saleh, his relatives and cronies to be held responsible for their acts. The GCC deal supported by the U.S. granted them immunity. Separatists both in the north and south also oppose the new government. The situation is far from stable in Yemen. Saleh's cronies and relatives remain as key figures in the government.

Yemen: Radical Islamists fight for territory in the south

   A long article in the Washington Post discusses the situation in parts of South Yemen where Islamic militants have taken over considerable territory. Islamic militants have taken advantage of the protests and opposition to the regime of president Saleh. Although Saleh relinquished power recently to his vice-president, he is still in Yemen and through his family and loyalists still exerts influence upon affairs.
   The U.S. has strongly supported Saleh's move against Islamic militants. However, the U.S. also supported the GCC deal which Saleh signed in which he relinquished the presidency in return for immunity from prosecution for himself, family, and cronies. Protesters are much opposed to granting Saleh and his cronies immunity from prosecution.
   Radical Islamist groups have established their presence in Abyan province especially Zinjibar the regional capital. The goal of the groups is to create as Islamic emirate in Yemen. One military base remains in the city and there are constant attacks on the rebels.
   In the north there are also Shiite Houthi rebels. The groups in effect have taken control of several provinces. There are also separatists in the south not associated with Islamists. Finally there are disgruntled tribal leaders with their own militias and military units who have defected even in the capital. Yemen appears far from unity and Saleh and his family power are making the situation much worse. For much more see this article.