Civil War in Yemen?
Yemen, home to al Qaeda’s most active franchise, could be on the brink of civil war. President Ali Abdullah Saleh refused to sign a transition deal on May 22 for the third time. The following day, clashes broke out in the capital, Sana’a, between Hashid tribesmen and Yemeni security forces. Five days into fighting, over 100 people have been killed and the capital is divided between the opposition-controlled northern districts and the government-controlled southern districts (see map of Sana’a here). A ceasefire was put in place in Sana’a today, but Hashid tribal leader Sheikh Sadiq al Ahmar noted that should Saleh return to fighting, then “we are ready.” The fighting is no longer limited to the capital, however. Tribesmen fought elite Republican Guard forces to the northeast and have captured military bases. The Yemen Air Force responded by bombing tribal positions and reports indicate that clashes are ongoing.
AEI’s Critical Threats Project is tracking the developments in Yemen closely as they unfold and providing regular situation reports. An excerpt from today’s update is below. Read the full text here.
Heavy fighting between government forces and tribesmen outside of Yemen’s capital has broadened the conflict. Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula has gained operating space as Yemeni security forces have pulled out of al Qaeda strongholds to protect the regime’s interests.
Yemeni air force fighter jets conducted air strikes on tribal targets in Nihm district north of Sana’a. Republican Guard soldiers reportedly attacked a village, provoking tribesmen to retaliate and to gain control of two Yemeni military compounds. Military helicopters with reinforcements tried to land nearby and tribesmen report that they captured two helicopters, along with a number of soldiers, and shot down a third. This is not the first time the air force bombed Nihm; on May 10, government air raids killed four tribesmen.
Fighting in the capital has intensified, where Hashid tribesmen have been fighting the Yemeni security forces for five days….
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