Battle of Sanaa (2017)
Battle of Sanaa (2017) | |
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Part of the Sana'a, Yemen | |
Result |
Houthi victory[5]
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- Houthis
- General People's Congress (pro-Houthi wing)[1][2]
- General People's Congress (pro-Saleh wing)
- Republican Guard
Tareq Saleh (WIA)[8]
Khaled Ali Saleh (POW)
Aref al-Zouka †[1]
(per the
Saudi-led intervention (2015–present) | |
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Saudi Arabian airstrikes on Yemen
Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia Houthi attacks on the United Arab Emirates U.S. raids on al-Qaeda |
Attacks
Military operations Diplomacy Effects
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Humanitarian crisis | |
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The Battle of Sanaa (2017) was fought between forces loyal to
Background
The Houthis had formed a tactical alliance with
The dissatisfaction turned into widespread protests when the Hadi government ordered the removal of fuel subsidies. Houthis organized mass protests and advanced into the capital, Sanaa,
From the takeover onwards, the Houthis and Saleh loyalist forces shared administration of Sanaa and the country. Pro-Saleh forces controlled southern Sanaa while the Houthis were in control of the northern part of the capital.[13] The tactical alliance between Saleh, who was deposed in 2012, and the Houthis often appeared fragile, with both groups reserving suspicions as to each other's ultimate motives and sharing little ideological ground.[14]
Battle
On 2 December 2017, four days after the eruption of armed conflict between the Houthis and forces loyal to Ali Abdullah Saleh, he announced his readiness to start a "new page" with Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates,[15] a move which was welcome by the two governments.[3] On 4 December 2017, Saleh officially announced the end of his partnership with the Houthis while Saudi Arabia warplanes were bombing Houthi positions in Sana'a in support of Saleh. The conflict took at least 125 lives and injured 238.[16] According to Ra'iy al-Youm, Saleh's split was an outcome of long-term efforts by Saudi Arabia and the UAE to unravel the Houthi-Saleh alliance after their failure to defeat the Houthis militarily.[17]
It was reported on 4 December that the Bani Bahloul tribe gained control of posts of Houthi militias in southern Sanaa. The tribes of al Hima and Hamadan reportedly controlled other Houthi posts and arrested dozens of Houthi militants, according to Sky News. Also, supervisor of the Houthi militias Abu Mohsen al Qahoum was killed in clashes with General People's Congress (GPC) forces in Sha'oub district of Sanaa.[18] Despite this, the battle turned increasingly against the Saleh loyalists, with GPC secretary general Aref al-Zouka being killed in combat. Many GPC members and Saleh fighters also defected to the Houthis.[1]
Death of Saleh
On 4 December 2017, having declared Saleh and his militias "treasonous", Houthis disabled his vehicle with a rocket-propelled grenade in an
On 4 December, The Houthi leader,
Aftermath
On 5 December, tens of thousands of pro-Houthi demonstrators took to the streets in Sanaa.
A large part of the GPC consequently pledged allegiance to the Houthis, and elected
See also
- Battle of Sana'a (2011)
- Battle of Sana'a (2014)
References
- ^ a b c d "Death of a leader: Where next for Yemen's GPC after murder of Saleh?". Middle East Eye. 23 January 2018. Retrieved 31 May 2018.
- ^ a b "أشاد بالموقف المسؤول لقيادات وجمهور حزب المؤتمر.. قائد الثورة لقوى العدوان: عدوانكم فاشل ولن تصلوا إلى نتيجة". almasirah.net (in Arabic). Archived from the original on 6 December 2017. Retrieved 5 December 2017.
- ^ a b "Saudi-led air strikes support Yemen's Saleh as he shifts against Houthis". Reuters. 3 December 2017. Retrieved 3 December 2017.
- ^ "U.N. says fighting stops in Sanaa, Saleh funeral expected". Reuters. 5 December 2017. Retrieved 6 December 2017.
- ^ a b "Houthis detain 700 officers of republican guard in Sanaa's Central Prison". Egypt Today. 6 December 2017. Retrieved 6 December 2017.
- Al Masdar News. Archived from the originalon 16 June 2018. Retrieved 2 December 2017.
- ^ "Houthis reportedly gain control of most of Sanaa". Al-Jazeera. 4 December 2017. Retrieved 4 December 2017.
- ^ "Yemeni sources: Nephew of slain former president alive".
- ^ "Yemen: Houthis release 600 ex-President Saleh supporters". www.aa.com.tr. Retrieved 30 June 2019.
- ^ "The Latest: ICRC says 234 killed in clashes in Yemen's Sanaa". ABC News. 5 December 2017. Archived from the original on 5 December 2017. Retrieved 5 December 2017.
- ^ Fighting in Yemeni capital over last six days leaves 230 dead: UN
- ^ "Yemen president quits amid worsening crisis". www.aljazeera.com. Retrieved 17 September 2018.
- ^ "Yemen's Saleh says ready for 'new page' with Saudi-led coalition". Reuters. 2017. Retrieved 5 December 2017.
- ^ "Yemen's Houthis: Saleh's overture to Saudi 'a coup'". Al Jazeera. 2 December 2017. Retrieved 5 December 2017.
- ^ "Yemen's Saleh says ready for 'new page' with Saudi-led coalition". Reuters. 2 December 2017. Retrieved 4 December 2017.
- ^ "Fiercest clashes yet in Sanaa, Yemen casualties growing: ICRC". Reuters. 4 December 2017. Retrieved 4 December 2017.
- ^ "Sowing Strife in Yemen". 4 December 2017.
- ^ "Yemeni tribes gain control of Houthi posts in southern Sanaa - Egypt Today". www.egypttoday.com. 4 December 2017. Retrieved 6 December 2017.
- ^ "Saleh party sources say Yemeni ex-president killed in Sanaa fighting: al-Arabiya TV". Reuters. 4 December 2017. Retrieved 4 December 2017.
- ^ "الحوثيون يعلنون مقتل الرئيس اليمني السابق علي عبدالله صالح". Rai al-Youm. 4 December 2017.
- ^ "For Saudis, a New Opportunity in Yemen War". www.wsj.com. Retrieved 6 December 2017.
- ^ "Exiled son of Yemen's Saleh takes up anti-Houthi cause". Reuters. 5 December 2017.
- ^ "Ali Abdullah Saleh's death will shake up the war in Yemen". The Economist. Retrieved 5 December 2017.
- ^ "Saudi air strikes on Yemen intensify, residents in capital stay indoors". Reuters. 6 December 2017. Retrieved 20 September 2018.
- ^ "مسيرة جماهيرية كبرى في صنعاء "حمدا لله على تجاوز المحنة ودعما للدولة"". almasirah.net (in Arabic). Archived from the original on 12 September 2018. Retrieved 5 December 2017.
- ^ "Yemeni Ex-President Ali Abdullah Saleh Killed In Houthi Attack". NPR.org. Retrieved 6 December 2017.
- ^ "Exiled son of Yemen's Saleh takes up anti-Houthi cause". Reuters. 5 December 2017. Retrieved 6 December 2017.
- ^ Al-Sakkaf, Nasser (5 December 2017). "Fragile lull falls on Sana'a after death of Saleh". Financial Times. Retrieved 6 December 2017.