Yemen - Huthi rebellion

Sanaa claims 17 Shia rebels killed

Article published on the 2009-09-10 Latest update 2009-09-10 13:13 TU

A Yemeni soldier fires on rebel targets earlier this week
(Photo: Reuters)

Yemeni government soldiers killed 17 Shia-Muslim rebels in fighting in the moutainous north overnight, the official Saba news agency says. The fighting follows the breakdown of a ceasefire declared on Friday.

"The army and security forces have inflicted heavy losses upon the saboteurs and the rebels whether in terms of lives or equipment," a local official said.

The army destroyed vehicles carrying supplies, he said, adding that two civilians were wounded, one of them seriously.

The military deployed jet fighters, while troops exchanged fire with the rebels, known as Huthi, who want to see the end of the current form of government.

Earlier this week President Ali Abdullah Saleh said that members of two cells had been put on trial after they admitted to receiving funding from an Iranian source.

Tehran responded by declaring that it supports the unity of Yemen.

The Yemeni government launched operation Scorched Earth on 11 August. About 150,000 people have been displaced by the fighting, according to the UN refugee agency, with 35,000 driven from their homes in the last three weeks. The city of Saada is cut off from the outside and food is running low.