Houthis break into Sanaa military zone command

Shia Houthi militants stormed on Sunday the headquarters of the 6th military zone in the Yemeni capital Sanaa, with many reported dead and wounded in the ensuing clashes.

A military source, who asked not to be named, told Anadolu Agency that Houthis had broken into the zone as commanders were handing over control to the presidential guards.

“Scores of people were killed and wounded on both sides as a result of the clashes,” he said.

The 6th military zone is one of Yemen’s seven military zones.

The Yemeni army’s command had earlier called on army personnel deployed at military units around the capital to be on high alert, according to the website of the Yemeni Defense Ministry.

On Saturday, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and his Special Advisor on Yemen Jamal Benomar said Yemeni parties had reached a deal to end the current crisis between the government and the Houthi group.

“Preparations are being made for signing the agreement on Sunday,” Benomar said in a brief statement.

He added that the agreement would bring to end confrontations between the Yemeni army and supporters of the Shia group.

In recent days, Sanaa has seen deadly clashes between army troops and Houthi militants amid protests demanding the resignation of the government.

Yemen has been dogged by unrest since a popular uprising that began in 2011 ousted longstanding president Ali Abdullah Saleh one year later.