Yemeni president to recruit rebel fighters in the army

The internationally recognised Yemeni government has decided to merge rebels who are fighting the Houthi militias into the state’s army, Saba news agency reported yesterday.

Following a meeting held on Tuesday in the Saudi capital Riyadh, the Yemeni Defence Council decided to “merge the popular resistance members in the military and security forces” of the country.

During the meeting, headed by the temporary Yemeni President Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi, the attendants praised the “contribution of the resistance as it is defending the country.”

The Popular Resistance units are an alliance of anti-Houthi rebels and separatists from the south, as well as volunteers from tribes across the country. They are fighting the Houthis, who took control of large parts of the country towards the end of last year.

Battles between the Popular Resistance and the Houthis are ongoing along the road leading to the city of Lahj. Sources reported by Saba said that the resistance is trying to take control the road which provides access to the strategic military base known as Al-End.

So far 3,984 Yemenis have been killed in four months of fighting, the UN reported.