Yemen: Clashes in Sana’a leave 234 dead

At least 234 people have been killed in Sana’a over the past four days in clashes between Shia Houthi rebels and forces loyal to slain former President Ali Abdullah Saleh, who was killed yesterday, an International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) official said today.

The ICRC also recorded more than 400 injuries during the clashes, which first erupted in Sana’a over the weekend between the Houthis and pro-Saleh forces, Adnan Hazam, the ICRC’s spokesman in Yemen, told Anadolu Agency.

“Cautious calm now prevails in parts of the capital that saw violent confrontations in recent days,” he added.

Hazam went on to urge all parties to the conflict to avoid harming civilians and to facilitate the delivery of humanitarian aid to suffering Yemenis.

Houthi leader: Saudi Arabia, UAE suffered historic defeat in Yemen

“Yemen can’t afford any more suffering,” he added.

Yesterday, Houthi militiamen executed Saleh – who had until recently been considered one of the group’s primary allies – after waylaying his motorcade outside the capital.

Yemen has remained dogged by violence since 2014 when the Houthis – fighting alongside Saleh loyalists – overran much of the country, including Sana’a.

The conflict escalated in 2015 when Saudi Arabia and its Arab allies launched a devastating air campaign aimed at rolling back Houthi gains in the country.