SANAA, Oct 18 (AFP): Shiite rebels sweeping across Yemen clashed with armed Sunni tribesmen for a second straight day on Saturday in fighting that left at least 16 people dead, medics said.
The rebels took control of the capital Sanaa on September 21 after orchestrating weeks of protests that paralysed the government. They then pushed south earlier this week, meeting little or no resistance from security forces.
But as their advance has taken them out of the mainly Shiite northern highlands into predominantly Sunni areas, they have met increasingly fierce resistance from local tribes as well as Sunni extremists of Al-Qaeda.
In mainly Sunni Ibb province on Saturday, 12 rebels were killed in a rocket-propelled grenade attack on their vehicle, while four tribesmen died in fighting, medics and local officials said.
It came after 14 rebels and 10 tribesmen died in fighting around Ibb city on Friday.
After those clashes, Ibb governor Yehya al-Iryani called on "armed groups from all sides to leave the province and end violence."
16 dead in Yemen as Shiite rebels battle Sunni tribes
FE Team | Published: October 19, 2014 00:00:00 | Updated: November 30, 2026 06:01:00
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