Yemen rebels seize military base outside capital Sanaa
30 Jan 2015 12:45 AM GMT
Yemen’s Shiite rebels took over a key military base south of Sanaa where US advisers had previously trained counter-terrorism forces, officials said on Thursday.
Military officials said the Republican Guard camp captured Wednesday was used by American experts until 2012 to train local forces battling al-Qaida’s powerful Yemeni affiliate.
The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak to the press. The Shiite rebels, known as Houthis, have seized a number of key military facilities in recent days, including the headquarters of the paramilitary special forces. Last week the rebels put President Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi, a close US ally, and his Cabinet under house arrest, escalating a prolonged power struggle.
The officials resigned in response, and Prime Minister Khaled Baha said today his resignation was “irreversible” according to a statement posted on his Facebook account. Baha expressed his “extreme condemnation” over the Houthis’ “coup.”
Military officials said the Republican Guard camp captured Wednesday was used by American experts until 2012 to train local forces battling al-Qaida’s powerful Yemeni affiliate.
The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak to the press. The Shiite rebels, known as Houthis, have seized a number of key military facilities in recent days, including the headquarters of the paramilitary special forces. Last week the rebels put President Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi, a close US ally, and his Cabinet under house arrest, escalating a prolonged power struggle.
The officials resigned in response, and Prime Minister Khaled Baha said today his resignation was “irreversible” according to a statement posted on his Facebook account. Baha expressed his “extreme condemnation” over the Houthis’ “coup.”
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