http://english.aljazeera.net/news/middleeast/2009/11/20091113133153733615.html
At least 240 villages have been evacuated in southwestern Saudi Arabia due to fighting between Saudi forces and Yemeni rebels along the border, the UN children's fund (Unicef) has said.
Unicef, citing contacts in Saudi Arabia on Friday, said more than 50 schools have also been closed in the country, after fighting between Yemeni government forces and Houthi rebels in Yemen's north spilled over into Saudi Arabia last week.
"Unicef is deeply concerned about the escalation of the conflict in northern Yemen," Sigrid Kaag, the Unicef regional director for the Middle East, said in a statement.
"Fighting has now spilled over into Saudi Arabia, reportedly causing 240 villages to be evacuated."
Unicef said thousands of people in Yemen have also fled the fighting, with the number of displaced at a camp in Yemen's Hajjah governorate more than doubling in four weeks to 15,000 people.
"Unicef urges all parties to ensure that children are protected from violence and receive all the assistance they need," Kaag said.
Buffer zone
The news came as Saudi Arabia vowed to continue its air and artillery attacks against the rebels as part of efforts to reinforce a 10km-deep buffer zone inside Yemen.
The zone is designed to keep members of the Yemeni rebel group away from Saudi Arabia's southwestern border.
The Houthi fighters have accused Saudi Arabia of flying over their territory and firing scores of rockets on villages.
Video footage released by the fighters on Thursday allegedly contains images of Saudi missile attacks in Yemen's northern Saada province.
Hussein Shobokshi, a columnist for the Asharq Al Awsat newspaper in Saudi Arabia, said the latest video release is part of a "propaganda war" by the Houthis.
"The Saudis have stated from day one that they are keen to protect their borders [and] that they are keen to create a buffer zone. These were all public announcements," he told Al Jazeera.
"The activities on the Saudi-Yemeni border by the Saudis have been to clear that area from any insurgencies.
"So the Saudis were doing this to defend their territories and to clear a buffer zone to protect [the country] from future attacks by the Houthis.
"The Saudis have a great interest to protect that border because the Yemeni government has failed to protect that border. The Saudis had no choice but to take this severe and dynamic action against tthe Houthis immediately."
Saudi Arabia launched its offensive against the Houthis, who are named after their deceased former leader, after they apparently crossed the border and seized control of a small area.
Offensive continues
The Houthis say that the Saudis have been allowing Yemeni troops to use the area to attack their positions.
But a Saudi government adviser said that there were no Saudi troops fighting on the ground inside Yemen, where the terrain is too mountainous to deploy tanks and artillery effectively.
"The orders are not to go physically into Yemeni territory," he said.
"We don't want to get bogged down there or inflame any local sensitivities, if there are any, against us."
Prince Khaled bin Sultan, the Saudi deputy defence minister, said the offensive would continue until the Houthis "withdraw dozens of kilometres" from the border.
Riyadh has become increasingly anxious about the stability of the government in Yemen, which is facing opposition from the Shia population in the north, separatist sentiment in the south and a growing threat from al-Qaeda fighters.
The Houthis first took up arms against the government of Ali Abdullah Saleh, Yemen's president, in 2004, citing political, economic and religious marginalisation by the Saudi and Western-backed administration.
The conflict intensified in August when Yemen's army launched Operation Scorched Earth in an attempt to crush the fighters in the northern province of Saada.
Aid groups, which have limited access to the northern provinces, say at least 150,000 people are believed to have fled their homes since 2004.
The United Nations refugee agency said last week it was looking into whether the Saudi air raids had affected 3,500 to 4,500 displaced people gathered near the border.
Related:
http://www.english.mojahedin.org/pagesEn/detailsNews.aspx?newsid=6315
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/8352783.stm
http://www.kuwaittimes.net/read_news.php?newsid=MTQwNDIzMTgyOA==
I counted the word "Saudi" 25 times in this article while there is being only one "Iran" just in the title.
AntwortenLöschenSaudi is alledgely saying they are offensing and attacking the villages to protect their own territories, but the news at the beginning was saying something else. Yemeni government was not able to stop the AL-Houthi movement, so Saudi took the course and start to massacre villagers, and that's why Yemeni leader appreciated the Saudi invasion in his(Yemen) territories.
I wrote 'Iran' because of the shipment of arms that was sent by them to Yemen's rebels. See 'related' links
AntwortenLöschenIn the Middle East, it is a delicate balance of power and religious belief, and there is not much in the way of hope for compromising between the Shi’as and Sunni’s.
AntwortenLöschenIn all fairness, Iran will go the distance in supporting its belief, as do other countries.
I disagree .. its not about Shittes and Sunnis Religion in Iraq - its about tribal power - a power struggle triggered by the vaccum when Saddam was toppled
AntwortenLöschenIverview of Iraqs Tribes
http://geopolitics.multiply.com/journal/item/583/583?replies_read=14
For the overwhelming majority of Iraqi history, Sunnis and Shi’ites have lived peacefully side by side, and numerous Iraqis are the children of mixed marriages. Instead we are witnessing in Iraq what occurs when government collapses and there is no state around capable of guaranteeing personal security.
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The larger tribes are usually a mix of Sunnis and Shiites. &
This ignored the fact that many of the country’s largest tribes were a mix of Sunnis and Shiites.
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How significant is the Sunni-Shiite divide in Iraq?
Not as important as some press reports make it out to be, many Iraq experts say. There has been considerable intermarriage between the two groups among the urban middle class. Some Iraqi tribes have both Sunni and Shiite branches. In addition, experts say Iraqi nationalism is very important to both groups. In the most telling example of this, Sunnis and Shiites fought side by side against the British colonizers. On the other hand, there are Sunni-Shiite tensions, and some radicals on both sides preach hatred against the other group. Sectarian differences will be exacerbated if the coalition emphasizes them, experts say. "Tribal, ethnic, and sectarian [differences] may reflect local truths, but Iraqiness— incorporating all elements of society— should ultimately form the basis of national identity," Yaphe writes
Not all Sunni and Shi'a are fighting. The vast majority of Iraqis are tolerant people who have been living side-by-side for thousands of years. Intermarriage between sects is very common, especially in urban areas.
AntwortenLöschenThere are many factions within both the Shi'a and Sunni camps, so one must not lump them all together.
Currently there is violent fighting for control of Iraq. The Shi'a are the majority or larger sect and have gained an advantage in their present form of government ( officials elected by popular vote).
Although there has been competition for thousands of years it was the United States intervention and support of Sadaam Hussein that began the modern Iraqi Sunni-Shi'a political/power competition with control being given to Sadaam's Sunni side.
Prior to the U.S. occupation the larger cities in Iraq were generally well integrated and marriages between sects common. Baghdad was especially harmonious with respect to religion.
Wikipedia info is pretty slim...
AntwortenLöschenYahia Badreddin al-Houthi is the spiritual leader of Zaydi rebels who are fighting against the Government of Yemen.[1]
Al-Houthi cosigned a letter to the Yemeni government with Abdullah al-Ruzami, the rebels' military leader, in May 2005 offering an end to the uprising if the government would send emissaries or ended the military campaign against the rebels. "But if injustice continues with killing, destroying, and imprisonment... then the trouble will not be solved, but will become more complicated and the gap will become even wider."[1]
Zaidiyya, Zaidism or Zaydism (Arabic: الزيدية az-zaydiyya, adjective form Zaidi or Zaydi) is a Shī'a madhhab (sect, school) named after the Imām Zayd ibn ˤAlī. Followers of the Zaidi fiqh are called Zaidis (or occasionally, Fivers by Sunnis). However, there is also a group called the Zaidi Wasītīs who are Twelvers (see below).
AntwortenLöschenFollowers of the Zaidi fiqh recognize the first four of the Twelve Imams but they accept Zayd ibn Ali as their "Fifth Imām", instead of his brother Muhammad al-Baqir. After Zayd ibn Ali, the Zaidi recognize other descendants of Hasan ibn Ali or Husayn ibn Ali to be Imams. Other well known Zaidi imams in history were Yahya ibn Zayd, Muhammad al Nafs az-Zakiyah and Ibrahim ibn Abdullah.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zaidiyyah
A breakaway sect then, much like Protestants not recognising The Roman Catholic Pope?
How did Iraq and Saddam come up in conversation?
AntwortenLöschenExactly.
AntwortenLöschenI wondered the same about the relevance of earlier comments to Yemen and Saudi - but it - Jan's input about Iraq - is just an example of how Shia and Sunni are not always 'mortal enemies'. I'd rather let her explain, she's better at it... but in short, it's more complex than x and y. It's tribal. We, that is, England, America, Europe, Scotland... anyone not of the Middle East or Islam, would do well to gain a fuller understanding of the different groups and tribes and how they relate. Something like this cannot be looked at in such a simplistic way.
AntwortenLöschenShi'ite rebels, Yemen, versus a (presumably) non-Shi'ite government.
AntwortenLöschenSaid (presumably non-Shi'ite) government happy to have Saudi Arabia (Sunni) intervene.
Iran (Shia) warns of 'consequences', should a 'third party' interfere (meaning Saudi, probably not the US)
Sea-borne vessel captured with arms bound for Yemeni rebels, sent by Iran.
On another group, Gurcan mentioned that a co-operative agreement has been signed between Yemen and USA (AFP)... I don't know much more on that.
So... who's the 'bad guy'? Yemen, Saudi, Iran or USA?
It isn't black-and-white.
"Iran will go the distance in supporting its belief, as do other countries" - starsandstripes
'Other countries' like the US?
Does a conflict between Saudi Arabia and Iran even bear thinking about?
(I doubt it will come to that...)
Meanwhile, the villagers in the crossfire are the immediate losers, and I know that's Jan's #1 concern...
AntwortenLöschenTo what extent is Saudi Arabia a Western ally, in terms of conflict with Iran?
AntwortenLöschenCompletely in agreement. Right or wrong, but this is how I view the M.E. in whole: as one very complicated, tribal conflict of power and belief with no easy answers.
AntwortenLöschenEach conflict that is happening, whether it is has been happening over a course of "Generational Time" or just as a one time extreme, has some villager or tribal person(s) behind that view or ideology.
Everyone is effected and gets hurt by these internal differences so there can be no exit plan, only a long term goal of helping a war-torn region.
With all respects to all comments above, I would have to say, it seems like "blondino" is pretty much more aware of the issues.
AntwortenLöschenActually, there is no fight between SUNNI's and SI'ITES in any part of the world, as you can see Iran was the biggest supporter of SUNNI'S in GAZA when Israel was brutally massacring Civilians including kids and women there.
The same crime is happenning in Yemen now. Saudi Arabiaan Government is no difference from Israeli government. They are the Saudi family that were installed there by US government at a time when Saud Bin Aziz unfairly killed the preceding leader who was from the family of the PROPHET OF KINDNESS. The preceding leader was in sleep when they rushed into his house at midnight. There were no Guard and no Police, because there were no need for it, and people were loving the just leader.
After this crime, two ships, one carrying the president of United States and some other authorities, and the other one carrying wines, whiskys and prostitutes berth the Saudi's port. They celebrated Saudi Family's overtaking the holy lands by those prohibitted alcohols and prostitution.
They also inaugurated the so called Arab American Oil Company(ARAMCO).
From then, Saudi family was another US puppet in the Middle East beside Israel.
US itself is a puppet of Britain and Zionism.
Britain or the old fox has put a lot of points of controversy and conflicts in the whole world, you say from East Asia to South Africa and America. If you search for it, you can find many of them. They are unsolved British made problems like buffer zones, islands, rivers, etc.
Britain uses them whenever they need, but this old fox will hopefully die soon.
With respect to you, of course. That much is obvious. The lady in question is herself a Turkish Muslim with a keen grasp of Middle East affairs and strong views about human rights, war-crime and refugee crises.
AntwortenLöschenYour comment is informative though, the jigsaw comes together... and despite being British, it's great to see someone pointing the finger at us for once instead of the USA. You probably wouldn't be surprised how few of the British public are aware of things like the Royal Institute for Foreign Affairs (and I can't even remember if thats the right name lol). Most are pretty savvy to our royals being a bunch of Mafia crooks though, even if they still enjoy a strong following. People know, as well as they can know, that the Iraq war intelligence was falsified, that Blair & co. are corrupt... but they're complacent. They don't see that they can do much about it, and they'll just go and vote Conservative instead at the next election, aso it can all begin again. Our public are more wrapped up in all this stuff about 'support our troops'... I've thought about writing a piece - 'Why I Do Not Support Our Troops' on Facebook.... but I'd be vilified! Small steps at a time, just like the Fabians ;)
Farcasp... be assured I'm no member of the British establishment. And one of my primary reasons for being here is to learn, where my knowledge is weak. I know next-to-nothing about Yemen's AL-Houthi rebels, never claimed I did. Threads like this are good for that, thanks.
I invite you to write a more detailed blog, about what you've said here concerning Britain? Cecil Rhodes and John Ruskin might be a good starting point? I think that would be a very popular thread...
... thinking about it, if Arsi and Bill would like to collaborate on a piece about Britain's role in India/Pakistan matters, that would be an enlightening read, I'm sure :)
AntwortenLöschenThank you "nopigionhole" for blogging this and other posts you've done so far. I need to learn too, and i also learn a lot here. And you please excuse me for calling you by your ID since i don't recall the name.
AntwortenLöschenI hope and i'm sure you don't find any offending sense in my words. I'm never critic of people. I love people from US, Britain, Israel, Saudi Arabia, etc. as the same as my own country fellow men, and i believe we all are the creatures of God. Therefore, whenever i talk about a country, i'm pointing to the governments.
I take note of Cecil Rhodes and John Ruskin. Thanks !
Cheers !
Wow... I just checked out your page. I never realised you were from Iran :)
AntwortenLöschenyes exactly , they are not mortal enemies
AntwortenLöschenand I posted it after this comment which i disagreed with ( and Iraq is in the Middle East )
In the Middle East, it is a delicate balance of power and religious belief, and there is not much in the way of hope for compromising between the Shi’as and Sunni’s.
Hi Far Far missed you :) .... see you managed to get back into Multiply again ....
AntwortenLöschenI am Sunni & your are Shi'te - lets intermarry :) ( siggegh ) prove thepoint .. lol
Yemen was subjected to much Imperailism & interference in the past
AntwortenLöschenhttp://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/652831/Yemen/45273/The-age-of-imperialism
wherver we were we left a mess !
Good article for background from Sept gives a new slant me finks
Yemen rebels deny breaking truce, accuse govt
SANAA, Sept 6 (Reuters) - Yemen rebels on Sunday denied government accusations that they had broken a truce and said authorities were using humanitarian issues as a pretext to press ahead with attacks against them in the north of the country.
Yemen said on Saturday the northern rebels reignited fighting in Saada province by breaking a truce designed to allow access for humanitarian aid.
In August, a new wave of fighting erupted between rebel Shi'ite Muslims of the Zaydi sect and government forces trying to impose central authority. The conflict first began in 2004.
"The continued attacks on villages immediately after its declaration (shows) that it (the government) is not seeking to stop the war, but trying to deceive and exploit the issue of the displaced people and deliver military supplies to sites besieged in the provinces of Saada and Amran," said a statement from the office of the opposition group's leader Abdul-Malik al-Houthi.
http://www.reuters.com/article/newsOne/idUSL6342972._CH_.2400
Are you actually a Scot or do you just live there? And Turkey?
AntwortenLöschen