Join on WhatsApp
Join on Telegram
By Mohamed al-Samei
SANAA – Salafitsts accuse the Houthis of besieging the only Salafist-controlled town in the Shiite majority Saada province, while Houthis claim they are trying to flush out foreign extremist and takfiri groups
A Shiite Houthi rebel on Saturday accused Salafists of “violating” a ceasefire in Yemen’s flashpoint Dammaj town.
Takfiris have violated the ceasefire “under the watchful eye of the presidential mediation committee and Yemeni government”, Daifullah al-Shami told Anadolu Agency.
The northern town has seen several rounds of fighting since 2011 between the Shiite rebels and Salafist militants, leaving dozens dead.
A presidential mediation committee has reached a ceasefire deal between the two warring parties, but Salafists have accused their Shiite rivals of forcing the mediators out from the area.
Salafitsts accuse the Houthis of besieging the only Salafist-controlled town in the Shiite majority Saada province, while Houthis claim they are trying to flush out foreign extremist and takfiri groups.
Al-Shami argued that violence “is the result of assaults by Takfiris” in the northern province of Saada, denying that Houthis were launching attacks in Dammaj.
He went on to accuse “foreign Takfiris” of forcefully relocating residents from their areas.
On Saturday, five Salafists were reportedly killed and 22 injured in attacks by Houthi rebels on two villages in Dammaj, eyewitnesses said.
According to the witnesses, casualties were reported among Houthi attackers after their assault was countered by Salafists.
Salafist activist Ismail Al-Wadae said that around 30 Houthis were killed in the attack.
