Yemeni troops backed by a Saudi-led coalition air strike killed six suspected Al-Qaeda fighters outside the southeastern port city of Mukalla on Tuesday, a security official said.

&quot;We launched an operation against Al-Qaeda early this morning in the village of Hamra,&quot; west of Mukalla, the security official told AFP.

&quot;It was a preemptive operation carried out with the support of warplanes of the Arab coalition,&quot; he said, adding that four suspected jihadists were also captured.

&quot;(The jihadists) continue to pose a threat to Mukalla and further revenge attacks can&#39;t be excluded.&quot;

Suicide bombings claimed by Al-Qaeda killed 11 people at two army checkpoints in the city in July.

Mukalla was the most populous Yemeni city under Al-Qaeda control until government troops and coalition special forces recaptured it in April ending a year of jihadist rule.

But the jihadists regrouped in the surrounding mountains from where they have carried out a series of deadly revenge attacks.

In June, Al-Qaeda&#39;s jihadist rival, the Islamic State group, claimed a wave of suicide bombings that killed at least 42 people in Mukalla.

Coalition forces intervened in support of President Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi`s beleaguered government in March last year.

But until earlier this year they focused their firepower on Shiite rebels and their allies who control the capital Sanaa and much of the north and west.

That conflict is still continuing with cross-border rocket fire by the rebels wounding five Saudi civilians on Monday evening, the kingdom`s official SPA news agency reported.

The jihadists have exploited it to consolidate their grip on parts of the south, where they have enforced their often brutal version of Islamic law.

In the southern province of Shabwa late on Monday, suspected Al-Qaeda fighters executed a man they accused of sorcery in front of his family, another security official said.

They then dynamited the family`s home but the explosives went off prematurely and two of the jihadists were killed.

Washington regards Al-Qaeda&#39;s Yemen-based branch as its most dangerous and has kept up a long-running drone war against its commanders.

(AFP)

The anti-jihadist operation was carried out by Yemen troops with the support of warplanes of the Arab coalition

Yemeni troops backed by a Saudi-led coalition air strike killed six suspected Al-Qaeda fighters outside the southeastern port city of Mukalla on Tuesday, a security official said. "We launched an operation against Al-Qaeda early this morning in the village of Hamra," west of Mukalla, the security official told AFP. "It was a preemptive operation carried out with the support of warplanes of the Arab coalition," he said, adding that four suspected jihadists were also captured. "(The jihadists) continue to pose a threat to Mukalla and further revenge attacks can't be excluded." Suicide bombings claimed by Al-Qaeda killed 11 people at two army checkpoints in the city in July. Mukalla was the most populous Yemeni city under Al-Qaeda control until government troops and coalition special forces recaptured it in April ending a year of jihadist rule. But the jihadists regrouped in the surrounding mountains from where they have carried out a series of deadly revenge attacks. In June, Al-Qaeda's jihadist rival, the Islamic State group, claimed a wave of suicide bombings that killed at least 42 people in Mukalla. Coalition forces intervened in support of President Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi`s beleaguered government in March last year. But until earlier this year they focused their firepower on Shiite rebels and their allies who control the capital Sanaa and much of the north and west. That conflict is still continuing with cross-border rocket fire by the rebels wounding five Saudi civilians on Monday evening, the kingdom`s official SPA news agency reported. The jihadists have exploited it to consolidate their grip on parts of the south, where they have enforced their often brutal version of Islamic law. In the southern province of Shabwa late on Monday, suspected Al-Qaeda fighters executed a man they accused of sorcery in front of his family, another security official said. They then dynamited the family`s home but the explosives went off prematurely and two of the jihadists were killed. Washington regards Al-Qaeda's Yemen-based branch as its most dangerous and has kept up a long-running drone war against its commanders. (AFP)

Yemen: 6 al Qaeda suspects killed in Saudi-backed air strikes

US&nbsp;authorities remain concerned about the possibility for&nbsp;both homegrown&nbsp;violent extremism and an al Qaeda threat in advance of the election.&nbsp;

The public will continue to see increased security in public places, a Department of Homeland Security official said on Friday.

&quot;Our concern that violent extremists could be inspired to conduct attacks inside the US&nbsp;have not diminished,&quot; the official said on condition of anonymity. &quot;The public should expect to continue to observe an increased law enforcement and security presence across communities in public places.&quot;

The official would not elaborate on intelligence matters.

The warnings about possible domestic violence&nbsp;come&nbsp;just as CBS reports that sources told them there was potential for an al Qaeda terror threat the day before the November 8 Presidential&nbsp;election.

US intelligence has alerted joint terrorism task forces that in three states on Monday al Qaeda could be planning an attack. While no specific locations were mentioned, the three states named were New York, Texas and Virginia.

While the authorities are taking the threats seriously, they are still being assessed and their credibility hasn&#39;t been confirmed. Officials are said to be taking extra precaution in advance of the election, as they do for big events or holidays.

Federal law enforcement is said to be planning for severeal worst-case scenarios. Local police were warned this week about &quot;polling places&quot; seen as &quot;attractive targets&quot; for &quot;lone wolf&quot;-type attacks.

(With inputs from Reuters)

Intelligence agencies are concerned about the potential for an attack by either a lone-wolf type or al Qaeda at 'polling places'

US authorities remain concerned about the possibility for both homegrown violent extremism and an al Qaeda threat in advance of the election. The public will continue to see increased security in public places, a Department of Homeland Security official said on Friday. "Our concern that violent extremists could be inspired to conduct attacks inside the US have not diminished," the official said on condition of anonymity. "The public should expect to continue to observe an increased law enforcement and security presence across communities in public places." The official would not elaborate on intelligence matters. The warnings about possible domestic violence come just as CBS reports that sources told them there was potential for an al Qaeda terror threat the day before the November 8 Presidential election. US intelligence has alerted joint terrorism task forces that in three states on Monday al Qaeda could be planning an attack. While no specific locations were mentioned, the three states named were New York, Texas and Virginia. While the authorities are taking the threats seriously, they are still being assessed and their credibility hasn't been confirmed. Officials are said to be taking extra precaution in advance of the election, as they do for big events or holidays. Federal law enforcement is said to be planning for severeal worst-case scenarios. Local police were warned this week about "polling places" seen as "attractive targets" for "lone wolf"-type attacks. (With inputs from Reuters)

US security officials warn of terror threats in advance of presidential election

Pakistan police today killed five al Qaeda militants planning to carry out an attack in Gujranwala city&nbsp;during a house raid&nbsp;in Punjab province.

&quot;The militants were hiding in a house in Wapda town. When a Counter Terrorism Department (CTD)&nbsp;team along with police surrounded the house and asked the inmates to surrender,&quot; the CTD&nbsp;said in a statement.

&quot;But the militants opened fire at police. The police team returned the fire. During the shootout five terrorists were killed and three others managed to escape taking advantage of darkness,&quot; the CTD said in a statement.

According to the CTD, it received intelligence reports that eight militants belonging to al Qaeda were planning to carry out an attack in Gujranwala city, some 80 kilometres&nbsp;from Lahore, yesterday.

The CTD recovered one Kalashnikov, two pistols, two hand grenades and explosive material from the hideout.&nbsp;

(PTI)

The police acted on intelligence they received about a plot targeting Gujranwala city, 80 kms from Lahore

Pakistan police today killed five al Qaeda militants planning to carry out an attack in Gujranwala city during a house raid in Punjab province. "The militants were hiding in a house in Wapda town. When a Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) team along with police surrounded the house and asked the inmates to surrender," the CTD said in a statement. "But the militants opened fire at police. The police team returned the fire. During the shootout five terrorists were killed and three others managed to escape taking advantage of darkness," the CTD said in a statement. According to the CTD, it received intelligence reports that eight militants belonging to al Qaeda were planning to carry out an attack in Gujranwala city, some 80 kilometres from Lahore, yesterday. The CTD recovered one Kalashnikov, two pistols, two hand grenades and explosive material from the hideout. (PTI)

Pakistan police kill 5 al Qaeda militants planning to carry out attack

By Taha Siddiqui

&nbsp;

Three suicide bombers entered a police training academy in the garrison city of Quetta in Pakistan on Monday at about 11:30 pm and wreaked havoc, killing more than 60 fresh recruits.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

A battle between the security forces led by Pakistan Army and the assailants ensued and&nbsp;lasted for nearly five hours. The Pakistan Army managed to clear the area, killing one bomber while the other two detonated themselves.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

The Islamic State claimed the attack through its news agency, posting a photo of the three bombers. &nbsp;However, WION correspondent also received an email from the Pakistani Taliban&rsquo;s Karachi faction that also claimed the attack.&nbsp;Earlier, the Pakistan Army on its official site had&nbsp;said that Lashkar-e-Jhangvi Aalmi was behind the attack&ndash; a group known to have links with another militant outfit al Qaeda.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

Security experts are of the view that there is nothing new about conflicting claims&nbsp;as many militants work for different outfits but cooperate with each other during such terror attacks.

&nbsp;

Pakistan Army Chief General Raheel&nbsp;met Prime Minister Nawaz&nbsp;Sharif at a high-level security meeting where the law and order situation of the restive Balochistan province, home to many notorious militant organisations, was discussed.&nbsp;Reports also suggest that militants from the Afghan Taliban have taken a refuge in the province.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

Besides the foreign militant groups, local ethnic population has also been waging a war against the Pakistani state for the last three decades as the Baloch people demand a separate state.

&nbsp;

The province grabbed headlines in the&nbsp;recent months after the India Prime Minister Narendra Modi&rsquo;s Independence Day speech where he raised the issue of Balochistan.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

China, Pakistan&rsquo;s so-called all-weather friend, is heavily investing in the province in exchange of access to the Gwadar seaport in the region.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

However, amid the worsening law and order situation in the province, analysts are skeptical if the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) can become a reality one day.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

In August, a suicide bombing at a Quetta hospital claimed by the Pakistani Taliban had killed 73 people, including some members of the city&#39;s lawyer community, who had gone there to mourn the fatal shooting of a colleague.

&nbsp;

In the wake of spate in terror attacks in Pakistan in the past two months, questions are being raised about the country&rsquo;s counter-terrorism policy.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

Several militant groups, especially those engaged in regional conflicts, continue to exist on Pakistani soil.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

&ldquo;You see them operating all around us. Everywhere. They openly hold rallies, and congregations, and put banners across the cities&hellip; So where is the zero tolerance policy and the National Action Plan?&rdquo; says senator Rubina Khalid, who belongs to Pakistan People&rsquo;s Party, which leads the opposition in the parliament.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

The National Action Plan was established by government of Pakistan in 2015 following 2014 Peshawar school attack that had left more than 130 children dead. The plan aims to crack down on terrorism.

&nbsp;

Later, the government also announced a zero-tolerance militant policy, however, its implementation is questionable.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

&ldquo;There is no good or bad Taliban. They are all the same. Being on [Pakistan&rsquo;s] side does not make you good &ndash; an evil is an evil,&rdquo; Khalid adds.

&nbsp;

(WION)&nbsp;

After a spate of terror attacks in Pakistan over the past two months, questions are being raised about its counter-terrorism policy

By Taha Siddiqui Three suicide bombers entered a police training academy in the garrison city of Quetta in Pakistan on Monday at about 11:30 pm and wreaked havoc, killing more than 60 fresh recruits. A battle between the security forces led by Pakistan Army and the assailants ensued and lasted for nearly five hours. The Pakistan Army managed to clear the area, killing one bomber while the other two detonated themselves. The Islamic State claimed the attack through its news agency, posting a photo of the three bombers. However, WION correspondent also received an email from the Pakistani Taliban’s Karachi faction that also claimed the attack. Earlier, the Pakistan Army on its official site had said that Lashkar-e-Jhangvi Aalmi was behind the attack– a group known to have links with another militant outfit al Qaeda. Security experts are of the view that there is nothing new about conflicting claims as many militants work for different outfits but cooperate with each other during such terror attacks. Pakistan Army Chief General Raheel met Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif at a high-level security meeting where the law and order situation of the restive Balochistan province, home to many notorious militant organisations, was discussed. Reports also suggest that militants from the Afghan Taliban have taken a refuge in the province. Besides the foreign militant groups, local ethnic population has also been waging a war against the Pakistani state for the last three decades as the Baloch people demand a separate state. The province grabbed headlines in the recent months after the India Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Independence Day speech where he raised the issue of Balochistan. China, Pakistan’s so-called all-weather friend, is heavily investing in the province in exchange of access to the Gwadar seaport in the region. However, amid the worsening law and order situation in the province, analysts are skeptical if the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) can become a reality one day. In August, a suicide bombing at a Quetta hospital claimed by the Pakistani Taliban had killed 73 people, including some members of the city's lawyer community, who had gone there to mourn the fatal shooting of a colleague. In the wake of spate in terror attacks in Pakistan in the past two months, questions are being raised about the country’s counter-terrorism policy. Several militant groups, especially those engaged in regional conflicts, continue to exist on Pakistani soil. “You see them operating all around us. Everywhere. They openly hold rallies, and congregations, and put banners across the cities… So where is the zero tolerance policy and the National Action Plan?” says senator Rubina Khalid, who belongs to Pakistan People’s Party, which leads the opposition in the parliament. The National Action Plan was established by government of Pakistan in 2015 following 2014 Peshawar school attack that had left more than 130 children dead. The plan aims to crack down on terrorism. Later, the government also announced a zero-tolerance militant policy, however, its implementation is questionable. “There is no good or bad Taliban. They are all the same. Being on [Pakistan’s] side does not make you good – an evil is an evil,” Khalid adds. (WION)

Quetta attack: Time to review good and bad Taliban policy

Terrorist group al-Qaeda has warned US of dire consequences if its &quot;crimes continue&quot; in a video released ahead of the 15th anniversary of the deadly attacks in US on September 11, 2001 that killed nearly 3,000 people, according to multiple reports.&nbsp; 
 
In a video translated by the SITE intelligence group, al-Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahiri is quoted by ABC News as saying: &quot;We mark in these days the passage of nearly 15 years since the blessed invasions in Washington, New York and Pennsylvania.&quot; He also warns US that &quot;as long as your crimes continue, then the events of September 11 will be repeated a thousand times, Allah permitting.&quot;&nbsp; 
 
Former White House counterterrorism adviser Richard Clarke interpreted the video as a part of al-Qaeda&#39;s push to remain relevant in a world where rival terrorist organisation, the Islamic State, draws more attention and far more recruits. 
 
&quot;The fact that he is communicating on the anniversary is an attempt by him to remind everybody that he exists and is the nominal head of [al-Qaeda],&quot; he said. 
 
Unlike the group&#39;s leader Osama&nbsp;bin Laden, who was killed in 2011 by US special forces, Zawahiri has evaded capture for over a decade. He is believed to be in Pakistan or Afghanistan. Last month, he apppeared in a series of videos, urging Muslims to unite against the ISIS and &quot;crusaders&quot; in Muslim lands. 
 
The CIA, meanwhile, said the agency was aware of the new video but declined to comment further about it. 
 
(WION) 
 
&nbsp;

The video is interpreted as a part of al-Qaeda's efforts to remain relevant as rival organisation, the IS, continues to draw attention

Terrorist group al-Qaeda has warned US of dire consequences if its "crimes continue" in a video released ahead of the 15th anniversary of the deadly attacks in US on September 11, 2001 that killed nearly 3,000 people, according to multiple reports. In a video translated by the SITE intelligence group, al-Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahiri is quoted by ABC News as saying: "We mark in these days the passage of nearly 15 years since the blessed invasions in Washington, New York and Pennsylvania." He also warns US that "as long as your crimes continue, then the events of September 11 will be repeated a thousand times, Allah permitting." Former White House counterterrorism adviser Richard Clarke interpreted the video as a part of al-Qaeda's push to remain relevant in a world where rival terrorist organisation, the Islamic State, draws more attention and far more recruits. "The fact that he is communicating on the anniversary is an attempt by him to remind everybody that he exists and is the nominal head of [al-Qaeda]," he said. Unlike the group's leader Osama bin Laden, who was killed in 2011 by US special forces, Zawahiri has evaded capture for over a decade. He is believed to be in Pakistan or Afghanistan. Last month, he apppeared in a series of videos, urging Muslims to unite against the ISIS and "crusaders" in Muslim lands. The CIA, meanwhile, said the agency was aware of the new video but declined to comment further about it. (WION)

Al-Qaeda leader threatens US in video ahead of  9/11 anniversary

A group of armed men detonated a car bomb before&nbsp;storming a popular seafront restaurant in&nbsp;Somali capital Mogadishu on Thursday.&nbsp; 
 
Eight people have been killed in the attack. The casualties comprised six civilians and&nbsp;two members of the security force. Two attackers were killed as well. 
 
Al-Shabaab, an Al-Qaeda affiliate in Somalia, has claimed responsibility for the attack through the website of their radio station. 
 
The attack is yet to abate till late late into the night as sporadic shots could be heard from the site of the attack. 
 
Local media reports state that around 20 members of the public managed to escape the siege with the help of Somali security forces. 
 
The attack took place in the popular eatery called&nbsp;Banadir Beach Restaurant near Lido beach. 
 
If Al-Shabaab&#39;s claims are true, this will be the second time this year the terror organisation has struck the upmarket Lido beach and its eateries.&nbsp; 
 
In late January, armed Al-Shabaab men had set off a bomb before storming another restaurant. They opened fire at defenceless people, killing 20 of them. 
 
(WION with inputs from agencies) 
 
 
 
 
&nbsp;

The jihadist group set off a bomb, raided an upscale restaurant before engaging in an intense gunfight with the country's security forces

A group of armed men detonated a car bomb before storming a popular seafront restaurant in Somali capital Mogadishu on Thursday. Eight people have been killed in the attack. The casualties comprised six civilians and two members of the security force. Two attackers were killed as well. Al-Shabaab, an Al-Qaeda affiliate in Somalia, has claimed responsibility for the attack through the website of their radio station. The attack is yet to abate till late late into the night as sporadic shots could be heard from the site of the attack. Local media reports state that around 20 members of the public managed to escape the siege with the help of Somali security forces. The attack took place in the popular eatery called Banadir Beach Restaurant near Lido beach. If Al-Shabaab's claims are true, this will be the second time this year the terror organisation has struck the upmarket Lido beach and its eateries. In late January, armed Al-Shabaab men had set off a bomb before storming another restaurant. They opened fire at defenceless people, killing 20 of them. (WION with inputs from agencies)

Al-Shabaab attack on seafront eatery in Somalia leaves 8 dead

The cost from damage to infrastructure and economic losses in Yemen&#39;s civil war is more than $14 billion so far, according to a confidential report seen by Reuters that highlights the effort needed to rebuild the country, where more than half the population is suffering from malnutrition. 
 
&quot;The conflict has so far resulted in damage costs (still partial and incomplete) of almost $7 billion and economic losses (in nominal terms) of over $7.3 billion in relation to production and service delivery,&quot; said the May 6 joint report by the World Bank, United Nations, Islamic Development Bank and European Union. 
 
The internationally recognised Yemeni government of President Abd Rabbu Mansour Hadi is battling the Iran-allied Houthis in a bitter civil conflict, and is also facing the al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula militant group. 
 
The 16-month civil war has killed more than 6,500 people, displaced more than 2.5 million and caused a humanitarian catastrophe in a country with a per capita gross domestic product the World Bank last estimated at only $1,097 in 2013. 
 
The Preliminary Damage and Needs Assessment report is an internal working document that is not being publicly released. 
 
&quot;These preliminary findings are not only partial, but also evolving&quot; because the conflict is ongoing, the report said. The assessment, it said, was conducted between late 2015 and early this year. 
 
A survey by Yemen&#39;s education ministry cited by the report showed that of 1,671 schools in 20 governorates which suffered damage, 287 need major reconstruction, 544 were serving as shelters for internally displaced persons, and 33 were occupied by armed groups. Based on a sample of 143 schools, the estimated cost of the damage was $269 million. 
 
Citing the Ministry of Public Health and Population, the report said 900 of 3,652 facilities providing vaccination services were not operating in early 2016, leaving 2.6 million children under 15 at risk of contracting measles. 
 
HEALTH SYSTEM 
 
In Taiz, Yemen&#39;s third-largest city, the public health system has nearly collapsed, with half the public hospitals damaged or inaccessible. 
 
&quot;There has been a surge in civilian morbidity and mortality as an indirect consequence of the conflict,&quot; the report said. 
 
The report could assess residential damage only in the cities of Sanaa, Aden, Taiz and Zinjibar, and data collection was cut off in Oct. 2015 -- only about seven months into the conflict. That data alone found an estimated $3.6 billion in damage. 
 
The cost to reconstruct damaged energy facilities in the four cities was an estimated $139 million, most going to repairing damaged or destroyed power plants. 
 
A shaky cease-fire between the government and the Houthis, who practice a variant of Shi&#39;ite Islam, took effect in April and brought some respite from the war, which started when the rebels pushed the government into exile in March 2015. Peace talks broke down earlier this month, though, and Saudi-led air strikes on the Houthis who control the capital Sanaa have resumed. 
 
The report said that immediate attention must be focused on restoring import financing, particularly for food and fuel, which is caught in a conflict between the Saudi-backed government and the central bank in rebel-controlled Sanaa. 
 
The government asked international financial institutions to cut off the bank, alleging that it was misusing state funds. The bank, which provides foreign exchange for imports, has denied the allegations. 
 
&quot;As long as the conflict is ongoing, it&#39;s key to keep going the basic imports needed to avoid a humanitarian crisis. That is a very critical issue right now,&quot; the IMF&#39;s Yemen Mission Chief Albert Jaeger told Reuters. &quot;The best the international community and donors can do is to find a way to get the government and the central bank to cooperate to get at least the humanitarian side of things going.&quot; 
 
Air strikes by Saudi-led forces in Yemen that hit a school and a hospital are being investigated by a body set up by the coalition to look into civilian casualties, a spokesman said on Tuesday. 
 
Ten children were killed when their school in Saada province was bombed on Saturday, and 14 people were killed by a strike on a hospital in neighbouring Hajjah province on Monday. 
 
(Reuters)

The Yemeni government of President Abd Rabbu Mansour Hadi is battling the Iran-allied Houthis and the al Qaeda

The cost from damage to infrastructure and economic losses in Yemen's civil war is more than $14 billion so far, according to a confidential report seen by Reuters that highlights the effort needed to rebuild the country, where more than half the population is suffering from malnutrition. "The conflict has so far resulted in damage costs (still partial and incomplete) of almost $7 billion and economic losses (in nominal terms) of over $7.3 billion in relation to production and service delivery," said the May 6 joint report by the World Bank, United Nations, Islamic Development Bank and European Union. The internationally recognised Yemeni government of President Abd Rabbu Mansour Hadi is battling the Iran-allied Houthis in a bitter civil conflict, and is also facing the al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula militant group. The 16-month civil war has killed more than 6,500 people, displaced more than 2.5 million and caused a humanitarian catastrophe in a country with a per capita gross domestic product the World Bank last estimated at only $1,097 in 2013. The Preliminary Damage and Needs Assessment report is an internal working document that is not being publicly released. "These preliminary findings are not only partial, but also evolving" because the conflict is ongoing, the report said. The assessment, it said, was conducted between late 2015 and early this year. A survey by Yemen's education ministry cited by the report showed that of 1,671 schools in 20 governorates which suffered damage, 287 need major reconstruction, 544 were serving as shelters for internally displaced persons, and 33 were occupied by armed groups. Based on a sample of 143 schools, the estimated cost of the damage was $269 million. Citing the Ministry of Public Health and Population, the report said 900 of 3,652 facilities providing vaccination services were not operating in early 2016, leaving 2.6 million children under 15 at risk of contracting measles. HEALTH SYSTEM In Taiz, Yemen's third-largest city, the public health system has nearly collapsed, with half the public hospitals damaged or inaccessible. "There has been a surge in civilian morbidity and mortality as an indirect consequence of the conflict," the report said. The report could assess residential damage only in the cities of Sanaa, Aden, Taiz and Zinjibar, and data collection was cut off in Oct. 2015 -- only about seven months into the conflict. That data alone found an estimated $3.6 billion in damage. The cost to reconstruct damaged energy facilities in the four cities was an estimated $139 million, most going to repairing damaged or destroyed power plants. A shaky cease-fire between the government and the Houthis, who practice a variant of Shi'ite Islam, took effect in April and brought some respite from the war, which started when the rebels pushed the government into exile in March 2015. Peace talks broke down earlier this month, though, and Saudi-led air strikes on the Houthis who control the capital Sanaa have resumed. The report said that immediate attention must be focused on restoring import financing, particularly for food and fuel, which is caught in a conflict between the Saudi-backed government and the central bank in rebel-controlled Sanaa. The government asked international financial institutions to cut off the bank, alleging that it was misusing state funds. The bank, which provides foreign exchange for imports, has denied the allegations. "As long as the conflict is ongoing, it's key to keep going the basic imports needed to avoid a humanitarian crisis. That is a very critical issue right now," the IMF's Yemen Mission Chief Albert Jaeger told Reuters. "The best the international community and donors can do is to find a way to get the government and the central bank to cooperate to get at least the humanitarian side of things going." Air strikes by Saudi-led forces in Yemen that hit a school and a hospital are being investigated by a body set up by the coalition to look into civilian casualties, a spokesman said on Tuesday. Ten children were killed when their school in Saada province was bombed on Saturday, and 14 people were killed by a strike on a hospital in neighbouring Hajjah province on Monday. (Reuters)

Yemen civil war costs $14 billion in damage, economic costs, suggests report

Al Qaeda&#39;s powerful Syrian branch announced yesterday it was ending its relationship with the global jihadist network founded by Osama bin Laden and changing its name, to remove what it called a pretext used by world powers to attack Syrians. 
 
In the first known video statement ever to show his face, the leader of the Nusra Front, Mohamad al-Golani, announced that the group would re-form under a new name, with &quot;no ties with any foreign party&quot;. 
 
The move was being made &quot;to remove the excuse used by the international community - spearheaded by America and Russia - to bombard and displace Muslims in the Levant: that they are targeting the Nusra Front which is associated with Al Qaeda,&quot; he said. The group would now be called Jabhat Fatah al-Sham. 
 
Golani appeared in the video flanked by two other Nusra Front figures, in front of Jabhat Fatah al Sham&#39;s new white flag. Nusra Front&#39;s old flag was black, the colour used by ultra-hardline jihadist groups such as Al Qaeda and Islamic State. 
 
Earlier yesterday, bin Laden&#39;s successor as al Qaeda leader, Ayman al-Zawahri, announced that he was giving the Nusra Front his blessing to break away. In his message, Golani thanked Zawahri for putting the interests of the Syrian people ahead of organisational interests. 
 
The move appeared to be an attempt to appeal to Syrians who have long had deep misgivings about Nusra&#39;s links with al Qaeda and the significant presence of foreign jihadists among its ranks, which set it apart from Western-backed rebel groups. 
 
It could alter the strategic alignment on the ground in Syria if the renamed Nusra gains acceptance among other rebel groups fighting against President Bashar al-Assad. 
 
But Assad and his Russian allies are unlikely to accept the rebranding as requiring them to halt military operations that have put the Syrian leader in the strongest position on the battlefield for years. 
 
The Nusra Front, long one of the most powerful rebel forces in Syria&#39;s five-year, multi-sided civil war, was excluded along with Islamic State from a US and Russian-backed ceasefire this year, a loophole other rebels blamed for the truce&#39;s collapse. 
 
Nusra is listed as a terrorist organisation by the United States and United Nations. Assad&#39;s other opponents have long said its presence gave the government and its Russian allies a pretext to abandon the truce and launch advances under the cover of anti-terrorist operations permitted under the ceasefire. 
 
Aleppo siege tightens 
 
The Nusra announcement came as Syria&#39;s government and its Russian allies launched what they called a &quot;humanitarian operation&quot; in the rebel-held sector of Aleppo, Syria&#39;s largest city before the war, which government forces have held under effective siege since early July. 
 
Although Moscow and Damascus described their new plans for rebel-held Aleppo as an operation to aid people trapped there, Western countries are worried that the real aim is to depopulate the area ahead of an offensive to storm it. 
 
Aleppo has been divided into rebel and government zones for years. Asserting full control would be the biggest victory for Assad&#39;s government so far, and a potential turning point in a civil war that has killed hundreds of thousands, spawned the world&#39;s worst refugee crisis and drawn in most regional and world powers. 
 
Rebel-held parts of Aleppo have been bombarded since Wednesday with air-dropped leaflets telling civilians they would be given safe passage out and providing maps to exit routes designated as safe corridors. Yesterday Assad ordered rebel fighters in the city to surrender within three months. 
 
Around 250,000 civilians are believed to be trapped in the rebel zone of Aleppo. The United Nations says food supplies will run out within weeks. 
 
Assad said rebels who surrender within three months would be given an amnesty. State television quoted the governor of Aleppo as saying three humanitarian corridors would be established so residents could safely leave. 
 
Russia said a fourth corridor would be set up in the north of the city for surrendering rebels, near the Castello Road, the main land route into the rebel sector, most of which the army seized to complete its encirclement. 
 
Russian defence minister Sergei Shoigu said: &quot;On behalf of the President of the Russian Federation, today, (we will) start a large-scale humanitarian operation together with the Syrian government to help civilians in Aleppo.&quot; 
 
The UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, said helicopters over rebel-held areas dropped baby diapers and meal packs that had Russian-language labels. 
 
&quot;If it is a genuine humanitarian proposal then clearly it will be accompanied by an end to the bombing campaign and by Russian support for other aspects of this comprehensive approach to the humanitarian situation in Aleppo,&rdquo; British ambassador to the United Nations Matthew Rycroft told reporters in New York. 
 
&ldquo;Clearly the UN and the rest of us cannot be complicit in anything else, for instance an form of emptying of Aleppo or preparing for an onslaught of Aleppo or indeed any continuation of this medieval siege of Aleppo which is going on.&quot; 
 
The proposed safe corridors did not appear to be open so far. Two rebels and aid workers contacted in besieged Aleppo said the army fired at civilians in one of the safe corridors, in the Salah al Din district. A doctor for a medical charity that operates in Aleppo also said the army had fired artillery at families gathering near another humanitarian corridor, in the opposition-held Bustan al Qasr neighbourhood. 
 
Hael Asi Hilal, head of the Syrian Red Crescent in rebel-held areas, said no family so far had been able to leave via any corridor due to snipers firing at them. 
 
The army, backed by allied militia forces and air support from Syrian and Russian jets, has meanwhile taken more ground on the northern edge of the city. State television said the army had advanced in the Bani Zeid district, on the southern side of the Castello road. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said pro-government forces had taken full control of the district. 
 
A rebel source confirmed that the army had made advances. He said Kurdish forces from the nearby Sheikh Maqsoud district had also taken advantage of the fighting to advance into a housing complex in Bani Zeid. 
 
&quot;There has been a (rebel) withdrawal, but no one has surrendered,&quot; Zakaria Malahifji of the Aleppo-based rebel group Fastaqim group told Reuters. 
 
The United States and Russia are both leading separate military campaigns against Islamic State in Syria but are otherwise supporting opposite sides in the wider civil war, with Moscow backing Assad and Washington saying he must leave power. 
 
The Cold War-era superpowers jointly sponsored the ceasefire earlier this year that led to UN brokered peace talks. But that collapsed in May and since then government forces have been advancing with Russian support. 
 
US Secretary of State John Kerry has been holding talks with Russians with the aim of building a system of military cooperation that would allow them to jointly identify legitimate targets not covered by the truce. But so far the negotiations have yet to bear fruit. 
 
A Russian deputy foreign minister, Sergei Ryabkov, said Washington&#39;s stance would allow militants to regroup since it would call for a ceasefire before distinguishing between terrorists and other opposition groups. 
 
&quot;There is an element here of a political ruse at least,&quot; Sergei Ryabkov said. 
 
One US national security official said it was difficult to negotiate with the Russians as long as the wider objectives of Moscow and Washington diverge. 
 
&ldquo;The Russians want to destroy ISIS to save Assad,&rdquo; the official said. &ldquo;We want to destroy ISIS to eliminate a terrorist threat and start a political process to remove Assad, whom President (Barack) Obama has said must go.&rdquo; 
 
(Reuters)

The leader of the Nusra Front, Mohamad al-Golani, appeared in a video in front of the group's new white flag and announced the split

Al Qaeda's powerful Syrian branch announced yesterday it was ending its relationship with the global jihadist network founded by Osama bin Laden and changing its name, to remove what it called a pretext used by world powers to attack Syrians. In the first known video statement ever to show his face, the leader of the Nusra Front, Mohamad al-Golani, announced that the group would re-form under a new name, with "no ties with any foreign party". The move was being made "to remove the excuse used by the international community - spearheaded by America and Russia - to bombard and displace Muslims in the Levant: that they are targeting the Nusra Front which is associated with Al Qaeda," he said. The group would now be called Jabhat Fatah al-Sham. Golani appeared in the video flanked by two other Nusra Front figures, in front of Jabhat Fatah al Sham's new white flag. Nusra Front's old flag was black, the colour used by ultra-hardline jihadist groups such as Al Qaeda and Islamic State. Earlier yesterday, bin Laden's successor as al Qaeda leader, Ayman al-Zawahri, announced that he was giving the Nusra Front his blessing to break away. In his message, Golani thanked Zawahri for putting the interests of the Syrian people ahead of organisational interests. The move appeared to be an attempt to appeal to Syrians who have long had deep misgivings about Nusra's links with al Qaeda and the significant presence of foreign jihadists among its ranks, which set it apart from Western-backed rebel groups. It could alter the strategic alignment on the ground in Syria if the renamed Nusra gains acceptance among other rebel groups fighting against President Bashar al-Assad. But Assad and his Russian allies are unlikely to accept the rebranding as requiring them to halt military operations that have put the Syrian leader in the strongest position on the battlefield for years. The Nusra Front, long one of the most powerful rebel forces in Syria's five-year, multi-sided civil war, was excluded along with Islamic State from a US and Russian-backed ceasefire this year, a loophole other rebels blamed for the truce's collapse. Nusra is listed as a terrorist organisation by the United States and United Nations. Assad's other opponents have long said its presence gave the government and its Russian allies a pretext to abandon the truce and launch advances under the cover of anti-terrorist operations permitted under the ceasefire. Aleppo siege tightens The Nusra announcement came as Syria's government and its Russian allies launched what they called a "humanitarian operation" in the rebel-held sector of Aleppo, Syria's largest city before the war, which government forces have held under effective siege since early July. Although Moscow and Damascus described their new plans for rebel-held Aleppo as an operation to aid people trapped there, Western countries are worried that the real aim is to depopulate the area ahead of an offensive to storm it. Aleppo has been divided into rebel and government zones for years. Asserting full control would be the biggest victory for Assad's government so far, and a potential turning point in a civil war that has killed hundreds of thousands, spawned the world's worst refugee crisis and drawn in most regional and world powers. Rebel-held parts of Aleppo have been bombarded since Wednesday with air-dropped leaflets telling civilians they would be given safe passage out and providing maps to exit routes designated as safe corridors. Yesterday Assad ordered rebel fighters in the city to surrender within three months. Around 250,000 civilians are believed to be trapped in the rebel zone of Aleppo. The United Nations says food supplies will run out within weeks. Assad said rebels who surrender within three months would be given an amnesty. State television quoted the governor of Aleppo as saying three humanitarian corridors would be established so residents could safely leave. Russia said a fourth corridor would be set up in the north of the city for surrendering rebels, near the Castello Road, the main land route into the rebel sector, most of which the army seized to complete its encirclement. Russian defence minister Sergei Shoigu said: "On behalf of the President of the Russian Federation, today, (we will) start a large-scale humanitarian operation together with the Syrian government to help civilians in Aleppo." The UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, said helicopters over rebel-held areas dropped baby diapers and meal packs that had Russian-language labels. "If it is a genuine humanitarian proposal then clearly it will be accompanied by an end to the bombing campaign and by Russian support for other aspects of this comprehensive approach to the humanitarian situation in Aleppo,” British ambassador to the United Nations Matthew Rycroft told reporters in New York. “Clearly the UN and the rest of us cannot be complicit in anything else, for instance an form of emptying of Aleppo or preparing for an onslaught of Aleppo or indeed any continuation of this medieval siege of Aleppo which is going on." The proposed safe corridors did not appear to be open so far. Two rebels and aid workers contacted in besieged Aleppo said the army fired at civilians in one of the safe corridors, in the Salah al Din district. A doctor for a medical charity that operates in Aleppo also said the army had fired artillery at families gathering near another humanitarian corridor, in the opposition-held Bustan al Qasr neighbourhood. Hael Asi Hilal, head of the Syrian Red Crescent in rebel-held areas, said no family so far had been able to leave via any corridor due to snipers firing at them. The army, backed by allied militia forces and air support from Syrian and Russian jets, has meanwhile taken more ground on the northern edge of the city. State television said the army had advanced in the Bani Zeid district, on the southern side of the Castello road. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said pro-government forces had taken full control of the district. A rebel source confirmed that the army had made advances. He said Kurdish forces from the nearby Sheikh Maqsoud district had also taken advantage of the fighting to advance into a housing complex in Bani Zeid. "There has been a (rebel) withdrawal, but no one has surrendered," Zakaria Malahifji of the Aleppo-based rebel group Fastaqim group told Reuters. The United States and Russia are both leading separate military campaigns against Islamic State in Syria but are otherwise supporting opposite sides in the wider civil war, with Moscow backing Assad and Washington saying he must leave power. The Cold War-era superpowers jointly sponsored the ceasefire earlier this year that led to UN brokered peace talks. But that collapsed in May and since then government forces have been advancing with Russian support. US Secretary of State John Kerry has been holding talks with Russians with the aim of building a system of military cooperation that would allow them to jointly identify legitimate targets not covered by the truce. But so far the negotiations have yet to bear fruit. A Russian deputy foreign minister, Sergei Ryabkov, said Washington's stance would allow militants to regroup since it would call for a ceasefire before distinguishing between terrorists and other opposition groups. "There is an element here of a political ruse at least," Sergei Ryabkov said. One US national security official said it was difficult to negotiate with the Russians as long as the wider objectives of Moscow and Washington diverge. “The Russians want to destroy ISIS to save Assad,” the official said. “We want to destroy ISIS to eliminate a terrorist threat and start a political process to remove Assad, whom President (Barack) Obama has said must go.” (Reuters)

Nusra Front renames itself Jabhat Fatah al-Sham, ends link to al Qaeda

A bomb killed four policemen today in the Yemenese city of Aden, where jihadists have repeatedly targeted security forces, a security official said.&nbsp;Another six officers were wounded in the blast in the southern port city where the Saudi-backed government has its base, the official told AFP. 
 
Despite a 16-month-old Saudi-led military intervention, the government has struggled to secure the city.&nbsp;On Friday, a suicide bombing claimed by al-Qaeda hit the convoy of Aden governor Aidarus al-Zubaidi, wounding three people travelling with him. 
 
The jihadists also claimed two suicide bombings on Monday that killed 11 people in two of their former strongholds in the southeast. 
 
Earlier this year, the Saudi-led coalition launched a major offensive against al-Qaeda, helping to recapture the Hadramawt provincial capital of Mukalla in April after a year of jihadist rule.&nbsp;Coalition forces had previously focused their guns on Shiite rebels and their allies who control the capital Sanaa and much of the north and centre, creating a power vacuum that the jihadists exploited. 
 
(AFP)

The attack comes two days after double suicide bombings killed 11 in two of their former strongholds in the southeast

A bomb killed four policemen today in the Yemenese city of Aden, where jihadists have repeatedly targeted security forces, a security official said. Another six officers were wounded in the blast in the southern port city where the Saudi-backed government has its base, the official told AFP. Despite a 16-month-old Saudi-led military intervention, the government has struggled to secure the city. On Friday, a suicide bombing claimed by al-Qaeda hit the convoy of Aden governor Aidarus al-Zubaidi, wounding three people travelling with him. The jihadists also claimed two suicide bombings on Monday that killed 11 people in two of their former strongholds in the southeast. Earlier this year, the Saudi-led coalition launched a major offensive against al-Qaeda, helping to recapture the Hadramawt provincial capital of Mukalla in April after a year of jihadist rule. Coalition forces had previously focused their guns on Shiite rebels and their allies who control the capital Sanaa and much of the north and centre, creating a power vacuum that the jihadists exploited. (AFP)

Al Qaeda bomb kills four policemen, injures six others in Yemen

Suicide bombers today attacked two army checkpoints in a former stronghold of al Qaeda in southeastern Yemen, killing five soldiers, an officer said. 
 
One bomber drove his vehicle into a checkpoint in the west of Mukalla while the second struck in the centre of the city, General Faraj Salemine told AFP, blaming the attack on &quot;terrorists&quot;. 
 
The capital of Hadramawt province, Mukalla had been under the control of al Qaeda for one year until pro-government troops backed by a Saudi-led coalition recaptured the city in April. 
 
Yemen has been gripped by a devastating conflict that escalated in March 2015 when Saudi-led air strikes began against Iran-backed Huthi rebels after the insurgents seized northern and central parts of the country including the capital, Sanaa.&nbsp; 
 
The violence has allowed extremist groups such as al Qaeda and the Islamic State group to extend their influence and launch scores of attacks on security forces. 
 
Last month, IS claimed a wave of suicide bombings targeting Yemeni troops in Mukalla that killed at least 42 people. 
 
The Pentagon said in May that a &quot;very small number&quot; of US military personnel had been deployed around Mukalla in support of pro-government forces. 
 
(AFP)

'One bomber drove his vehicle into a checkpoint in the west of Mukalla while the second struck in the centre of the city'

Suicide bombers today attacked two army checkpoints in a former stronghold of al Qaeda in southeastern Yemen, killing five soldiers, an officer said. One bomber drove his vehicle into a checkpoint in the west of Mukalla while the second struck in the centre of the city, General Faraj Salemine told AFP, blaming the attack on "terrorists". The capital of Hadramawt province, Mukalla had been under the control of al Qaeda for one year until pro-government troops backed by a Saudi-led coalition recaptured the city in April. Yemen has been gripped by a devastating conflict that escalated in March 2015 when Saudi-led air strikes began against Iran-backed Huthi rebels after the insurgents seized northern and central parts of the country including the capital, Sanaa. The violence has allowed extremist groups such as al Qaeda and the Islamic State group to extend their influence and launch scores of attacks on security forces. Last month, IS claimed a wave of suicide bombings targeting Yemeni troops in Mukalla that killed at least 42 people. The Pentagon said in May that a "very small number" of US military personnel had been deployed around Mukalla in support of pro-government forces. (AFP)

Suicide bombers kill 5 soldiers in Yemen?

The Syrian army today said it was observing a 72-hour ceasefire across the country coinciding with the festival marking the end of the Islamic holy month of Ramadan. 
 
&quot;A &#39;regime of silence&#39; is applied across all territory of the Syrian Arab Republic for 72 hours from 1:00 am on July 6 to midnight on July 8,&quot; the army said in a statement republished by official media. 
 
The statement did not specify whether the ceasefire extended to military action against jihadists such as the Islamic State (IS) group or the al Qaeda-affiliated Al-Nusra Front. 
 
A ceasefire between regime forces and non-jihadist rebel groups was announced by Russia and the United States in late February but has mostly collapsed amid repeated violations. 
 
There was no immediate indication whether rebel forces opposing President Bashar al-Assad&#39;s regime would abide by the new truce. 
 
The ceasefire coincides with the three-day Eid ul-Fitr festival marking the end of Ramadan, when devout Muslims fast from dawn until dusk. 
 
Assad joined Eid prayers at a mosque in third city Homs today in a rare public appearance outside the capital Damascus. 
 
State television broadcast footage of the president joining worshippers at the Al-Safa mosque in Homs, which is mainly under government control except for a besieged rebel-held neighbourhood on the city&#39;s outskirts. 
 
Previous attempts to implement ceasefires in Syria have repeatedly failed, as have diplomatic efforts to end a five-year civil war that has killed more than 280,000 people and forced millions from their homes. 
 
Shelling reported in Aleppo 
 
Several temporary truces have been announced in recent months for second city Aleppo, scene of some of the heaviest fighting in the war, but have fallen apart. 
 
Aleppo, which was Syria&#39;s commercial and manufacturing hub before the civil war erupted, is divided between a rebel-held east and regime-controlled west. 
 
Eastern districts have faced heavy bombardment including air strikes from regime forces, while rebels regularly fire rockets into the west. 
 
Despite the ceasefire announcement, Aleppo&#39;s eastern areas came under fire today morning, according to residents and the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a monitoring group. 
 
In the eastern Al-Mashad district a civilian was killed and several wounded when artillery fire fell near a mosque hosting Eid prayers, the Observatory said. 
 
&quot;Shells have been falling on the neighbourhood since early this morning,&quot; resident Ahmad Nassif told AFP. 
 
&quot;I had planned to visit family and friends, to bring my children out to play, but we decided to stay inside the house in case the shelling resumes,&quot; he said. 
 
&quot;I hope things will calm down a bit during Eid, not for me but for my children.&quot; 
 
Syria&#39;s conflict began five years ago with the brutal repression of anti-government demonstrations and has evolved into a complex multi-front war. 
 
IS emerged from the chaos of the war, seizing control of large parts of Syria and neighbouring Iraq, committing widespread atrocities in areas under its control, and organising and inspiring jihadist attacks across the Middle East and in Western cities. 
 
Washington has backed rebel forces in Syria and Moscow is supporting Assad, but the rise of IS has seen efforts focus on defeating the jihadists. 
 
Russia and the United States launched a major attempt last year to bring about peace talks between Assad and rebel forces, but the negotiations faltered as the partial truce announced in February fell apart. 
 
(AFP)

The truce coincides with the three-day Eid ul-Fitr festival marking the end of Ramzan

The Syrian army today said it was observing a 72-hour ceasefire across the country coinciding with the festival marking the end of the Islamic holy month of Ramadan. "A 'regime of silence' is applied across all territory of the Syrian Arab Republic for 72 hours from 1:00 am on July 6 to midnight on July 8," the army said in a statement republished by official media. The statement did not specify whether the ceasefire extended to military action against jihadists such as the Islamic State (IS) group or the al Qaeda-affiliated Al-Nusra Front. A ceasefire between regime forces and non-jihadist rebel groups was announced by Russia and the United States in late February but has mostly collapsed amid repeated violations. There was no immediate indication whether rebel forces opposing President Bashar al-Assad's regime would abide by the new truce. The ceasefire coincides with the three-day Eid ul-Fitr festival marking the end of Ramadan, when devout Muslims fast from dawn until dusk. Assad joined Eid prayers at a mosque in third city Homs today in a rare public appearance outside the capital Damascus. State television broadcast footage of the president joining worshippers at the Al-Safa mosque in Homs, which is mainly under government control except for a besieged rebel-held neighbourhood on the city's outskirts. Previous attempts to implement ceasefires in Syria have repeatedly failed, as have diplomatic efforts to end a five-year civil war that has killed more than 280,000 people and forced millions from their homes. Shelling reported in Aleppo Several temporary truces have been announced in recent months for second city Aleppo, scene of some of the heaviest fighting in the war, but have fallen apart. Aleppo, which was Syria's commercial and manufacturing hub before the civil war erupted, is divided between a rebel-held east and regime-controlled west. Eastern districts have faced heavy bombardment including air strikes from regime forces, while rebels regularly fire rockets into the west. Despite the ceasefire announcement, Aleppo's eastern areas came under fire today morning, according to residents and the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a monitoring group. In the eastern Al-Mashad district a civilian was killed and several wounded when artillery fire fell near a mosque hosting Eid prayers, the Observatory said. "Shells have been falling on the neighbourhood since early this morning," resident Ahmad Nassif told AFP. "I had planned to visit family and friends, to bring my children out to play, but we decided to stay inside the house in case the shelling resumes," he said. "I hope things will calm down a bit during Eid, not for me but for my children." Syria's conflict began five years ago with the brutal repression of anti-government demonstrations and has evolved into a complex multi-front war. IS emerged from the chaos of the war, seizing control of large parts of Syria and neighbouring Iraq, committing widespread atrocities in areas under its control, and organising and inspiring jihadist attacks across the Middle East and in Western cities. Washington has backed rebel forces in Syria and Moscow is supporting Assad, but the rise of IS has seen efforts focus on defeating the jihadists. Russia and the United States launched a major attempt last year to bring about peace talks between Assad and rebel forces, but the negotiations faltered as the partial truce announced in February fell apart. (AFP)

Syrian army declares 72-hour nationwide ceasefire

Residents of a village in central Yemen said Iran-allied Houthi fighters shot dead seven farmers on Thursday while searching for the leader of a pro-government militia. 
 
Peace talks in Kuwait between Yemen&#39;s government and the Houthis to end a civil war have dragged on for two months with few concrete results. A truce that began on April 10 has dampened fighting, but skirmishes continue almost daily. 
 
Residents of the village of Nadara in Ibb province said the Houthis could not find the militia commander but blew up his house and killed seven men working in the fields. 
 
Saudi Arabia and its Gulf Arab allies intervened in Yemen&#39;s war in March 2015 on behalf of the internationally backed government of President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi. The conflict has killed at least 6,400 and caused a humanitarian crisis. 
 
The Houthis said the attack was a raid on a &quot;terrorist cell&quot; and that eight al-Qaeda fighters had been killed in the operation, according to the Houthi-run state news agency, Saba. 
 
Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) has exploited the war to seize a vast swath of the country, winning new recruits and enriching themselves from oil smuggling. 
 
There have been reports of al Qaeda militants joining pro-government and tribal fighters in battles against the Houthis in central Yemen. 
 
However, the Houthis also routinely characterise the militia forces opposed to them as al-Qaeda militants and accuse the Saudi-led coalition of abetting AQAP&#39;s expansion, something the alliance denies. 
 
The alliance members fear the Houthi movement is a proxy for their arch-rivals in Tehran, something the Houthis deny, and have launched thousands of air strikes in a bid to defeat them. 
 
United Nations Yemen envoy Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed on Tuesday told the UN Security Council he would present a roadmap in the coming days to advance the.stalled process. 
 
(Reuters)

Houthis, however, said it was an attack on a 'terrorist cell' and eight al-Qaeda operatives were killed in the raid

Residents of a village in central Yemen said Iran-allied Houthi fighters shot dead seven farmers on Thursday while searching for the leader of a pro-government militia. Peace talks in Kuwait between Yemen's government and the Houthis to end a civil war have dragged on for two months with few concrete results. A truce that began on April 10 has dampened fighting, but skirmishes continue almost daily. Residents of the village of Nadara in Ibb province said the Houthis could not find the militia commander but blew up his house and killed seven men working in the fields. Saudi Arabia and its Gulf Arab allies intervened in Yemen's war in March 2015 on behalf of the internationally backed government of President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi. The conflict has killed at least 6,400 and caused a humanitarian crisis. The Houthis said the attack was a raid on a "terrorist cell" and that eight al-Qaeda fighters had been killed in the operation, according to the Houthi-run state news agency, Saba. Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) has exploited the war to seize a vast swath of the country, winning new recruits and enriching themselves from oil smuggling. There have been reports of al Qaeda militants joining pro-government and tribal fighters in battles against the Houthis in central Yemen. However, the Houthis also routinely characterise the militia forces opposed to them as al-Qaeda militants and accuse the Saudi-led coalition of abetting AQAP's expansion, something the alliance denies. The alliance members fear the Houthi movement is a proxy for their arch-rivals in Tehran, something the Houthis deny, and have launched thousands of air strikes in a bid to defeat them. United Nations Yemen envoy Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed on Tuesday told the UN Security Council he would present a roadmap in the coming days to advance the.stalled process. (Reuters)

Yemen's Houthis kill 7 farmers in search for pro-government fighter: Residents

al-qaeda-1

Al Qaeda, News on Al Qaeda, stories on Al Qaeda, articles on Al Qaeda, Al Qaeda stories at Wion, Al Qaeda news, Al Qaeda latest news

al qaeda-1