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Shiite insurgents control Yemen’s presidential palace and residence Shiite insurgents control Yemen’s presidential palace and residence
(about 1 hour later)
SANAA, Yemen — Shiite insurgents controlled the palace and residence of Yemen’s besieged president Wednesday following attacks that threatened to topple a government that has been a key American ally in the fight against al-Qaeda. SANAA, Yemen — Shiite insurgents tightened their grip on Yemen’s capital Wednesday, seizing control of a missile base and keeping the president as a virtual hostage in a showdown threatening a key American ally in the fight against al-Qaeda.
The assaults by the Houthi rebel faction — believed to be backed by Iran — marked a major setback for Yemeni President Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi. Days of fast-moving advances by the Houthi rebel faction — believed to be backed by Iran — has left the Western-backed government of President Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi backed into a corner with rapidly diminishing options.
Witnesses said early Wednesday that his presidential guards fled after Houthi fighters seized the palace Tuesday and surrounded Hadi’s home, where he is thought to be held up, following intense clashes in the capital, Sanaa, that began Monday. Just hours after storming the presidential palace on Tuesday, the Houthi leader gave what amounted to an ultimatum: Hadi can either move ahead with reforms that include giving rebels more power or risk intensified attacks that could topple his government.
While Hadi apparently has clung to nominal power, the rebels’ leader warned that the offensive “has no ceiling” if the president does not implement plans that include granting more power to the insurgents. The brinksmanship and uncertainly has pushed Yemen closer to a full-scale political breakdown that could resonate deeply in Washington and among its key regional allies, including neighboring Saudi Arabia.
A government collapse could send the country into a full-scale civil war, threatening a Syria-like disintegration that many fear could be exploited by radical groups such as al-Qaeda. Yemen is home to the terrorist group’s most powerful branch, al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP). Washington depends on Hadi’s government as a critical partner against al-Qaeda’s branch in Yemen, which is considered one of the most active in recruitment and waging potential attacks. The group, known as al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP), claimed responsibility for a role in the most deadly attack amid the Paris bloodshed earlier this month.
In protest of the Houthi actions, authorities closed the airport in the southern port city of Aden Wednesday morning “until further notice,” Tarek Abdu, the head of the air facility, said in comments reported by The Associated Press. The city’s sea port also was shut in protest, the news agency reported. Greater chaos in Yemen could be a serious setback to U.S.-led pressures against AQAP, including drone strikes. It also could open another sectarian battleground in the Middle East between Sunni-led al-Qaeda and the rival Shiite rebels.
Hadi’s weakened position is likely to spell trouble for Washington, which has relied heavily on the 69-year-old former general for cooperation in carrying out drone strikes that have targeted AQAP. The Houthis have been vocal critics of the U.S. government. But it was not immediately clear whether the rebels would force the Yemeni president to suspend the strikes, since the Houthis also consider al-Qaeda an enemy. A closely watched barometer of U.S. worries is whether the Obama administration keeps open the embassy in Yemen’s capital Sanaa. There were no immediately signs from Washington of a full diplomatic withdrawal.
The Houthis, followers of the Zaydi branch of Shiite Islam, are based in the northern Saada province but swept into the capital in September. They met little resistance from Yemen’s military, which has had a strained relationship with Hadi. Even as Houthi fighters consolidated control in Sanaa, the president remained pinned down in his besieged residence. One presidential adviser, speaking on condition of anonymity to the Associated Press, described Hadi as a “captive.”
Tuesday’s assault brought Hadi’s government to the brink of collapse. Rebels, meanwhile, added to their growing list of captured prizes. Houthi units easily took control of a missile base overlooking the city, the AP reported. The fighters apparently faced no resistance in another possible sign of deep divisions and disarray in the military ranks.
Yemen’s information minister, Nadia Sakkaf, wrote in an Arabic tweet that the “Yemeni president is being attacked by armed militias that want to overthrow” the government. She wrote from Sanaa that the presidential palace had been under siege since 3 p.m., “even though political talks are still ongoing.” In protest of the Houthi actions, authorities closed the airport in the southern port city of Aden on Wednesday “until further notice,” Tarek Abdu, the head of the air facility, said in comments reported by the AP. The city’s seaport, a key lifeline for landlocked Sanaa, also was shut.
A government official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because of concern for his safety, said Hadi was pinned down by an assault on his residence, about three miles from the palace. The Houthis have been vocal critics of the U.S. government. But it was not immediately clear whether the rebels would force the Yemeni president to suspend the strikes, since the Houthis also consider al-Qaeda an enemy.
In recent days, the Houthis have taken control of state-run media outlets and government buildings, including offices of the Yemeni intelligence service. The Houthis, followers of the Zaydi branch of Shiite Islam, are based in the northern Saada province but swept into the capital in September. But the collapse of cease-fire talks on Monday triggered a series of blitz-style rebel attacks at the heart of power.
Tuesday night, the rebel chief, Abdulmalik Houthi, delivered a long televised statement that stopped short of declaring a change of leadership. He leveled sweeping criticism at Hadi for alleged corruption and for failing to unite a country beset by years of unrest and a growing water shortage. Fighters swept into the presidential palace and surrounded Hadi in his residence, about three miles away.
He demanded talks that could leave Hadi in charge — if barely. “All options are open,” the rebel leader said. He called on the president to implement power-sharing agreements signed by Hadi and the Houthis in September. Hours later, the rebel chief, Abdulmalik Houthi, delivered a long televised statement that stopped short of declaring a change of leadership. He leveled sweeping criticism at Hadi for alleged corruption and for failing to unite a country beset by years of unrest and a growing water shortage.
He demanded talks that could leave Hadi in charge — if barely.
“All options are open,” the rebel leader said. He called on the president to implement power-sharing agreements signed by Hadi and the Houthis in September.
The Houthis have mounted intermittent rebellions against the government since 2004 over what they say is discrimination. Zaydis form nearly a third of Yemen’s population of 24 million, which is majority Sunni Muslim.The Houthis have mounted intermittent rebellions against the government since 2004 over what they say is discrimination. Zaydis form nearly a third of Yemen’s population of 24 million, which is majority Sunni Muslim.
Ali Abdullah Saleh, the former president, who is also a Zaydi, was able to remain in power for more than three decades, in part because of his ability to cultivate ties with Sunni officials and tribal leaders. He was forced out of office in 2012 by a popular uprising inspired by the Arab Spring. His departure led to Hadi winning a single-candidate election for the presidency.Ali Abdullah Saleh, the former president, who is also a Zaydi, was able to remain in power for more than three decades, in part because of his ability to cultivate ties with Sunni officials and tribal leaders. He was forced out of office in 2012 by a popular uprising inspired by the Arab Spring. His departure led to Hadi winning a single-candidate election for the presidency.
Many in Yemen accuse Saleh of using his ties with the military to undermine the current president. They say he has conspired with the Houthis, who have been steadily advancing southward and now control nine provincial capitals.Many in Yemen accuse Saleh of using his ties with the military to undermine the current president. They say he has conspired with the Houthis, who have been steadily advancing southward and now control nine provincial capitals.
In November, the U.N. Security Council imposed sanctions on Saleh and two Houthi leaders for threatening Yemen’s stability.
Hakim Almasmari, a Yemeni journalist, said there is little Hadi can do to counter the Houthi advances. The president lacks support in the military because of his attempts to remove officers seen as loyal to Saleh, he said.
“Hadi has no loyalty with the army, and that’s why you see the Houthis in power today,” Almasmari said, speaking by telephone from Sanaa.
Riad Kahwaji, chief executive of the Dubai-based Institute for Near East and Gulf Military Analysis, warned that the consequences of the current crisis could be severe.
“The world is very much occupied with what’s going on with Iraq and Syria, but we could find ourselves facing another civil war situation in Yemen, but one where there is a power vacuum for extremists,” he said.
The Houthis are opposed by the Sunni tribes, some of whom sympathize with AQAP. The crisis also risks splintering the military into rival factions. Meanwhile, southern separatists have been agitating for several years to undo a 1990 pact that unified North and South Yemen, and they may feel emboldened by the growing chaos.The Houthis are opposed by the Sunni tribes, some of whom sympathize with AQAP. The crisis also risks splintering the military into rival factions. Meanwhile, southern separatists have been agitating for several years to undo a 1990 pact that unified North and South Yemen, and they may feel emboldened by the growing chaos.
Although the Houthis have battled with al-Qaeda-linked fighters before, the potential unraveling of central authority may offer breathing room for AQAP, allowing the group to plan attacks outside Yemen.Although the Houthis have battled with al-Qaeda-linked fighters before, the potential unraveling of central authority may offer breathing room for AQAP, allowing the group to plan attacks outside Yemen.
AQAP claimed responsibility for planning and funding the attack early this month at the French satirical newspaper Charlie Hebdo, the start of three days of terrorist violence that left 17 people dead.AQAP claimed responsibility for planning and funding the attack early this month at the French satirical newspaper Charlie Hebdo, the start of three days of terrorist violence that left 17 people dead.
In Washington, President Obama was monitoring the situation in Yemen, according to senior adviser Valerie Jarrett.
“He obviously is in touch with the folks on the ground, our embassy,” Jarrett told MSNBC. “He’s getting regular updates from his national security team.”
The Houthi rebels issued seemingly contradictory statements about Tuesday’s violence. Before their leader spoke, a statement on a Houthi-run Web site said the group’s fighters took control of the presidential palace to avoid weapons looting amid the chaos. But the move appeared to be far more serious.
Sunni Arab nations, including neighboring Saudi Arabia, accuse the Houthis of being a proxy for Shiite power Iran. The Houthis deny this and say they seek to root out corruption.Sunni Arab nations, including neighboring Saudi Arabia, accuse the Houthis of being a proxy for Shiite power Iran. The Houthis deny this and say they seek to root out corruption.
Tuesday’s showdown came after days of turbulence. The U.N. Security Council on Tuesday called an emergency meeting after rebels seized the presidential palace, and issued a statement condemning the violence and calling for a cease-fire.
On Saturday, Houthi militants abducted Hadi’s chief of staff, Ahmed Awad bin Mubarak, who has been tasked with helping to draft a new constitution. The current version of the document includes measures that are opposed by the Houthis, such as a proposal to make Yemen a federal entity divided into six states.
The conflict intensified with clashes Monday in which at least nine people were killed. Another government official, also speaking on the condition of anonymity, said the country’s prime minister, Khaled Bahah, had been trapped inside another palace by the Shiite fighters since Monday.
The Security Council on Tuesday called an emergency meeting after rebels seized the presidential palace, and issued a statement condemning the violence and calling for a cease-fire.
The statement, approved unanimously by the council’s 15 members, “underlined” that Hadi is “the legitimate authority based on election results.”The statement, approved unanimously by the council’s 15 members, “underlined” that Hadi is “the legitimate authority based on election results.”
The Security Council said Yemenis “must stand with President Hadi” and his government in order to “keep the country on track to stability and security.”The Security Council said Yemenis “must stand with President Hadi” and his government in order to “keep the country on track to stability and security.”
Brian Murphy in Washington contributed to this report.