World Refugee Day 2013
Yemen demands discontinuation of US strikes
The Yemeni government said that, because the war between the Yemeni military and Ansar Al-Sharia ended, the U.S. should honor its agreement to discontinue action.
Abdusalam Mohammed, head of the Abaad Studies and Research Centre, a think-tank based in Sana’a, said the agreement between Yemen and the U.S. to stop the air raids carried out by U.S. drones will help soften attitudes toward the U.S.
Abdusalam said the agreement will lessen the spread of hatred toward the U.S. that some groups, such as the Houthis and Ansar Al-Sharia, try to spread. He said the agreement will have a positive impact and will decrease the number of civilians killed during U.S. strikes.
There are currently fewer air raids than what were carried out by the former Yemeni regime. According to Abdusalam, there are fewer victims from strikes now than those killed in the Al-Ma’jala air raid conducted by the U.S. in 2009.
In addition, Abdusalam said there are more disputes in Yemen than ever before, particularly regarding the southern secessionist issue in which Iran plays an essential role. He said the agreement between Yemen and the U.S. could prevent external intervention in Yemen.
It also should be honored because Ansar Al-Sharia militants are weaker now, according to Abdusalam.
Journalists reported that more than 40 militants were seen passing through the governorate of Dalea’, heading toward Lahj and Aden.
According to the Yemen Defense Ministry website, “Information indicated that those militants came from Rada’a in Beida’a governorate. They were targeting the Central Prison in Dalea’ because they thought the militants arrested in Al-Shoaib district are being held there.”
Anees Mansour, a journalist and political analyst in Aden, said militants infiltrated the Al-Mansoura area in Aden after confrontations broke out between security services and members of the southern movement on Saturday.
“I saw some people inside a Toyota Corolla distributing brochures of Ansar Al-Sharia and writing slogans on the walls,” Mansour said. “Not one of them was caught.”
The Yemen Times tried to contact Sadeq Haid, Aden’s security chief, but he declined to make a statement.
