Is it open war in Yemen, asks Nasser Arrabyee The Yemeni government has declared open war against Al-Qaeda, which has been growing rapidly since January 2009 when the Yemeni branch merged with the Saudi branch to form the so-called Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP). The United States and Britain are teaming up to help the beleaguered Yemen government, which is facing an armed rebellion in the north and increasing separation sentiments in the south in addition to this open war with Al-Qaeda. The failed plot to bring down a US-bound airliner on Christmas day was carried out by the Nigerian citizen Omar Abdel-Mutallab, who was allegedly trained in Yemen and planned the attack from there. This was also a declaration of war against the United States by AQAP, which claimed responsibility for this plot and vowed that more such strikes are on the way. On 28 January, London will host an international conference chaired by British Prime Minister Gordon Brown aimed at rescuing Yemen from collapsing like Somalia. The UN Secretary- General Ban Ki-Moon declared his support for the conference. Fears and concerns are increasing among Yemenis that the results of the conference may lead to direct involvement of the US and UK in a war against AQAP in a country which needs development aid far more than it needs Western military intervention. Two alleged Al-Qaeda operatives were killed and three injured on 4 January, when anti-terror Yemeni forces clashed with an Al-Qaeda cell in Arhab area, about 40km east of the capital Sanaa. The cell is believed to have been on its way to implement their previous threats against US and UK embassies in Sanaa, which all closed at the beginning of the week. The victims were most likely the head of the military wing of AQAP, Kasem Al-Raimi, and his comrade Hezam Mujali. Both Al-Raimi and Mujali survived a raid on their hideout on 17 December in the same place where four would-be suicide bombers were killed and four others arrested. The two embassies in Sanaa reopened on Tuesday after the Yemeni security officials said there was no serious threat against them. "The successful operation implemented by the Yemeni security forces against terrorism in Arhab on 4 January removed an issue of concern and helped the embassy to take the decision of reopening," said the US embassy. "The terror threat is still high on the American interests," the statement added. The security officials also said those terrorists who threatened the embassies were struck in their hideout in Arhab, and five other Al-Qaeda members suspected of being behind the threats were arrested immediately after the threats in different places in Sanaa and Hodeida. The second strike on Arhab came only one day after a hurried visit to Yemen by US commander for the Middle East David Petraeus, who met President Ali Abdullah Saleh and senior officials. The Western-trained Special Forces troops were deployed this week in the eastern areas of the country where at least 400 Al-Qaeda operatives are hiding and trying to incite the most conservative tribes there against America and the "agent and traitor" Yemeni government, which has launched a "Crusade war" against them. The Eritrean-backed Al-Shabab Al-Mujahid in Somalia said in a press statement they would send fighters to support AQAP to fight the "enemies of Allah" in Yemen. Earlier, the Yemeni security forces arrested Mohamed Abdu Saleh Al-Hawdali in a raid 30 December on an Al-Qaeda hideout in Hodeida province in the west of the country. The security officials described Al-Hawdali as a dangerous operative of Al-Qaeda, and said that his arrest came after accurate surveillance for his movements. In Arhab, the security forces arrested Mohamed Ali Al-Hanek, an Al-Qaeda operative who came back from Afghanistan. The American-backed Yemeni war against Al-Qaeda started on 17 December, when the Yemen government implemented three simultaneous pre-emptive strikes on Al-Qaeda hideouts in Sanaa, Arhab, Abyan, and on 24 December in Shabwah. The remote eastern provinces of Abyan Shabwah, and Mareb are extremely poor and almost lawless, and considered safe havens of Al-Qaeda militants. The next strike is expected to be on Mareb, the main stronghold of Al-Qaeda and its leadership. The tribesmen of Mareb, who are loyal to the government, warned Al-Qaeda operatives to stay away or surrender themselves; otherwise, their fate would be that of their comrades in Arhab, Abyan and Shabwah. The tribesmen said that their province Mareb in general and Abaida valley in particular had been safe havens for planning many previous terrorist acts like the assassination of security officials in Mareb and Hudhrmout, and the killing and kidnapping of tourists. Four Mareb locals -- Aidh Jaber Al-Shabwani, Ali Fares, Tarek bin Saood Mueli, and Ghalib Al-Zaidi -- are wanted by the security forces as terrorists. Said Obaid Al-Jamhi, an expert in Islamic groups and author of Al-Qaeda in Yemen said that the recent strikes confused Al-Qaeda. "The strikes showed the cooperation and coordination between Yemen, the US, Saudi Arabia and all the Gulf Countries," said Obaid. Obaid said Al-Qaeda in these remote areas focuses on inciting the simple tribesmen against the government and United States. Meanwhile, Al-Houthi rebels said this week they would abide by all conditions set by the government if the military operations against them stop. "We are ready to comply with all conditions set by the government, if there is a fair and comprehensive solution that will guarantee the war will never erupt again," said Mohamed Abdel-Salam, the spokesman of the rebels. "The government should declare a ceasefire and sit with Al-Houthis and look at their demands," said the spokesman in a response to a call by the country's highest security committee for the rebels to abide by the six conditions set by the government if they want to end the war. If the rebels abide by the six conditions and prove their seriousness to implement them, then a ceasefire will happen and a mechanism and certain period of time for full implementation of these conditions will be immediately set, said a statement issued Saturday by the supreme security committee which supervises the ongoing four-month war. The six conditions include: the rebels open roads; remove landmines; come down from mountains; withdraw from government buildings in the centres of the districts and not interfere in the affairs of the local authorities; return the plundered military and civil equipment; release all captives, abide by the constitution and not attack Saudi Arabia. The call by the security committee comes after President Ali Abdullah Saleh called Al-Houthi rebels to make peace in the New Year. Saleh wrote an editorial in the official Al-Thawrah daily "Let 2010 be the year of peace". Saleh called on the rebels to abide by the six conditions if they want the war to be over. He also appealed to the secessionist groups in the south for dialogue for unity and the constitution. In the same article, Saleh urged Al-Qaeda operatives to put down their weapons and renounce violence and extremism if they want to save their lives.
