Houthi rebels have pushed Thursday into southern Yemen, controlling Attaq, the capital city of Shabwa Governorate, according to Sky News satellite channel. Attaq, 458 kilometers south of Sana'a, fell into the grip of Ansar Allah (Supporters of God) Shiite militias following a bloody tussle between Houthi rebels backed by supporters of former president Ali Abdullah Saleh and pro-incumbent president fighters, Sky News added. Yemen's legitimate president Abdrabbuh Mansur Hadi still has great backing among tribesmen of the southern provinces where Popular Resistance Committees have been formed. The Tehran-backed Houthi rebels, along with forces loyal to Abdullah Saleh forced Mr. Hadi to flee the country late in March after they had captured the port city of Aden. The impoverished but strategic country has been descending into a severe political quagmire for the last four years following the 2011 uprising. The Saudi-led "Storm of Resolve" has been hammering since March 26 positions of Houthis at the request of beleaguered Hadi in a bid to thwart the country from completely falling into the grip of the Shiite militias. During their last Arab summit earlier in April, Arab leaders came to terms in Egypt's Red sea resort of Sharm El Sheikh regarding the formation of a unified Arab military force to save Arab national security. Houthi Movement, founded in 1992 in Sa'da Province, is currently the biggest insurgent group in Yemen, controlling a large swathe of its territories.
