SANA'A: Despite earlier promises of a truce between the al-Houthi rebel fighters and Salafists in northern Yemen, tensions are once again flaring up, leading to renewed armed clashes in the war-torn region. Al-Houthi rebels are Shia Muslims seen by the ultra-conservative Salafists as a religious aberration and should be eradicated. One of the Salafist spokespersons announced on Thursday that four of its fighters had been killed in the northern Yemeni province of Sa'ada, along the border with Saudi Arabia. The rival Muslim sects have been fighting sporadically since the beginning of the popular uprising as both saw an opportunity in the breakdown of security, hoping to put an end to their adversary's territorial ambitions. For the past 6 months, al-Houthis rebel fighters have been eaten up at new areas, slowly making their way towards an opening to the Red Sea as they are trying to create a direct supply line with Iran, their main supporter. Saudi officials have already warned that they would engage in an armed conflict if the Shia fighters were to seize a Yemeni port, as it would put their “national security at risk.” Clashes between the Salafists and al-Houthis already spilled over the Saudi borders as villages sitting on both sides were being fought over. Al-Houthis have recently announced that they had formed a new political party in order to enter the Yemeni presidential race. BM ShortURL: http://goo.gl/O7tZG Tags: Al Houthis, featured, Salafists, Sectarianism Section: Latest News, Religion, Yemen
