Yemen: Houthis fighters enter main al-Qaeda stronghold in central Yemen
Houthi fighters backed by Yemeni government forces entered an al-Qaeda stronghold in central Yemen on Sunday, local tribesmen said, one day after Sunni Islamist fighters pushed their Shi’ite rivals back.
The Houthis moved into al-Manasseh area in al-Bayda province under cover from Katyusha rocket fire from the Yemeni army and presidential guard. Tribal sources said the Ansar al-Sharia fighters withdrew to another district called Bakla, some 3 km (two miles) away.
The Houthis have advanced into central and western Yemen since they seized control of Yemeni capital Sanaa on Sept. 21, taking on Sunni tribesmen and al-Qaeda militants.
Fighting has flared up in several provinces, alarming neighbor Saudi Arabia, the world’s No. 1 oil exporter.