Islam Times - Saudi Arabia's direct involvement in Yemen's fighting

The al-Houthi movement showed a picture of the weapons and military equipment that they took from the Yemen army after a victory; weapons which were sent by the Saudi Arabian government for the purpose of destroying the Shia in the Sa'dah province.

According to a report by Al-Manar, the al-Houthi movmement announced that these weapons and military equiptment where taken from Yemen troops. Yemen's 105th brigade left them after a battle with the Shia soldiers in an area called Mullahit.

This report stated that the pictures which were published by the al-Houthi movement showed the symbol of Saudi Arabia and Saudi Arabia's army on the weapons. But, the Yemeni government denies recieving aid from Saudi Arabia and announced: "The purpose behind the al-Houthi movement in publishing these pictures is to gain public support."

The published pictures also showed a number of Yemeni soldiers taken captive by the al-Houthi movement. Yemeni military sources announced on Saturday that there was heavy fighting between the army and the Shias of Sa'dah Friday night. Tens of people were killed."

A military official, who wanted by remain annonymous, said in an interview with French reporters: "The army and para-military forces entered into a heavy battle Friday night. The battle lasted all the way to Saturday morning."

But, on Friday the Yemeni government stated that they would stop fighting the al-Houthi movement in order to obtain aid from the United Nations. But, a few hours later they bombed Shia positions in the Sa'dah province disregarding their earlier decision.

The role that the Saudi Arabian government is playing in the war against the al-Houthi movement is becoming clearer and clearer. The people of Yemen are starting to show various reactions to these conditions.

The Fars News Agency reported that Sayf 'Ali al-Washli, a polition who is in opposition to the Yemeni government, critisized Saudi Arabian officials for interfering in Yemeni internal affairs. He stated: "The Saudi family has a long history of oppression against the followers of the Ahl al-Bayt (a). By targeting the Zaydi Shias of Yemen, from the year 2004 until now, their evil face has been shown to the world."

He said: "Saudi Arabian Muslims have suffered many wars and theological disputes over the last hundred of years beause of the Sauidi leaders.

This politician added: "The Saudi Arabian regime support terrorists in Yemen and the Ba'thists in Iraq."