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Three Saudi nationals kidnapped in Yemen
 [Yemen Post] The Saada-based Houthi ...a Zaidi Shia insurgent group operating in Yemen. They have also been referred to as the Believing Youth. Hussein Badreddin al-Houthi is said to be the spiritual leader of the group and most of the military leaders are his relatives. The Yemeni government has accused the Houthis of having ties to the Iranian government, which wouldn't suprise most of us. The group has managed to gain control over all of Saada Governorate and parts of Amran, Al Jawf and Hajjah Governorates.... group has kidnapped three Saudis while they were crossing the restive governorate of Aljawf located in the Saudi-Yemen borders, a Saudi newspaper, Alwatan said on Thursday. The newspaper affirmed that the Saudis were interrupted in a checkpoint set by the Houthi group and were transferred to Saada governorate. Alwatan quoted the Saudi ambassador to Yemen Ali Alhamda as saying that the Saudi embassy follows up the case of the Saudi nationals, pointing out that the Yemeni authorities exert efforts to release them. Deputy governor of Al-Jawf Mansour Bin Abdan affirmed that the Saudis were held by Houth fighters after the entered the governorate, citing that they were taken to Saada. Houthi rebels always arrange demonstrations in some Yemeni cities in which they raise slogans that slam the Saudi intervention in Yemen. The Houthi group is known with its ties with Iran and the Yemeni authorities and political parties accuse the Houthis of adopting foreign agenda and receiving financial and military support from Tehran. Iran supports the Houthis primarily because they belong to the Shiite sect and Iran is known with its policy of to helping, supporting and uniting the Shias all over the region A recently-released Saudi intelligence report revealed that Iran has extension plans in Yemen with the aim of controlling the Yemeni political arena, the Saudi Al-Sharaq newspaper published the Arabic-written report last week. The report said that Tehran supported creation of political parties loyal to Tehran and funds groups and media outlets to adopt Iran attitudes toward events in the region. It affirmed that figures affiliated to the Iranian regime and Hizballah work to recruit politicians, journalists and media practitioners, particularly those who study abroad. Posted by: Fred 2012-02-11 |
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