The leader of Yemen's Shia rebels may have died after being severely wounded by government forces in the north of the country, a Yemeni government website and media said on Sunday.| Our prayers for sepsis have been heard! |
The Shia rebels, known as the Houthis after the family name of their leader Abdul-Malik al-Houthi, are fighting government troops in impoverished Yemen's mountainous north, complaining of social, religious and economic discrimination.
Yemen's defence ministry website said Houthi was wounded in an attack by troops and might have died from his wounds.
"There are increasing reports about the death of the terrorist Abdul-Malik al-Houthi, who was severely injured in an attack aimed at a gathering with a group of terrorist elements," the website said, adding that he may have been buried already.
Saudi-owned Al Arabiya television also said the rebel leader was dead, citing unnamed Yemeni sources as saying he was killed in an airstrike. Yemeni news websites carried the same report.
The rebels could not be contacted and their website did not comment on the reports. Past reports about Houthi's death were never confirmed but the latest reports appeared to be stronger.
The conflict drew in neighbouring Saudi Arabia, the world's top oil exporter, after the Houthis seized Saudi territory last month, prompting Riyadh to launch strikes against them.
The United States and Saudi Arabia fear al Qaida will exploit instability in Yemen to stage attacks in the kingdom and beyond.
The rebels said in a statement on their website on Sunday that Saudi Arabia launched 31 air raids on the Jaberi area -- a Saudi territory with a large rebel concentration -- in addition to 15 air strikes on areas in Yemen on Saturday night.
"Air strikes and missiles continued all of last night...," the statement said. "This morning, the Saudi army began to advance inland into Jaberi."
Saudi officials could not be reached for comment.