Yemeni forces kill rebel leader, take town--govt
Credit: Reuters
DUBAI Nov 19 (Reuters) - Yemeni government forces fighting rebels in the north of the country have killed a rebel leader and forced his followers to retreat, a government website reported on Thursday.
The website quoted sources familiar with the matter as saying that Houthi leader Ali Alqatwani was killed in the fighting and that government troops exchanged fire with supporters of two other rebel chief, Ali Alsayani and Abu Hizam.
Government forces took control of Almalaheez in Saada, the website added.
The Shi'ite rebels have also been attacked by Saudi forces since infiltrating into the top oil exporter's territory from Yemen earlier this month, raising concern about the wider impact of instability in Yemen, one of the poorest nations outside Africa.
Houthi leaders Abbas Aaida and Abu Haider were killed on Wednesday and another commander, Yousif al-Madani, was wounded but escaped, according to the state-run website.
In August, Yemen stepped up its military campaign against the rebels, who belong to the Zaidi Shi'ite Muslim minority, after about five years of sporadic fighting with the group.
The rebels say they suffer religious, economic and social marginalisation and neglect. (Reporting by Rania Oteify, editing by Tim Pearce) (rania.oteify@thomsonreuters.com; +971 4 391 8301; Reuters Messaging: rania.oteify.reuters.com@reuters.net))
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