Rebellion among Houthi militia ranks in Taez

Yemeni security forces in Taez, who had allied themselves with the Houthi militia and supporters of former President Ali Abdullah Saleh, rebelled against orders of marching to Aden, Al Arabiya News Channel reported Sunday citing local sources.

Members of Taez’s military police refused to head to Aden, where the country’s legitimate government has been holding court since the Houthi takeover of Sanaa earlier this year.

Separately, local sources said around 300 Houthi militants – supported by army forces and tanks – stormed the al-Jalila area in the al-Dalea governorate south of Yemen.

The Houthis were met by local armed groups in clashes that left a number of people wounded, Al Arabiya reported citing eyewitness accounts. The militia also managed to take control of military camps from local armed groups.

Sources said scores fled their homes in al-Dalea, as clashes continued in the al-Jalila area between locals and Houthis which left an unidentified number of casualties.

Al Arabiya reported that antiaircraft weapons were fired at Arab coalition warplanes as they flew over the al-Jalila.

Saudi Arabia is leading a 10-state coalition to combat the Houthi’s advancement of Yemen in support of the country’s legitimate President Abdrabbu Mansour Hadi and his government.