Battle of Sanaa (2017)

For other uses, see Battle of Sanaa.
Battle of Sanaa (2017)
Part of the Yemeni Crisis and the Yemeni Civil War (2014–present)

Situation in Sana'a, early December 2017
  Houthi control
  Saleh control (Before being expelled)
Date28 November 2017 – 4 December 2017
(6 days)[4][5]
Location
Sana'a, Yemen
Result

Houthi victory[5]

Belligerents

Yemen Supreme Political Council

Yemen Saleh loyalists

Supported by:
Saudi-led coalition:[3]
 Saudi Arabia
 United Arab Emirates
Commanders and leaders
Abdul-Malik al-Houthi
Mohammed Ali al-Houthi
Saleh Ali al-Sammad		 Yemen Ali Abdullah Saleh X
Yemen Tareq Saleh (WIA)[8]
Yemen Khaled Ali Saleh (POW)
Saudi Arabia Aref al-Zouka †[1]
Casualties and losses
Unknown Unknown number of killed, 600 soldiers captured and later released[9]
234 killed, 400 wounded overall
(per the ICRC and the UN)[10][11]

The Battle of Sanaa (2017) was fought between forces loyal to Ali Abdullah Saleh and the Houthis in the Yemeni capital of Sana'a. Both sides were allied during the 2014–15 Houthi takeover of the government but the alliance ended when Saleh decided to break ranks with the Houthis and call for dialogue with Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, who are leading a military intervention in Yemen. Fighting then broke out between the Houthis and forces loyal to Saleh as the Saudi-led coalition began bombing Houthi areas, ultimately resulting in Saleh's death and a Houthi victory.

  1. ^ a b "Death of a leader: Where next for Yemen's GPC after murder of Saleh?". Middle East Eye. 23 January 2018. Retrieved 31 May 2018.
  2. ^ Cite error: The named reference almasirah was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ "Saudi-led air strikes support Yemen's Saleh as he shifts against Houthis". Reuters. 3 December 2017. Retrieved 3 December 2017.
  4. ^ "U.N. says fighting stops in Sanaa, Saleh funeral expected". Reuters. 5 December 2017. Retrieved 6 December 2017.
  5. ^ a b "Houthis detain 700 officers of republican guard in Sanaa's Central Prison". Egypt Today. 6 December 2017. Retrieved 6 December 2017.
  6. ^ Leith Fadel (2 December 2017). "Violence escalates in Sanaa as Saleh loyalists battle Houthis". Al Masdar News. Archived from the original on 16 June 2018. Retrieved 2 December 2017.
  7. ^ "Houthis reportedly gain control of most of Sanaa". Al-Jazeera. 4 December 2017. Retrieved 4 December 2017.
  8. ^ "Yemeni sources: Nephew of slain former president alive".
  9. ^ "Yemen: Houthis release 600 ex-President Saleh supporters". www.aa.com.tr. Retrieved 30 June 2019.
  10. ^ "The Latest: ICRC says 234 killed in clashes in Yemen's Sanaa". ABC News. 5 December 2017. Archived from the original on 5 December 2017. Retrieved 5 December 2017.
  11. ^ Fighting in Yemeni capital over last six days leaves 230 dead: UN