The Battle of Sanaa was a battle during the
2011 Yemeni uprising between forces loyal to
Yemen
Yemen (; ar, ٱلْيَمَن, al-Yaman), officially the Republic of Yemen,, ) is a country in Western Asia. It is situated on the southern end of the Arabian Peninsula, and borders Saudi Arabia to the Saudi Arabia–Yemen border, north and ...
i leader
Ali Abdullah Saleh
Ali Abdullah Saleh al-Ahmar (, ''ʿAlī ʿAbdullāh Ṣāliḥ al-Aḥmar;'' 21 March 1947There is a dispute as to Saleh's date of birth, some saying that it was on 21 March 1942. See: However, by Saleh's own confession, he was born in 1947 al ...
and opposition tribal forces led by
Sheikh
Sheikh (pronounced or ; ar, شيخ ' , mostly pronounced , plural ' )—also transliterated sheekh, sheyikh, shaykh, shayk, shekh, shaik and Shaikh, shak—is an honorific title in the Arabic language. It commonly designates a chief of a ...
Sadiq al-Ahmar
Sheikh Sadiq bin Abdullah bin Hussein bin Nasser al-Ahmar ( ar, الشيخ صادق الأحمر; born 6 October 1956 ) is a Yemeni politician and the leader of the Hashid tribal federation. He succeeded his father Abdullah ibn Husayn al-Ahmar in ...
for control of the Yemeni capital
Sanaa
Sanaa ( ar, صَنْعَاء, ' , Yemeni Arabic: ; Old South Arabian: 𐩮𐩬𐩲𐩥 ''Ṣnʿw''), also spelled Sana'a or Sana, is the capital and largest city in Yemen and the centre of Sanaa Governorate. The city is not part of the Governo ...
and, on the part of the opposition, for the purpose of the downfall of president Saleh.
Background
The 2011 Yemeni uprising followed the initial stages of the
Tunisian Revolution
The Tunisian Revolution, also called the Jasmine Revolution, was an intensive 28-day campaign of civil resistance. It included a series of street demonstrations which took place in Tunisia, and led to the ousting of longtime president Zine El ...
and occurred simultaneously with the
Egyptian Revolution and other
mass protests in the Middle East in early 2011. In the early phase, protests in
Yemen
Yemen (; ar, ٱلْيَمَن, al-Yaman), officially the Republic of Yemen,, ) is a country in Western Asia. It is situated on the southern end of the Arabian Peninsula, and borders Saudi Arabia to the Saudi Arabia–Yemen border, north and ...
were initially against unemployment, economic conditions and corruption, and the poor
economy of Yemen
The economy of Yemen has significantly weakened since the breakout of the Yemeni Civil War and the humanitarian crisis, which has caused instability, escalating hostilities, and flooding in the region. At the time of unification, South Yemen ...
. as well as against the government's proposals to modify
Yemen's constitution. The protestors' demands then escalated to calls for
Yemeni President
The president of the Republic of Yemen is the head of state of Yemen. Under the Constitution of Yemen, the president is also the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces and head of the executive branch of the Yemeni government.
As of 7 April 202 ...
Ali Abdullah Saleh
Ali Abdullah Saleh al-Ahmar (, ''ʿAlī ʿAbdullāh Ṣāliḥ al-Aḥmar;'' 21 March 1947There is a dispute as to Saleh's date of birth, some saying that it was on 21 March 1942. See: However, by Saleh's own confession, he was born in 1947 al ...
to resign. Mass defections from the military, as well as from Saleh's government, had effectively rendered much of the country outside of the government's control, and protesters vowed to defy its authority.
A major demonstration of over 16,000 protestors took place in
Sana'a
Sanaa ( ar, صَنْعَاء, ' , Yemeni Arabic: ; Old South Arabian: 𐩮𐩬𐩲𐩥 ''Ṣnʿw''), also spelled Sana'a or Sana, is the capital and largest city in Yemen and the centre of Sanaa Governorate. The city is not part of the Governo ...
, Yemen's capital, on 27 January, including at least 10,000 at
Sana'a University
Sana'a University ( ) was established in 1970 as the first and the primary university in the Yemen Arab Republic (North Yemen), now the Republic of Yemen (see also Aden University). It is located in Sanaa, the capital of Yemen, and is currently o ...
. On 2 February, Saleh announced he would not run for reelection in 2013 and that he would not pass power to his son. On 3 February, 20,000 people protested against the government in Sana'a, while others protested in
Aden
Aden ( ar, عدن ' Yemeni: ) is a city, and since 2015, the temporary capital of Yemen, near the eastern approach to the Red Sea (the Gulf of Aden), some east of the strait Bab-el-Mandeb. Its population is approximately 800,000 people. ...
, a southern Yemeni seaport city, in a "Day of Rage" called for by
Tawakel Karman
Tawakkol Abdel-Salam Khalid Karman ( ar, توكل عبد السلام خالد كرمان, Tawakkul 'Abd us-Salām Khalid Karmān; also romanized ''Tawakul'', ''Tawakel''; born 7 February 1979) is a Yemeni Nobel Laureate, journalist, politician ...
, while soldiers, armed members of the
General People's Congress and many protestors held a pro-government rally in Sana'a. In a "Friday of Anger" on 18 February, tens of thousands of Yemenis took part in anti-government demonstrations in
Taiz
Taiz ( ar, تَعِزّ, Taʿizz) is a city in southwestern Yemen. It is located in the Yemeni Highlands, near the port city of Mocha, Yemen, Mocha on the Red Sea, at an elevation of about above sea level. It is the capital of Taiz Governorate. W ...
, Sana'a and Aden. On a "Friday of No Return" on 11 March, protestors called for Saleh's ousting in Sana'a where three people were killed. More protests were held in other cities, including
Mukalla
Mukalla ( ar, ٱلْمُكَلَّا, ') is a seaport and the capital city of Yemen's largest governorate, Hadhramaut. The city is in the southern part of the Arabian Peninsula on the Gulf of Aden, on the shores of the Arabian Sea, about east of ...
, where one person was killed. On 18 March, protesters in Sana'a were fired upon resulting in over forty deaths and ultimately culminating in mass defections and resignations.
On 23 April, Saleh accepted a proposal to step down and shift control to his deputy after thirty days. The agreement included immunity for him and his family and further required the opposition to stop public protests and join a coalition with Saleh's ruling party. Reactions to Saleh's acceptance had been reserved, without the agreement formalized or accepted by both sides and with the possibility of the stand-off continuing.
After initially refusing to accept Saleh's conditions, the opposition decided to agree to the deal, and it was expected to go into effect by 2 May. However, Saleh decided not to sign the deal, and the opposition has rejected a proposal under which top officials of his party would sign it as a proxy, leaving the deal in limbo. On 22 May, after Saleh had agreed to the deal only to back away hours before the scheduled signing for the third time, the Gulf Co-operation Council declared it was suspending its efforts to mediate in Yemen.
Battle
First phase
A day after Saleh refused to sign the transition agreement, Sheikh
Sadiq al-Ahmar
Sheikh Sadiq bin Abdullah bin Hussein bin Nasser al-Ahmar ( ar, الشيخ صادق الأحمر; born 6 October 1956 ) is a Yemeni politician and the leader of the Hashid tribal federation. He succeeded his father Abdullah ibn Husayn al-Ahmar in ...
, the head of the
Hashid
The Hashid ( ar, حاشد; Musnad: 𐩢𐩦𐩵𐩣) is a tribal confederation in Yemen. It is the second or third largest – after Bakil and, depending on sources, Madh'hij tribal federation, one of the most powerful tribes in the country, declared support for the opposition and his armed supporters came into conflict with loyalist security forces in the capital Sana'a. Heavy street fighting ensued, which included artillery and mortar shelling.
[Fighting grips Yemeni capital as Saleh orders arrests](_blank)
. Alternet.org. Retrieved on 2011-06-05. The militiamen had surrounded and blocked off several government buildings in the capital and people on the ground were reporting that it looked like the situation was deteriorating into a civil war.
During the second day of fighting, loyalist forces heavily shelled with mortars al-Ahmar's compound in which a number of his fighters were killed or wounded. This resulted in a counter-attack by the militiamen against the Interior Ministry building which they hit with mortars, RPGs and machine-gun fire. As evening fell on 24 May, the upper floors of the Interior Ministry headquarters were in flames.
On day three of the fighting, military units that defected to the opposition were hit for the first time by mortar fire killing three soldiers and wounding 10. By the evening, it was reported that tribesmen took control of the Interior Ministry building, SABA state news agency, and the national airline building.
On 26 May, heavy explosions rocked Sana'a in the south. This indicated the use of heavier weaponry than what was used in the previous days. 28 people were killed when shelling hit a residential area controlled by the tribesmen. The government claimed that the deaths were the result of a tribal weapons warehouse exploding, while a defected military official denied this and the opposition stated that military forces shelled a building used by tribal fighters loyal to al-Ahmar and other major tribes who had joined him.
During the night, the fighting spread to the Arhad district, about , northwest of Sana'a, where a brigade of Saleh's presidential guard clashed with local tribesmen.
On 27 May, tribesmen surrounded the camp of the Republican Guard in the al-Fardha Nehem area, northeast of Sana'a in an attempt to prevent them from joining the fighting in the capital. The tribesmen claimed that the advance on the base was in response to an earlier attack by loyalists on a village in the area. The militiamen broke into the camp and killed tens of troops, including the base commander, general Ali Nasser Gatami, and took over the base. After that, government military planes bombed the tribesmen. Two loyalist helicopters than attempted to bring in reinforcements, landing from the base. However, they were overrun and the tribesmen captured a number of soldiers as well as the two helicopters. A third helicopter, that was hovering above, was shot down by the militia. A military official stated that seven jets were used against the tribesmen and both him, and later a tribal leader, confirmed that a total of two military compounds had fallen to the opposition forces by the end of the day. 18 tribesmen were killed during the fighting for the first army camp, while none died in the takeover of the second.
A ceasefire was announced late on 27 May, by al-Ahmar, and the next day, a truce was established.
However, by 31 May, the ceasefire had broken down and street fighting continued in Sana'a. Tribesmen had taken control of both the headquarters of the ruling General People's Congress and the main offices of the water utility.
On 1 June, units of the loyalist Presidential Guard, commanded by one of Saleh's sons, shelled the headquarters of an army brigade belonging to the defected 1st Armored Division, even though the defected military units were holding a neutral position in the conflict between the loyalists and the tribesmen. The worst of the fighting was in the northern Hassaba neighborhood, where tribal fighters seized a number of government ministries and buildings. Government artillery fire heavily damaged the house of al-Ahmar and the government cut the area's electricity and water supplies. The government units, led by one of Saleh's sons, and loyalist special forces attacked but failed to recapture the Hassaba administrative building. Tribal fighters also seized the office of the General Prosecutor in the city's northwest. They were backed up by two armored vehicles from the 1st Armored Division. The Interior Ministry stated that the tribesmen had also captured a five-story building in the pro-Saleh Hadda neighborhood. During the 24 hours since the breakdown of the ceasefire, 47 people were killed on both sides during the heavy street fighting,
News.smh.com.au (19 October 2010). Retrieved on 2011-06-05. including 15 tribesmen and 14 soldiers.
On 2 June, more fighting left another 15 people dead, including a seven-year-old girl. Thousands of tribesmen from outside Sana'a attempted to enter the city to reinforce those fighting inside. They were stopped at a military checkpoint north of the capital, but, as the day developed, they continued to make attempts to break through government lines into Sana'a.
As the fighting was raging to the north of the city, tanks and armored vehicles were seen entering Sana'a from the south. Also, video of the street fighting in Sana'a surfaced for the first time.
On 3 June, an attack on the presidential palace left Saleh lightly injured and seven other top government officials wounded. It is unclear whether it was a rocket attack or a bomb has been planted in the mosque of the palace. Saleh, the prime minister, the deputy prime minister, the parliament chief, the governor of Sana'a and a presidential aide were wounded while they were praying at a mosque inside the palace compound. The cleric leading the service was also wounded. Saleh was injured in the neck and treated on the scene. Seven presidential guards were killed. Eyewitnesses, residents and government officials say Hashed tribesmen carried out the attack against the presidential palace, but the spokesman for Sadeq Al-Ahmar denied it. "The Hashed tribesmen were not behind these attacks on the presidential palace and if they were, they would not deny it," according to spokesman Abdulqawi al-Qaisi. He said that "the attack on the palace was pre-planned by President Saleh to make people forget about the attacks that he has committed over the last two weeks. He is the only one benefiting from the attack on the Presidential palace. He wants people to feel he is oppressed and is defending himself and not attacking others."
The next day, Saleh was taken to
Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia, officially the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), is a country in Western Asia. It covers the bulk of the Arabian Peninsula, and has a land area of about , making it the fifth-largest country in Asia, the second-largest in the A ...
for treatment. According to U.S. government officials, Saleh suffered a collapsed lung and burns on about 40 percent of his body. A Saudi official said that Saleh has undergone two operations: one to remove the shrapnel and a
neurosurgery
Neurosurgery or neurological surgery, known in common parlance as brain surgery, is the medical specialty concerned with the surgical treatment of disorders which affect any portion of the nervous system including the brain, spinal cord and peri ...
on his neck.
As Saleh flew to the Saudi capital of
Riyadh
Riyadh (, ar, الرياض, 'ar-Riyāḍ, lit.: 'The Gardens' Najdi pronunciation: ), formerly known as Hajr al-Yamamah, is the capital and largest city of Saudi Arabia. It is also the capital of the Riyadh Province and the centre of the R ...
for surgery on 4 June, a cease-fire was brokered by Saudi Arabia's King
Abdullah
Abdullah may refer to:
* Abdullah (name), a list of people with the given name or surname
* Abdullah, Kargı, Turkey, a village
* ''Abdullah'' (film), a 1980 Bollywood film directed by Sanjay Khan
* '' Abdullah: The Final Witness'', a 2015 Pakis ...
. Reportedly, Saleh was already working out the details of a power transfer when he was wounded, making his return doubtful. However, an opposition party official told
The Associated Press
The Associated Press (AP) is an American non-profit news agency headquartered in New York City. Founded in 1846, it operates as a cooperative, unincorporated association. It produces news reports that are distributed to its members, U.S. newspa ...
that international mediators, including the U.S. and Saudi Arabia, tried to get Saleh to sign a presidential decree passing permanent authority to his vice president before he left for treatment in Saudi Arabia and the negotiations delayed his departure. He was expected to remain in Saudi Arabia for two weeks: one for treatment and another for meetings with Saudi officials. His absence also increased the possibility of an even more violent power struggle between the armed tribesmen who had joined the opposition and loyalist military forces under the command of Saleh's sons and nephews.
On 5 June, protesters in Sana'a celebrated following the news of the president's departure. They chanted: "This is it, the regime has fallen." Sources told
Al Jazeera
Al Jazeera ( ar, الجزيرة, translit-std=DIN, translit=al-jazīrah, , "The Island") is a state-owned Arabic-language international radio and TV broadcaster of Qatar. It is based in Doha and operated by the media conglomerate Al Jazeera ...
that vice-president
Abd al-Rab Mansur al-Hadi had taken over as acting president and supreme commander of the armed forces.
Despite the cease-fire there were reports on the morning of 5 June of heavy gunfire and explosions in Sana'a centred on Hasaba district, a focal point of fighting in recent weeks. On the same day
al-Arabiya television said that acting president Abd-Rabbu Mansour al-Hadi was due to meet members of the military and Saleh's sons. It was the first indication that Saleh's powerful sons had not also left the country.
A cease-fire in Yemen's capital was at risk of unraveling on 6 June, as regime supporters opened fire on opposition fighters in renewed clashes that killed at least six. The shooting took place in the Hasaba district.
Residents of Sana'a said the capital was quiet on 7 June. The
Youth for Change, who have said that Yemen was reborn when Saleh departed to Saudi Arabia, decided to stage a march of millions after they heard the regime's announcement that Saleh would return in the coming days.
Second phase
Following the return of Saleh from Saudi Arabia, clashes in the capital resumed and between 18 and 25 September 162 opposition and security forces members were killed with the military using artillery on opposition rallies. On 19 September, protesters, along with members of the renegade 1st Armored Division, attacked one of the smaller bases of the Republican Guards, located on the west side of the major al-Zubairy road. They took control of it, without firing a shot, and the loyalist forces retreated from the area. On 24 September, the loyalist military shelled the headquarters of the 1st Armored Division, leaving 11 soldiers dead and 112 wounded.
On the night of 25 September, opposition tribesmen attacked the base camp of the 63rd Brigade in the Nehm district, north of Sana'a. During the fighting, the commander of the brigade, General Abdullah al-Kulaibi, was killed. In all, seven soldiers were killed. The tribesmen also claimed to had captured 30 soldiers after briefly capturing parts of the base.
On 27 September, the defense minister escaped an assassination attempt when a suicide bomber attacked his convoy.
On the morning of 28 September, opposition forces shot down a government warplane just north of the city. Eyewitnesses stated that the aircraft was bombarding a residential compound in the Arhab district when it was brought down. Two people were killed in an air-strike in the district the previous night.
Air-strikes had targeted the area since 25 September, when the base of the 63rd Brigade was raided.
On 15 October, a new round of fighting started which lasted until 17 October. It started with government troops firing on protesters and killing 12. Another six protesters were killed the next day. On 17 October, 17 people, including eight tribal fighters and two government soldiers, were killed. During this time, 10 defecting soldiers were also killed. By this point, 91 soldiers from the defected 1st Armored Division had been killed since Saleh's return to the country.
On 23 October, 12 people were killed in fighting between renegade and loyalist soldiers in the Hasaba district.
More fighting on 27 October, left another 17 people dead. Among the dead were civilians, tribal fighters and government soldiers.
On 30 October, during the evening, the Air Force base in the capital was hit by mortar shells and two fighter jets were set on fire. Due to this, the civilian airport was shut down and the coming flights were diverted to the southern Aden airport. At the same time, 10 explosive devices planted inside 10 fighter jets at the military base were found and defused.
On 19 November, opposition tribesmen once again attacked the camp of the 63rd Brigade, and this time it was an all-out assault. On 20 November, the military conducted air-strikes against the attackers while the opposition responded with anti-aircraft fire. By late on 21 November, the tribesman had captured the camp along with 300-400 surrendering soldiers and a large cache of weapons. 12 tribal fighters were killed and more than 40 wounded in the fighting, most of them due to landmines around the base.
Yemeni opposition tribesmen kidnap 300 soldiers during clashes
20 soldiers were also killed.
Between 23 and 25 November, loyalist air-strikes and artillery fire pounded the rebel-held camp. An unnamed official claimed that up to 80 tribal fighters were killed.
References
{{coord missing, Yemen
21st-century rebellions
Yemeni Revolution
Sana'a (2011)
Sana'a
Sanaa ( ar, صَنْعَاء, ' , Yemeni Arabic: ; Old South Arabian: 𐩮𐩬𐩲𐩥 ''Ṣnʿw''), also spelled Sana'a or Sana, is the capital and largest city in Yemen and the centre of Sanaa Governorate. The city is not part of the Governo ...
2011 in Yemen
21st century in Sanaa
Sana'a (2011)