Yemen's Houthis capture strategic city

[Jefferson23]

Shia rebels continue their push south, capturing a key city along the Sanaa-Aden highway.

Last updated: 29 Oct 2014

Yemen's Houthi rebels have captured a key city linking the capital to the south as they push to control more territory of the country.

The Shia fighters captured the strategic central city of Radmah in Ibb province on Wednesday, a city that links Sanaa with the main southern city of Aden, after prolonged fighting with local tribesmen, the AFP news agency reported.

Tribal sources said that nine fighters from both sides were killed during the battle for the city, known to be a stronghold of the Muslim Brotherhood-linked Islah party.

With the fall of Radmah, the Houthis now virtually control the whole of Ibb province with the exception of Udain, which is in the hands of al-Qaeda in the Arabian peninsula (AQAP) and allied Sunni tribesmen.

The Houthis, who had long been concentrated in their northern highlands where Shias form a majority, have been facing fierce resistance from local tribesmen as well as AQAP.

http://www.aljazeera.com/news/middleeast/2014/10/yemen-houthis-capture-strategic-city-20141029201017619695.html