AP, Sanaa, Yemen, 19 Sep 2014 — Shiite rebels and Sunni militiamen battled in the streets of the Yemeni capital for a second day Friday in fighting that has killed at least 120 people, driven thousands from their homes and virtually shut down the country’s main airport. The battles are raising fears of greater sectarian conflict, unseen for decades in Yemen.
Hawthi fighters on Thursday launched an assault on the Sunni hardliners’ stronghold, Iman University. On Friday, the Hawthis attacked the nearby headquarters of state TV, trying to storm the building, which the night before they hit with mortars, witnesses said.
“Every minute, there is something rattling or bombing, either rocket-propelled grenades or machine guns. The wall hangings fell down. The house was shaking with every explosion,” Ammar Ahmed, who lives near the university, said of fighting overnight.
Bloodied bodies lay in the streets next the charred vehicles in front of the university, said another resident of the area, Ahmed Ibrahim. Hawthis tried to take a hill overlooking the university but were driven back by artillery fire, witnesses said.
Fighting also spread to the Massbah district, where Hawthis targeted house of Gen. Ali Mohsen al-Ahmar, who led the military against the Hawthi rebellion in the north from 2004 to 2010. At least 120 people, predominantly fighters from either side, were killed over the past 24 hours, according to medical officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak to the press.
Troops at a key intersection prevented the Hawthis from approaching the airport, north of the capital. However, the civil aviation agency said most foreign airlines had suspended flights to Sanaa for 24 hours because of the security situation.