US embassy cable - 04SANAA2225

S E C R E T SANAA 002225 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/25/2014 
TAGS: KISL, PGOV, PINR, PTER, YM, COUNTER TERRORISM 
SUBJECT: UPDATE ON SA'DA FIGHTING 
 
REF: SANAA 2006 AND PREVIOUS 
 
Classified By: Ambassador Thomas C. Krajeski; reasons 1.4 (b), (d). 
 
1.  (C)  Despite repeated government claims that the fighting 
in Sa'da is in its final stages, the last week has been 
increasingly bloody for both sides.  The ROYG has stopped 
discussing casualty rates publicly, but local media reports 
that 15 soldiers were killed on August 24 including Lt. Col. 
al-Hitar, brother of Supreme Court Judge al-Hitar who heads 
the Government Dialogue Committee. 
 
2.  (S/NF)  Al Jazeera reported August 25 that dozens of 
government forces were killed in clashes with al-Houthi two 
days earlier.  Reuters reported 11 dead.  In fact, 135 were 
killed when a group of soldiers dressed in civilian clothing 
attempted to infiltrate a suspected al-Houthi hideout and 
fell victim to a Yemeni Air Force strike.  (Note: 
Coordination between the Army, Air Force and Central Security 
Forces has been poor throughout this conflict.  Post has 
suspected prior incidents of friendly fire.  However, this is 
the first case we can confirm.  End Note.) 
 
3.  (S) Al Jazeera also reported that the bodies of 120 
al-Houthi supporters were found in a hideout after it fell 
under government control.  120 dead rebels in one operation 
is quite plausible given Post's estimate that 1,500 al-Houthi 
supporters and approximately 2,500 government forces have 
died since the fighting began over seventy days ago -- 
official numbers remain at one-tenth of this. 
KRAJESKI