Senior security official in Yemen survives assassination attempt

Sana'a: A senior security official has survived an assassination attempt allegedly plotted by Al Houthi rebels, official sources said on Thursday.

Gunmen loyal to the rebels' leader, Abdul Malek Al Houhti, tried late Wednesday to assassinate the Sana'a province security director, Mohammad Turaik, in Bani Hushaish, the northern suburb of Sana'a, the official news agency Saba said.

The incident came a few days after a similar assassination attempt against the security director of Amran province, Hamoud Al Kaod, the agency said.

At least two soldiers were killed in a search operation in the area of Bani Hushaish after the assassination attempt, unofficial sources said.

Dozens of people from the two sides were reportedly killed over the past few days in Sa'ada and the neighbouring province of Amran after all mediation efforts including the Qatari mediation came to a deadlock.

The government troops, however, have completely controlled the highway between Sana'a and Sa'ada which witnessed fierce confrontations over the past few days when Al Houhti rebels tried to cut the road and establish checkpoints, local sources said on Thursday.

Last week, rebel leader Abdul Malek Al Houthi threatened to expand the attacks to other provinces if the government did not meet his conditions which include the withdrawal of troops from Sa'ada.

The International Committee for the Red Cross (ICRC) called for more support. "The ICRC has asked donors for an additional 8.5 million Swiss francs for its Yemen budget to respond to the increasing needs caused by the fighting," said a press release issued by the Sana'a office of ICRC.