Sana'a: A tribal coalition has said that Al Qaida operations and government strikes in the eastern province of Mareb killed only the innocents from their tribes.
The coalition of tribesmen of Mareb and Al Jawf on Friday blamed both Al Qaida militants and the government forces for the tragic incidents in Mareb.
They said, "Mareb is drowning" and they will leave it for Al Qaida if it is not rescued.
In a statement, the tribesmen launched an attack on Al Qaida for claiming responsibility for killing a tribal leader who was mediating between militants and the government on May 24.
Earlier, Al Qaida said in a statement they tricked Jaber Al Shabwani and lured him to be bombed by the government's air strike on May 24.
"It's immoral and treason to deceive and kill a mediator," the tribesmen said.
The Yemeni government has been implementing a military campaign in Mareb to arrest or kill at least 12 Al Qaida militants hiding in Wadi Abaida.
Over the last two days, the government troops hit the houses of two main Al Qaida operatives, but failed to arrest them.
The two operatives, disowned by families and tribesmen, are called Hussain Al Akaili and Ali Saeed Jameel.
Al Akaili, according to local sources, led a group of Al Qaida militants and killed the military commander Mohammad Saleh Al Shayef and two of his bodyguards in Mareb on June 5.
Ali Saeed Jameel, known as Emir (leader) of Al Qaida in Mareb, was the one who lured Jaber Al Shabwani who was killed along with three of his bodyguards mistakenly by an air strike on May 24 after Jameel deceived the Yemeni intelligence through a double agent, according to local sources.
