By Ahmad Shihadah

Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East

SA’NA, Yemen – Shi’ite rebels in Northern Yemen have accused Saudi forces of firing into a border town on October 19 in support of the Yemeni government’s offensive against them. The al-Huthi rebels, who claim they are fighting political, economic and religious marginalization, have often accused Sunni-power Saudi Arabia of fighting on the side of Yemeni president Ali Abdullah Saleh. Rebels issued a statement saying “the Saudi forces near the Hasama border region hit the Hasama market with heavy machinegun fire while the market was full of people.” They further stated “this reveals the increasing Saudi interference in Yemen’s internal affairs.”

A security official denied that Saudi forces have fired on Hasama and said Saudi Arabia had no role in the war. Saudi concerns stem from the fear that the conflict in Yemen’s northern province and separatist’s movement in the south will enable al Qaeda to establish a stronger foothold in the Arabian Peninsula state. Yemeni and Saudi al Qaeda militants said earlier this year that they had joined forces. Al Qaeda-linked militants have stepped up attacks on government and foreign targets in Yemen since 2007

In an interview with Saudi-owned MBC television, Yemeni president Saleh said Saudi Arabia backed Yemeni unity but did not interfere. Saleh continued vowing to crush the rebels, who he said last week would be defeated within days and accused al Qaeda, a Sunni group, of backing the Huthis.

The fighting has and continues to displace thousands of civilians in the area. A Yemeni based UN refugee officer, Andrew Knight, said about 65,000 displaced people are in the northwestern province of Hajjah and in estimated 55,000 are still living in Sa’da, mostly in abandoned buildings, in the mountains, and on roadsides in the war zone.

For more information please see:

PressTV – Saudi Fire ‘Hits” Market in North Yemen – 19 October 2009

Reuters – Yemen Rebels Say Saudi Troops Fired on Border Town – 19 October 2009

Khaleej Times – Yemen Rebels Say Saudi Troops Fired on Border Town – 19 October 2009