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| {{Campaignbox Yemeni uprising}} | {{Campaignbox Yemeni uprising}} | ||
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| The '''Battle of Dammaj''' was a battle fought in November 2011 between the ] insurgent group ], better known as the Houthis, which controll the ] and a ] group loyal to the Yemeni regime<ref name="secterian"/> that had set up military posts and smuggled weapons into their religious center in the town of ].<ref name="post">Yemen Post , November 5, 2011</ref> The fighting was mainly centered around the ] religious school, which is run by hard-core Salafis<ref name="secterian"/> and is known to have |
The '''Battle of Dammaj''' was a battle fought in November 2011 between the ] insurgent group ], better known as the Houthis, which controll the ] and a ] group loyal to the Yemeni regime<ref name="secterian"/> that had set up military posts and smuggled weapons into their religious center in the town of ].<ref name="post">Yemen Post , November 5, 2011</ref> The fighting was mainly centered around the ] religious school, which is run by hard-core Salafis<ref name="secterian"/> and is known to have a number of students with links to ].<ref>, September 22, 201</ref> | ||
| Tensions between the two groups started as Houthis intercepted a letter in which Salafi Imam, Sheikh ] thanked President ]'s nephew Brigadier General ] for fighting Houthis in his region.<ref name="secterian">] , October 30, 2011</ref> Houthis then demanded the Salafis empty their military posts in the city,<ref name="post"/> claiming that "the Damaj School has made attacks against us and is attempting to take control of military positions outside of their area,"<ref name="secterian"/> but as the Salafis refused<ref name="post"/> the Houthis laid a seige upon Dar al-Hadeeth religious school, headed by Sheikh Yahya al-Hajoori. They also attacked the Salafi held Al-Baraqa Mountain on October 30.<ref name="secterian"/> The Houthi siege did not allow any food or medicine to enter the complex, the Salafis calling upon Yemen authorities to break the siege.<ref name="post"/> | Tensions between the two groups started as Houthis intercepted a letter in which Salafi Imam, Sheikh ] thanked President ]'s nephew Brigadier General ] for fighting Houthis in his region.<ref name="secterian">] , October 30, 2011</ref> Houthis then demanded the Salafis empty their military posts in the city,<ref name="post"/> claiming that "the Damaj School has made attacks against us and is attempting to take control of military positions outside of their area,"<ref name="secterian"/> but as the Salafis refused<ref name="post"/> the Houthis laid a seige upon Dar al-Hadeeth religious school, headed by Sheikh Yahya al-Hajoori. They also attacked the Salafi held Al-Baraqa Mountain on October 30.<ref name="secterian"/> The Houthi siege did not allow any food or medicine to enter the complex, the Salafis calling upon Yemen authorities to break the siege.<ref name="post"/> | ||
Revision as of 18:43, 27 November 2011
| Battle of Dammaj | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part of the Shia Insurgency in Yemen, 2011 Yemeni uprising | |||||
| |||||
| Belligerents | |||||
 Pro-government tribes |
 Shabab al-Muminin | ||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||
|
 Abu Ismail |
Dhaifallah al-Shami | ||||
| Strength | |||||
| 7,000 students | unknown | ||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||
|
28+ killed | "Several" killed and injured | ||||
| Houthi insurgency in Yemen | |
|---|---|
| Yemeni revolution | |
|---|---|
Timeline
|
The Battle of Dammaj was a battle fought in November 2011 between the Shi'a insurgent group Shabab al-Muminin, better known as the Houthis, which controll the Sa'dah Governorate and a Salafi group loyal to the Yemeni regime that had set up military posts and smuggled weapons into their religious center in the town of Dammaj. The fighting was mainly centered around the Dar al-Hadith religious school, which is run by hard-core Salafis and is known to have a number of students with links to al-Qaeda.
Tensions between the two groups started as Houthis intercepted a letter in which Salafi Imam, Sheikh Yahya al-Hajoori thanked President Ali Abdullah Saleh's nephew Brigadier General Yahya Mohamed Abdullah Saleh for fighting Houthis in his region. Houthis then demanded the Salafis empty their military posts in the city, claiming that "the Damaj School has made attacks against us and is attempting to take control of military positions outside of their area," but as the Salafis refused the Houthis laid a seige upon Dar al-Hadeeth religious school, headed by Sheikh Yahya al-Hajoori. They also attacked the Salafi held Al-Baraqa Mountain on October 30. The Houthi siege did not allow any food or medicine to enter the complex, the Salafis calling upon Yemen authorities to break the siege.
In response to the siege, tribesmen loyal to the Salafi group blocked the al-Boqa road, connecting Sa'dah to Saudi Arabia and Hashid tribesmen from the JMP blocked the Sana'a-Sa'dah road. Houthi appointed Sa'dah governor Fares Mana'a tried to mediate a cease-fire in which the Houthis would re-open the road and both sides would withdraw to their old positions. The cease-fire however, lasted merely 4 hours, after which a new round of fighting broke out in which one Salafi fighter was killed. The school and surrounding areas, including 10,000 inhabitants were besieged for over two weeks.
A cease-fire, crafted by local tribesmen, which lasted one week, was broken on November 25, when Houthis started shelling the Salafi fighters' positions in the town, killing three and wounding two. Houthi leader Saleh Habra said the Yemeni government was supplying arms to the Salafis and trying to help them set up a base near the Saudi border, stating the new attack was to cut off their arms supplies. Salafi leader Sheikh Yahya al-Hajouri responded by declaring a jihad against the Houthis, which reportedly refused to allow ambulances into the city.
The Houthis launched a raid into the town in the pre-dawn hours on November 26, which lasted until the afternoon of November 27. According to Houthi leader Dhaifallah al-Shami the raid was in response to the Salafis rejecting a cease-fire offer by Abdul-Malik al-Houthii and continued fighting. A total of 24 Salafis were killed and 61 injured during the raid. The deaths included two Indonesian and two United States citizens. According to al-Shami, several Houthis were also killed during the raid.
See also
References
- ^ Yemen Times Sectarian conflict looms in Sa’ada, October 30, 2011
- ^ Yemen Post Clashes in Sa’ada Between Houthis and Salafis, November 5, 2011
- Al-Qaeda issues ultimatum, September 22, 201
- The Times of India 20 killed in attack on Yemen Sunni school, November 27, 2011
- Daily Star Three killed in clashes in Yemen's north, November 26, 2011
- Mareb Pressقال: لسنا مستعدين للهروب ولسنا مستعدين للفرار, November 25, 2011
- CNN Medics: Militants raid Yemen town, killing dozens, November 27, 2011
- Chicago Tribune At least 21 killed, dozens hurt in north Yemen fighting, November 27, 2011
- ^ BusinessWeek Yemen Shiite Houthis Fight Salafists Near Saudi Arabia’s Border, November 27, 2011
- CRI English Houthi Rebels Kill 24 People in N. Yemen, November 27, 2011