The fighting between the government and Shia in Yemen has taken a new twist after spilling over to neighboring Saudi Arabia.
Troops and police were taking part in the raid which started at dawn, and aimed to storm the old neighbourhood where about 300 Shias were hiding out, the commander said on condition of anonymity.He said several of the Shias, also known as Huthis, were martyred in the operation and 24 of them were taken prisoner during the operation, which he added could last for days.
His statement could not be immediately verified with the Shias.
Yemeni government forces launched an all-out offensive against Shias in the north of the Arabian Peninsula country on August 11 in an attempt to end a five-year rebellion.
But the conflict took a new twist in early November when neighbouring Saudi Arabia joined the fight against the Huthi Shias after accusing them of infiltrating its southern borders.
Ten Saudi soldiers have died in the conflict so far, according to an unofficial toll.
Yemen accuses the Shias of being backed by Iran, a charge the Huthis have continuously denied.
/106
