The Battle of Sanaa was a battle during the 2011 Yemeni uprising between forces loyal to Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh and opposition tribal forces led by Sheikh Sadiq al-Ahmar for control of the Yemeni capital Sanaa and, on the part of the opposition, to oust President Saleh.
Background The 2011 Yemeni uprising followed the initial stages of the Tunisian Revolution and occurred simultaneously with the Egyptian RevolutionYemen Protests: Thousands Call on President to Leave. Bbc.co.uk (27 January 2011). Retrieved on 2011-06-05. and other mass protests in the Middle East in early 2011. In the early phase, protests in Yemen were initially against unemployment, economic conditions. Af.reuters.com (20 January 2011). Retrieved on 2011-06-05. and corruption,Yemen Protests: 'People Are Fed Up with Corruption'. Bbc.co.uk (27 January 2011). Retrieved on 2011-06-05. and the poor economy of Yemen,Yemen Protests Urge Leader's Exit – Thousands of Students, Activists and Opposition Groups Stage Anti-President Protest at Sana'a University. English.aljazeera.net (23 January 2011). Retrieved on 2011-06-05. as well as against the government's proposals to modify Yemen's constitution. The protestors' demands then escalated to calls for Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh to resign. Mass defections from the military, as well as from Saleh's government, had effectively rendered much of the country outside of the government's control, and protesters vowed to defy its authority.
A major demonstration of over 16,000 protestors took place in Sana'a, Yemen's capital, on 27 January, including at least 10,000 at Sana'a University.Yemenis in Anti-President Protest. Irishtimes.com (27 January 2011). Retrieved on 2011-06-05. On 2 February, Saleh announced he would not run for reelection in 2013 and that he would not pass power to his son. On 3 February, 20,000 people protested against the government in Sana'a,Tens of Thousands Turn Out for Rival Rallies in Yemen – Anti-Government Protesters in Sana Are Met with a Competing Rally Across Town by the President's Supporters, Who Get Logistical Support from the Army. Latimes.com (3 February 2011). Retrieved on 2011-06-05.Yemen Protests: 20,000 Call for President Saleh To Go. Bbc.co.uk (3 February 2011). Retrieved on 2011-06-05. while others protested in Aden,Opposing Protesters Rally in Yemen – Anti-Government Demonstrators Reiterate Calls for President To Stand Down While His Supporters Stage a Counter Rally. English.aljazeera.net (3 February 2011). Retrieved on 2011-06-05. a southern Yemeni seaport city, in a "Day of Rage" called for by Tawakel Karman,New Protests Erupt in Yemen – Activists Calling for the Ouster of President Clash with Government Supporters in Sanaa. English.aljazeera.net (29 January 2011). Retrieved on 2011-06-05. while soldiers, armed members of the General People's Congress and many protestors held a pro-government rally in Sana'a.Saleh Partisans Take Over Yemen Protest Site. News.oneindia.in (3 February 2011). Retrieved on 2011-06-05. In a "Friday of Anger" on 18 February, tens of thousands of Yemenis took part in anti-government demonstrations in Taiz, Sana'a and Aden. On a "Friday of No Return" on 11 March, protestors called for Saleh's ousting in Sana'a where three people were killed. More protests were held in other cities, including Mukalla, where one person was killed. On 18 March, protesters in Sana'a were fired upon resulting in over forty deaths and ultimately culminating in mass defections and resignations.
On 23 April, Saleh accepted a proposal to step down and shift control to his deputy after thirty days. The agreement included immunity for him and his family and required the opposition to stop public protests and join a coalition with Saleh's ruling party. Reactions to Saleh's acceptance had been reserved, without the agreement formalized or accepted by either side and with the possibility of the stand-off continuing. After initially refusing to accept Saleh's conditions, the opposition decided to agree to the deal, and it was expected to go into effect by 2 May.Yemen deal may be done within week: officials . Reuters.com. Retrieved on 2011-06-05. However, Saleh decided not to sign the deal, and the opposition rejected a proposal under which top officials of his party would sign it as a proxy, leaving the deal in limbo.Yemeni Peace Process Collapses. Theaustralian.com.au (2 May 2011). Retrieved on 2011-06-05. On 22 May, after Saleh had agreed to the deal only to back away hours before the scheduled signing for the third time, the Gulf Cooperation Council declared it was suspending its efforts to mediate in Yemen.
Battle First phase A day after Saleh refused to sign the transition agreement, Sheikh Sadiq al-Ahmar, the head of the Hashid tribal federation, one of the most powerful tribes in the country, declared support for the opposition and his armed supporters clashed with loyalist security forces in the capital Sana'a. Heavy street fighting ensued, which included artillery and mortar shelling.Tribal fighters occupy government buildings in Yemen. Cnn.com (25 May 2011). Retrieved on 2011-06-05.Fighting grips Yemeni capital as Saleh orders arrests . Alternet.org. Retrieved on 2011-06-05. The militiamen had surrounded and blocked off several government buildings in the capitalYemeni Tribesmen Take Control of Government Buildings in Sana'a . Voanews.com (24 May 2011). Retrieved on 2011-06-05. and people on the ground were reporting that the situation looked like deteriorating into a civil war.Yemen on the brink of civil war. Watoday.com.au. Retrieved on 2011-06-05.
During the second day of fighting, loyalist forces heavily shelled with mortars al-Ahmar's compound in which a number of his fighters were killed or wounded. This resulted in a counter-attack by the militiamen against the Interior Ministry building which they hit with mortars, RPGs and machine-gun fire. As evening fell on 24 May, the upper floors of the Interior Ministry headquarters were in flames.Chaos swirls in Yemen's capital as rivals clash. Post-gazette.com (25 May 2011). Retrieved on 2011-06-05.
On day three of the fighting, military units that defected to the opposition were hit for the first time by mortar fire, killing three soldiers and wounding 10.Yemen's president vows to resist 'failed state' as tribes press offensive against regime . 570news.com (26 May 2011). Retrieved on 2011-06-05. By the evening, it was reported that tribesmen took control of the Interior Ministry building, SABA state news agency, and the national airline building.Yemen: Anti-Saleh Hashid rebels seize public buildings. Bbc.co.uk (26 May 2011). Retrieved on 2011-06-05.
On 26 May, heavy explosions rocked Sana'a in the south. This indicated the use of heavier weaponry than what had been used in the previous days.Big blasts rock Yemeni capital . Khaleejtimes.com. Retrieved on 2011-06-05. 28 people were killed when shelling hit a residential area controlled by the tribesmen. The government claimed that the deaths were the result of a tribal weapons warehouse exploding, while a defector military official denied this and the opposition stated that military forces shelled a building used by tribal fighters loyal to al-Ahmar and other major tribes who had joined him. During the night, the fighting spread to the Arhad district, about , northwest of Sana'a, where a brigade of Saleh's presidential guard clashed with local tribesmen.Yemen's president vows no retreat as battles rage . Mb.com.ph (26 May 2011). Retrieved on 2011-06-05.
On 27 May, tribesmen surrounded the camp of the Republican Guard in the al-Fardha Nehem area, northeast of Sana'a in an attempt to prevent them from joining the fighting in the capital. The tribesmen claimed that the advance on the base was in response to an earlier attack by loyalists on a village in the area. The militiamen broke into the camp and killed tens of troops, including the base commander, general Ali Nasser Gatami,Yemen truce in effect, but ready for war: tribal chief . Starafrica.com. Retrieved on 2011-06-05. and took over the base. After that, government military planes bombed the tribesmen. Two loyalist helicopters then attempted to bring in reinforcements, landing from the base. However, they were overrun and the tribesmen captured a number of soldiers as well as the two helicopters. A third helicopter, that was hovering above, was shot down by the militia. A military official stated that seven jets were used against the tribesmen and both him,Yemeni jets bomb opposition tribal forces. Cnn.com (27 May 2011). Retrieved on 2011-06-05. and later a tribal leader, confirmed that a total of two military compounds had fallen to the opposition forces by the end of the day. 18 tribesmen were killed during the fighting for the first army camp, while none died in the takeover of the second.Yemen fighting expands as tribe seizes army camp. Denverpost.com. Retrieved on 2011-06-05.Al, Ahmed. (6 May 2011) Yemen: 18 killed in fighting over military camp. MSNBC. Retrieved on 2011-06-05.
A ceasefire was announced late on 27 May, by al-Ahmar,Yemeni armed tribesmen announces ceasefire with gov't forces . News.xinhuanet.com (27 May 2011). Retrieved on 2011-06-05. and the next day, a truce was established.Yemen mediators work to consolidate Sanaa truce . France24.com (28 May 2011). Retrieved on 2011-06-05.
However, by 31 May, the ceasefire had broken down and street fighting continued in Sana'a.Yemen unrest: UN says 50 killed in Taiz since Sunday. Bbc.co.uk (31 May 2011). Retrieved on 2011-06-05. Tribesmen had taken control of both the headquarters of the ruling General People's Congress and the main offices of the water utility.Deadly clashes in Yemeni cities as troops kill 7. News.smh.com.au (31 May 2011). Retrieved on 2011-06-05.
On 1 June, units of the loyalist Presidential Guard, commanded by one of Saleh's sons, shelled the headquarters of an army brigade belonging to the defected 1st Armored Division, even though the defected military units were holding a neutral position in the conflict between the loyalists and the tribesmen. The worst of the fighting was in the northern Hassaba neighborhood, where tribal fighters seized a number of government ministries and buildings. Government artillery fire heavily damaged the house of al-Ahmar and the government cut the area's electricity and water supplies. The government units, led by one of Saleh's sons, and loyalist special forces attacked but failed to recapture the Hassaba administrative building. Tribal fighters also seized the office of the General Prosecutor in the city's northwest. They were backed up by two armored vehicles from the 1st Armored Division. The Interior Ministry stated that the tribesmen had also captured a five-story building in the pro-Saleh Hadda neighborhood.Street battles in Yemeni capital leave 41 dead. Google.com (31 May 2011). Retrieved on 2011-06-05. During the 24 hours since the breakdown of the ceasefire, 47 people were killed on both sides during the heavy street fighting,Airport shuts as fighting rages in Yemen. News.smh.com.au (19 October 2010). Retrieved on 2011-06-05. including 15 tribesmenSource: Missiles strike at Yemeni defectors' compound. Cnn.com (1 June 2011). Retrieved on 2011-06-05. and 14 soldiers.Explosions and street fighting grip Yemen capital. Ca.reuters.com (1 June 2011). Retrieved on 2011-06-05.