Saleh's stepbrother escapes Houthi-held Sanaa

More than 20 Houthi rebels were killed in air strikes on their military bases on Tuesday

epa06404761 Yemeni fighters, loyal to the Saudi-backed Yemeni government, hold position during an offensive against Houthi rebels positions in the Nihem region, east of Sana'a, Yemen, 24 December 2017. According to reports, the Saudi-backed Yemeni forces and tribal fighters have taken strategic regions from Houthi rebels near one of the main entrances to the Yemeni capital Sana'a after more than two and a half years of the conflict in several parts of the war-torn Yemen. EPA/SOLIMAN ALNOWAB

Yemeni fighters loyal to the government during an offensive against the Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Al Nihem, east of Sanaa. EPA

Ali Mahmood

Jan 02, 2018

The stepbrother of Yemen’s former president Ali Abdullah Saleh arrived in Maareb on Tuesday morning after escaping from the Houthi rebels in the capital, Sanaa.

Maj Gen Ali Saleh Al Ahmer, former commander of the Yemeni Republican Guard, escaped to join the forces battling to restore the internationally recognised government of president Abdrabu Mansur Hadi.

The Houthis killed Saleh last month after he broke their alliance, then they launched a campaign against his family and associates.

“Ali Saleh Al Ahmer is the highest-ranking officer of Saleh’s forces who was able to sneak out of Sanaa to Maareb, despite the Houthi militias’ tight grip on the capital and despite their continuous crackdown on Saleh’s family and party members,” said Ramzi Mokhtar, a source in Maareb.

Meanwhile, the Arab coalition fighting the Iran-backed Houthis killed 22 Houthi rebels in air strikes on Tuesday.

Lt Mohammed Mohsen said that the air strikes targeted rebel military sites in Al Tuhaita and Al Garahi in the port city of Al Hodeidah.

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