By Mohammed al-Kibsi
The commander of the 63 Republican Guard brigade Major Abdullah al-Kulaibi was killed along with other officers and soldiers when some militants affiliated to Islah part backed by defected army troopers, Arab Afghan Mujahidin and tribesmen stormed the camp of the 63 brigade in Bait Dahrah area of Arhab district on Monday, said a military source today.
The source affirmed that the 63 brigade’s troopers could rebuff the offensive causing the attackers heavy losses
However the source did not mention the number of casualties.
The AP news agency reported that antigovernment tribesmen overran an army base housing an elite unit north of Yemen's capital early Monday, security officials said, capturing 30 soldiers and dealing a blow to the prestige of the powerful Republican Guards led by the son of the country's embattled president.
The assault on the Republican Guards' base at Bait Dahrah took place early Monday. The Defense Ministry said in a statement that the base commander, Brig. Ali al-Kulaiibi, was killed in the fighting. The statement gave no further details of Monday's fighting.
AP reported that officials said the tribesmen captured 30 guards when they seized control of the facility. At least four tribesmen were killed and 27 others wounded in the fighting, but the officials had no word on casualties among the guards. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they weren't authorized to brief the media.
The republican guards have been fighting with militants affiliated to Sheikh AbdulMajid al-Zindani in Arhab district for the past 2 months.
Al-Zindani summoned his followers across Yemen to take part in the fighting. AQAP number 3 Fahd al-Qasu had confirmed that al-Qaeda is supporting the fighters in Arhab.
Local sources from Khawlan tribe affirmed that scores of corpses of Mujahidin from Khawlan district were buried in Khawlan after they were killed in Arhab.
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