“Broad offensive”, “iron fist”, “all-out onslaught” … the news agencies are reporting a large-scale government attack on the Houthi rebels (Reuters and dpa) in northern Yemen. 

The army launched “aerial, artillery and missile strikes on the strategic heights of Matra and Dhahian, the two main strongholds of the rebels on the border with Saudi Arabia,” dpa says.

The Supreme Security Committee is quoted as saying the assault was “the last option after the rebels rejected to respond to the call of peace made by the government”.

Well, they’ve tried this before and the rebellion came back again. 

Posted by Brian Whitaker, 12 August 2009