At least 109 people have been killed by this week's street battles in Sanaa between security forces loyal to Saleh and fighters from Yemen's most powerful tribal confederation, the Hashid, which has joined the popular uprising against the longtime ruler. The fighting has hiked fears the country could be thrown into civil war as Saleh clings to power in the face of months of peaceful protests demanding his ouster.
The violence poses a major new threat to Saleh because of the enormous strength of tribal loyalties among Yemenis. The Hashid groups northern-based tribes numbering hundreds of thousands of Yemenis, giving the Hashid's leaders enormous power. It includes Saleh's own tribe, the Sanhan, and the confederation's influence is strong enough that around half the Sanhan have abandoned the president since the Hashid leadership announced it was joining the opposition weeks ago.
Friday's assault on the base in the el-Fardha Nehem region was the most significant escalation yet outside the capital. Tribal fighters stormed the camp, 50 miles (80 kilometers) northeast of Sanaa, and killed tens of troops — including the base commander — in the fighting, said Sheik Ali Saif, a leader from the Hashid confederation.
After the Hashid fighters captured the camp, government airplanes bombed them and other forces clashed with them on the ground, he said. At least 12 tribesmen were killed, Saif said.
When two military helicopters landed about 2 miles (3 kilometers) from the camp to unload reinforcements, tribal fighters assaulted them, capturing the helicopters and a number of troops, and the fighters shot down a third helicopter, Saif said. There was no immediate government comment on the fighting.
Saif said the tribe attacked the base to prevent soldiers there from moving in Sanaa to reinforce government troops there. The Republican Guard is one of the best trained and best equipped forces in Yemen, commanded by one of Saleh's sons, and has remained loyal to the president even as other military units have joined the movement against his rule.
Yemeni state TV on Friday warned residents in Sanaa neighborhoods that have been engulfed in fighting to evacuate in expectation of further fighting. Fighting spilled into new districts around Sanaa on Thursday, with government forces using artillery and mortars to blast tribesmen as frightened residents fled or cowered in basements.
The head of the Hashid tribe, Sheik Sadeq al-Ahmar, demanded on Thursday that Saleh step down or else be held accountable for "dragging the country to a civil war."
The battles broke out Monday after an attempt by government forces to storm al-Ahmar's compound in the heart of Sanaa. By Thursday, the clashes had widened to include areas around Sanaa's airport, and other tribes had joined in alongside al-Ahmar.
The fighting could open a new chapter in Yemen's turmoil. Until now, Saleh's opponents have stuck to peaceful protests massing hundreds of thousands around the country. Several military units, along with tribal powerhouses like the Hashid, have joined the opposition, but they have avoided any violent confrontation with Saleh's loyalists.
But Saleh has managed to cling to power for three months despite defections, protests and pressure from Arab neighbors and Western powers to leave office. Efforts to mediate an exit for Saleh collapsed last week when the president refused to sign a deal providing for him to step down in 30 days.
Saleh has retained the loyalty of the regime's most elite military units — all commanded by close relatives.
But the escalation with the tribes could threaten that hold. Under Yemen's ancient codes, tribal leaders can declare that members follow their orders above all others — potentially forcing soldiers in pro-Saleh units to choose between their clan and military loyalties. So far, there have been no apparent signals of mass defections from the pro-Saleh units since the fighting with the Hashid began.
Most of Yemen's tribes boast heavily armed militias loyal to their chiefs. The tribes of the Hashid confederation hold powerful business and the government interests. Yemen's other main tribal confederation, the southern-based Bakeel, is larger but has less political and economic power and, with many more tribes, is less cohesive. Most Bakeel tribes have turned against Saleh.
The escalating violence prompted the State Department to order nonessential U.S. diplomats and their families to leave the country. Britain said it would scale back its embassy staff, while Germany and other countries issued travel warnings.
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