Al-Qaeda-linked commander surrenders in Yemen

In Yemen, a commander of al-Qaeda-linked militants has turned himself in to members of the country’s Shia Houthi movement’s Ansarullah fighters.

Reports say that Ali Abdullah al-Ba’ni surrendered after the fighters besieged the al-Qaeda-linked militants in the town of Odain, in the southern province of Ibb.

Odain, located southwest of the capital, Sana’a, was under siege for five days.

The area has been witnessing clashes between Ansarullah fighters and al-Qaeda-linked militants for more than one month.

In October, the al-Qaeda-linked militants seized control of the town, carrying out attacks against police and government buildings.

Late last month, Ansarullah members also took control of the strategic town of Radmaa in Yemen’s central province of Ibb following clashes with al-Qaeda-linked militants.

A leader of Yemen’s Ansarullah fighters recently accused the Yemeni government of failing to meet its responsibilities to provide security as threats from Takfiri terrorists grow in the region.

Sheikh Sayyid Abdul-Malik al-Houthi warned on November 4 that the militants are spreading across the country while the security apparatus and the government fail to confront them.

The Houthi movement played a major role in the popular uprising that forced Ali Abdullah Saleh to step down after more than 33 years in power.