Special to WorldTribune.com
CAIRO — Iranian-backed Shi’ite rebels have issued a new demand — control over the Yemeni military.
The latest demand was issued as Al Houthi expanded their control over the capital Sanaa as well as provinces in northern Yemen. The Shi’ites, backed by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, also took over army bases.
The rebels, known as Al Houthi movement, has demanded the recruitment of thousands of Shi’ites into the U.S.-trained military and security forces.
The movement, formally known as Ansar Allah, said the Sanaa government should treat the Shi’ites as the Muslim Brotherhood, which controls the security forces in several Yemeni provinces.
“Ansar Allah cannot offer these sacrifices and go back home empty-handed, leaving behind these institutions to be run exclusively by their adversaries,” Shi’ite rebel spokesman Ali Al Bikhiti said.
Officials said the Shi’ites have infiltrated the military and security forces in northern Yemen. They said tens of thousands of Shi’ite fighters, aided by the former regime of President Ali Abdullah Saleh, gave fake names when they enrolled in units around Sanaa in August 2014.
The Shi’ites were also believed to have penetrated the army’s 1st Division, assigned to protect Sanaa. Officials said more than 25,000 soldiers failed to collect their salaries, and a Defense Ministry panel later determined that the names were fictitious.
Source Article from http://www.worldtribune.com/2014/10/28/victorious-iran-backed-rebels-demand-control-u-s-trained-yemen-army/