1. (C) Despite repeated government claims that the fighting
in Sa'da is in its final stages, the last week has been
increasingly bloody for both sides. The ROYG has stopped
discussing casualty rates publicly, but local media reports
that 15 soldiers were killed on August 24 including Lt. Col.
al-Hitar, brother of Supreme Court Judge al-Hitar who heads
the Government Dialogue Committee.



2. (S/NF) Al Jazeera reported August 25 that dozens of
government forces were killed in clashes with al-Houthi two
days earlier. Reuters reported 11 dead. In fact, 135 were
killed when a group of soldiers dressed in civilian clothing
attempted to infiltrate a suspected al-Houthi hideout and
fell victim to a Yemeni Air Force strike. (Note:
Coordination between the Army, Air Force and Central Security
Forces has been poor throughout this conflict. Post has
suspected prior incidents of friendly fire. However, this is
the first case we can confirm. End Note.)



3. (S) Al Jazeera also reported that the bodies of 120
al-Houthi supporters were found in a hideout after it fell
under government control. 120 dead rebels in one operation
is quite plausible given Post's estimate that 1,500 al-Houthi
supporters and approximately 2,500 government forces have
died since the fighting began over seventy days ago --
official numbers remain at one-tenth of this.
KRAJESKI