http://www.english.hadhramaut.info Army destroys weapon stores in Saada [The Source: www.sabanews.net - 13/12/2009] The army launched painful strikes to al-Houthi insurgents during the past hours in a number of districts in Saada, northern Yemen, the GPC-run al-moatamar.net reported on Sunday. The troops have managed to destroy a number of hideouts in Matrah district of Sa'ada governorate. The hideouts were weapon storeas and workshops to make mines and explosives in addition to some leading sites in caves in the same area. Meanwhile, the army troops have tighten their grip on the rest rebel cells in the Old city of Sa'ada and managed to destroy three hideouts of theirs.They foiled attempts of al-Houthi rebels to infiltrate to hills western the al-Sama'a and Novan areas, causing huge losses and casualties in the rebels, who have been forced to run away.On the other hand, Military and security units are continuing their cleansing Harf Sufian area from mines planted by rebels.To thwart weapon trafficking to rebels, Interior Ministry has directed the security authorities in all governorates, particularly those in coastal cities, to intensify surveillance at passages and coordinate with other forces to hunt arms dealers and foil trafficking operations.Fighting against al-Houthi loyalists has erupted in the mid of August between government forces and supporters of rebel leader Abdul-Malik al-Houthi in Sa'ada.This is the sixth conflict between the government forces and the rebels in Sa'ada governorate since 2004. Thousands of people, soldiers and insurgents have been killed in Saada province, which is located close to border with Saudi Arabia.Hussein al-Houthi, the eldest brother of the current group leader Abdul-Malik, was killed by the army in September 2004.The Yemeni government accuses the Houthi group of trying to reinstall the rule of imamate, which was toppled by a republican revolution in northern Yemen in 1962.