While a tentative ceasefire keeps Yemen’s capital Sana’a in a relative state of tranquility, denizens of the city are aware that the longer political uncertainty drags on, the greater the risk of war becomes. This fear became apparent when the news reached Sana’a last Wednesday that President Ali Abdullah Saleh had had successful surgery in neighboring Saudi Arabia, where he had been whisked to after being severely injured in an attack on his residence.
Chaos erupted in the streets. Red flares, used by the Republican Guards in their 13 day war against the Hashid tribal confederation in the capital to direct fire, were shot from all directions around the city. Familiar with the flares’ usual tactical purpose, residents panicked, expecting gunfire to break out all around them. “Run, get in your houses, run,” they screamed as they fled what they expected to be incoming fire.
