The situation in Sana’a is tense as forces from both sides deploy to the capital and take up positions. Meanwhile, southern Yemen remains under the control of al Qaeda-linked militants, despite renewed operations against the militants by the Yemeni military.

A suicide car bomb killed at least three policemen in Aden on Saturday. As many as six troops were killed and eight others injured. The bomber was leaving Aden and attacked a checkpoint along the road between Aden and Abyan. Gunmen stormed the checkpoint after the bomb detonated.

Yemeni airstrikes in Jaar killed seven civilians. The fighter jets hit the Grand Mosque in Jaar instead of a small mosque held by Ansar al Sharia militants, who have links to al Qaeda. Airstrikes also targeted the local hospital, under militant control. Yemen’s defense ministry reports that airstrikes on Sunday killed 17 militants. Fighting in Zinjibar killed three soldiers and 12 militants Saturday.

Yemeni security forces opened fire on an anti-government demonstration in Sana’a as it passed the Foreign Ministry. Five protestors were injured by gunfire. Sana’a residents report that government tanks and armored vehicles have been deployed to the main roads in the capital, along with 2,000 additional Republican Guard troops and 15 tanks. Loyalist tribesmen have gathered outside of the capital. Tuesday, defected General Ali Mohsen al Ahmar said in a video statement that his forces were prepared to make the revolution succeed through a “military intervention.”

A resolution to the political crisis in the capital will not end the fragmentation of the Yemeni state, which remains at risk of a broader armed conflict. The current situation has increased al Qaeda's operating space in Yemen.