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Yemeni troops killed a rebel cleric whose forces have battled the government in a northern region for months, the country’s official news agency reported Friday.
The Defense and Interior Ministries said the death of Hussein Badr Eddin al-Hawthi meant the campaign in the region was over. Some 2,000 soldiers have been involved in the battles against al-Hawthi and his followers, and the conflict has killed more than 600 soldiers and rebels.
It wasn’t immediately clear when or how al-Hawthi was killed. The government had offered $55,000 for his capture and recruited tribesmen to help.
Al-Hawthi’s supporters maintain the Yemeni government wanted to silence him because he is outspoken against corruption and the government’s pro-American policies.
