they swept through sanaa unapposed. now they control nine provinces. sanaa was toppled in 2010 but he still has influence over military and tribal connections. the houthies are facing tough times, too. al-qaeda and some trains wage a war to weaken the group. but the group remains undeterred. they signed an u.n.-backed peace deal with the government in september to withdraw and disarm. that never happened. now their loyalists are appointed in security and government positions. there are plans to integrate their government forces. they have plans to recruit thousands more in the army, but critics warn this is the beginning of building a state within a state with the howes in charge. al jazeera sanaa. >> the police say in iraq 12 soldiers have within killed in an attack by isil fighters south of fallujah. at least seven people are thought to have been injured. >>> the families of a teenage girl in syria is accusing the they are forcing her to be a soldier. >> she should be home helping to care for her disabled mother. instead kurdish forces kidnapped her,