Yemen's Houthis have taken control of the country's Sa'ada province,
* Asharq Al-Awsat news paper
More than merely another group bent on challenging the government, the Houthi movement in Yemen is a military force that has waged six fierce wars against the government in Sana’a since 2004.
It controls vast areas in the country’s North, such as the province of Sa’ada and parts of Jawf, Amran and Hajjah.
They assert their control and impose their will over these areas through coercion, creating a de facto state within a state.
At first sight, a visitor to Sa’ada could be forgiven for thinking that the province bows to the federal government, centered in the capital of Sana’a, yet in reality, complete control is in the hands of the Houthis.They oversee everything down to the smallest detail, which can complicate matters when the Houthis clash with other groups in the province.
At first sight, a visitor to Sa’ada could be forgiven for thinking that the province bows to the federal government, centered in the capital of Sana’a, yet in reality, complete control is in the hands of the Houthis.They oversee everything down to the smallest detail, which can complicate matters when the Houthis clash with other groups in the province.
The religious composition of the Houthis places them at odds with the rest of the political and religious groups in the region, rendering the situation highly combustible.
The Houthis have taken to releasing statements hostile to the United States and Israel. Their growing incendiary rhetoric has been especially noticeable in the capital lately, sparking controversy as well as political and popular uproar.
Moreover, Houthi rhetoric seems to match that of the Iranians, prompting debate about Iran’s relationship with the Houthi movement. Some believe that the former provides funds and ordnance to the latter in a bid to expand its influence in a strategically important region in Yemen, located only a stone’s throw away from the Yemeni–Saudi Arabian border.
In addition to waging war against the Yemeni ruling regime—accused by the Houthis of human rights abuses and of discriminating against them—in past years, the Houthis have fought a series of battles against regional tribes and subjected many of them to their influence. They are also continuously at war against Sunni groups in Sa’ada, especially the Salafist groups based in Dammaj, near the city of Sa’ada. The Salafists accuse the Houthis of undermining their sectarian and political influence.
Recently, Asharq Al-Awsat visited the city of Sa’ada, the capital of Sa’ada province, accompanied by the UN envoy to Yemen, Jamal Bin Omar. During the visit, Bin Omar held talks with Houthi rebel leader Abdul-Malik Al-Houthi. The talks revealed that the Houthi movement has armed men positioned in every section and alleyway of the city. They control all aspects of life in the city, while the government departments and the military are merely window dressing.
A number of prominent Yemeni military leaders who spoke to Asharq Al-Awsat underscored that they are confronting armed groups who have near-total control over the province and leave nothing to the Yemeni authorities. They said that Bin Omar’s visit restored some prestige to the state authorities in the city, allowing them to drive in military vehicles and wear military uniforms, something that had hitherto been forbidden for fear of being an easy target for Houthi militants.continue The Kingdom of the Houthis (part 2)
The Houthis have taken to releasing statements hostile to the United States and Israel. Their growing incendiary rhetoric has been especially noticeable in the capital lately, sparking controversy as well as political and popular uproar.
Moreover, Houthi rhetoric seems to match that of the Iranians, prompting debate about Iran’s relationship with the Houthi movement. Some believe that the former provides funds and ordnance to the latter in a bid to expand its influence in a strategically important region in Yemen, located only a stone’s throw away from the Yemeni–Saudi Arabian border.
In addition to waging war against the Yemeni ruling regime—accused by the Houthis of human rights abuses and of discriminating against them—in past years, the Houthis have fought a series of battles against regional tribes and subjected many of them to their influence. They are also continuously at war against Sunni groups in Sa’ada, especially the Salafist groups based in Dammaj, near the city of Sa’ada. The Salafists accuse the Houthis of undermining their sectarian and political influence.
Recently, Asharq Al-Awsat visited the city of Sa’ada, the capital of Sa’ada province, accompanied by the UN envoy to Yemen, Jamal Bin Omar. During the visit, Bin Omar held talks with Houthi rebel leader Abdul-Malik Al-Houthi. The talks revealed that the Houthi movement has armed men positioned in every section and alleyway of the city. They control all aspects of life in the city, while the government departments and the military are merely window dressing.
A number of prominent Yemeni military leaders who spoke to Asharq Al-Awsat underscored that they are confronting armed groups who have near-total control over the province and leave nothing to the Yemeni authorities. They said that Bin Omar’s visit restored some prestige to the state authorities in the city, allowing them to drive in military vehicles and wear military uniforms, something that had hitherto been forbidden for fear of being an easy target for Houthi militants.continue The Kingdom of the Houthis (part 2)
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