Panic among Houthis as Yemeni Army Advances
Monday, 9 April, 2018 - 09:30
Sana - Asharq Al-Awsat
Leader of Houthi militia is worried of the recent field advancements of Coalition-backed Yemeni army in Saada. This, as tribal and military sources confirmed to Asharq Al-Awsat, led him to call upon a number of leaders descending from Houthis to develop plans to defend the group’s stronghold and warn them of tribesmen’s treachery.
Sources indicated that the leader of the group loyal to Iran, Abdul-Malik al-Houthi, summoned dozens of group’s commanders descendants from Saada to a video meeting, where he spoke to them about the imminent fall of the group's stronghold and his birthplace in the hands of the Yemeni army forces following the collapse among militia ranks.
Houthi's warnings and his new orders have stirred anger among fighters prompting several to retreat from the fighting fronts over the past days, according to tribal sources in Sanaa.
A few days ago, the gunmen of Anas tribe, west Dhamar, held a meeting in which they threatened to retaliate against the group, which they suspect to be behind the mysterious assassination of dozens of tribesmen.
Backed by the coalition, Yemeni army forces raided the coup by opening a new front in Dhaher, west of Saada, and took control over the Camp in al-Malahiz district, following heavy artillery and missile shelling to clear the surrounding mountains, including nearby Marran mountains.
This comes weeks after legitimate forces achieved several advancements on the northern front of Razih governnorate. The forces took control of large areas in Zuhoor mountains near the center of the governnorate, less than 40 kilometers north of Malahiz district.
Sources revealed that the group’s officials called by Houthi for the urgent meeting, included his brother Abdul Khaliq al-Houthi, and his uncle Abdul Karim al-Houthi, and field leader and head of intelligence of the coup government Abu Ali al-Hakim.
Houthi’s leader warned his followers of "treachery of the tribesmen loyal to the group," according to the sources, and ordered them to assign direct Houthi descendants as leaders of fronts and combat groups. He also asked them to inform field commanders to kill any fighter who tries to escape or surrender.
Houthi ordered his commanders to start a mobilization campaign in Sanaa, Amran and Hajjah governorates to recruit members and push them to Marran mountains.
Houthis want to stop government's forces from advancing and compensate hundreds of those killed in the fighting or during air strikes that targeted them as they attempted to advance on fronts around Saada.
Houthis' leader exact whereabouts is not known, however tribal and local sources in Saada, indicated that it is likely that he is still in Saada, without excluding the possibility that he recently might have moved to Sanaa to hide in the group’s safe houses.
In related news, Houthi commanders began on Sunday in Sanaa and Amran a new campaign to mobilize fighters among tribes and former military personnel, given a recent armed gathering in al-Ashah district called by the members of the group in the attempt to attract more recruits to Saada fronts.
In Sanaa, the group tasked its sectarian leader Taha al-Mutawakil with overseeing a campaign to summon ex-servicemen and retirees to force them to go to the fronts.
Official Houthi sources indicated that Mutawakil attended a meeting for the same purpose at the presence of Houthi-appointed governor of Sanaa, Hamoud Abbad, among other officials to develop an alternative plan to call on soldiers and new recruits.
Houthi’s Saba news agency, stated that Abbad ordered local officials in the capital to provide all the necessary resources for the success of the mobilization committee and subcommittees in the directorates, adding that directorates managers should allocate part of their time to work with the committees and help them overcome difficulties.
There is an underlying conflict between different wings of the militia on several levels, according to sources close to the group in Sanaa. Several Houthis from different districts outside Saada are complaining from injustice and most tribesmen complain their orders were not obeyed out by Houthi descendants.
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