Yemen tribes increasing involvement in fight against Houthis
Yemeni tribes play a pivotal role in confronting the Houthi militia.
These tribes are turning into a thorn
in the side of the Houthis, especially in the areas they control. They constantly
launch guerrilla attacks against militiamen in different parts of these areas.
The tribes do not only repel Houthi
attacks. They also have a great political weight they put behind the legitimate
Yemeni government and contribute to Yemen's stability.
The tribes play a military role in
confronting terrorism, in general.
Yemeni President, Abdrabbuh Mansur Hadi, used the tribes to put
an end to Houthi control in the southeastern province of Abyan.
Al-Sabiha tribes
Al-Sabiha tribes in the southwestern
province of Lahij are some of the largest and most powerful fighting the
Houthis in southern Yemen.
Nonetheless, the tribes entered the
showdown against the Houthis only recently because of painful Houthi attacks
against them at the beginning of the coup.
The Houthis captured Minister of
Defense, Mahmud al-Subaihi, and the commander of the military axis, Brig. Faisal
Rajab.
However, the tribes quickly regained
their strength and entered into a strong confrontation with the Houthis.
During the past period, al-Sabiha
tribes declared the formation of a military command to participate in the
resistance front in Aden against the Houthi militia.
They also established checkpoints
and prevented the Houthis and their allies from controlling coastal areas in Lahij.
Bani Hilal tribe
It is one of the most prominent in
the fight against the Houthis in the southeastern province of Shabwah.
The tribe encourages its male
members to escalate their attacks in different parts of the province.
During the past period, Bani Hilal formed
a popular army of 5,000 soldiers to fight the Houthis and the forces of the
late president, Ali Abdullah Saleh, in different parts of the province.