Tribal clashes in Yemen have been recurring, leaving deaths and injuries amidst the continued fragility of the state and the proliferation of militant groups in the country.
The latest tribal clash happened late last month in the Al-Had district of Lahj province, leaving a number of deaths and injuries. The clashes renewed on Wednesday, May 1, leaving civilian injuries, including a woman and a girl, according to local sources.
The violent confrontations broke out between armed groups from the Al-Johar and Al-Farid tribes in Wadi Dan in the Rayshan area of Al-Had District due to an old revenge issue.
Though a military force belonging to the Giants Brigades and the Security Belt Forces arrived in the Al-Had district in a bid to stop the fighting, the tribal armed groups continued to mobilize more fighters who used medium and heavy weapons.
Since 1994, 170 people have been killed and 260 injured in tribal clashes in the Al-Had district of Lahj in South Yemen, according to reports.
The local authority in Lahj said it exerted its utmost effort to stop the recurrence of the tribal confrontations and bloodshed. It urged all citizens of the Al-Had district to be alert as "the [Houthi] enemy is lurking on the outskirts of Al-Had district".
Houthi-controlled Amran province in North Yemen has also witnessed clashes over the past few days, causing deaths and injuries. Sporadic tribal confrontations over the past few days resulted in the death of 4 and the injury of others due to land disputes, local sources said. The two conflicting tribes belong to Amran and Hajjah provinces.
According to local sources, tribal mediation succeeded in stopping the clashes. However, a final solution has not been reached, and the clashes could resume anytime.
Moreover, clashes broke out between two tribes in the Houth district of Amran, leaving two deaths and four injuries. The conflicting tribes, Dhu Farea and Dhu Muti' in the Usimat of Houth District in Amran, engaged in fighting over land disputes, local sources said.
The sources revealed that the clashes resulted in the killing of Ziyad Yahya Al-Ahmar, and the wounding of four others belonging to the Dhu Muti' tribe. Nasser bin Saleh Abu Halqa was killed, and three others injured from the Dhu Farea tribe.
Tribal clashes continue to happen in Yemen for many reasons, including the fragility of the state authorities, the weakness of the judiciary, and the tribesmen's easy access to weapons.
