Undeclared State of Emergency in Houthi-Controlled Provinces
API
Sanaa and other cities under the control of the Ansar Allah (Houthi) group are witnessing a significant deployment of security forces, and the Houthi intelligence services are tightening control over security, military and civilian leaders, security sources told Sheba Intelligence on Tuesday.
According to the sources, an undeclared state of emergency is happening in Houthi-controlled areas.
The sources indicated that the security deployment in the capital, Saana, Hodeidah, Saada, Amran, and Ibb came after Abdul-Malik Al-Houthi announced radical changes, particularly the dismissal of the government headed by Abdul-Aziz bin Habtoor, who is affiliated with the General People’s Congress (GPC).
Observers believe that the Houthis expect a public or partisan reaction regarding the dismissal of the Sanaa-based government. However, some political analysts say that the Houthi deployment of forces in different cities followed Yemenis’ popular celebrations of the 61 anniversary of the 26 September Revolution, which toppled the Imamate rule in 1962. Over the past few days, reports have documented the Houthi arrest of hundreds of civilians who participated in the 26 September celebrations.
Sources from within the Houthi movement told Sheba Intelligence that the security deployment is a preparation to fill any security vacuum that might occur during the announcement of the new government. The sources denied the existence of any Houthi-Houthi friction or dispute regarding the selection of the new ministers.
While the Houthis denied any disputes between them, sources from outside the Houthi movement confirmed the existence of a clash between two Houthi rivals within the movement. The sources said the Executive Office of Abdul-Malik Al-Houthi, run by Ahmed Hamed and Abdul-Karim Al-Houthi, rejected nominees submitted by Mohammed Ali Al-Houthi, a senior Houthi leader. According to the sources, this dispute may turn violent.
Last week, the Houthis attacked Saudi camps on the border with Yemen, killing 3 Bahraini soldiers. They also attacked a Yemeni military parade in the Al-Alab area of Sa’ada, killing a soldier and wounding several others. All of these events will not pass without repercussions, and this is what caused the Houthis to deploy according to an undeclared emergency plan.
