Following weeks of brutal clashes and much bloodshed, including civilians, engulfing the entire northern region should no agreement be brokered in between the warring parties.
Although the Houthis have been keen so far to play down sectarian tensions, arguing instead that their quarrel with the Salafis are purely tribal and political, the heart of the matter lies very much in the divide which exists in between Shia and Sunni Islam, and beyond that the powers which Islam’s two houses represent.
Just as the Salafis (Sunni radicals) have for decades benefited from Saudi Arabia’s patronage based on the fact they share similar religious agenda and belief system, the Houthis (Shia group represented and led by Abdel-Malek al-Houthi) have enjoyed strong ties with Iran and the Hezbollah, factors which now cannot be ignored when looking at the current situation.
Since the end of October, the Houthis and the Salafis have set out to destroy one another, keen on using ongoing instability and political turmoil to assert their hold over Yemen highlands and thus secure their respective faction will transition stronger into Yemen’s next institutional phase. And while clashed might have started off in Dammaj, a city located in the northern province of Sa’ada, the battle has now moved to several fronts, across several provinces.
For the first time in decades, the Salafis have considerable ground to the Houthis, so much so that Sheikh Sadiq al-Ahmar slammed President Hadi in December for his inaction and apparent apathy.
Today, officials have confirmed that the northern province, which lies directly north of the capital, Sana’a has been turned into yet another battle ground. An official confirmed on Sunday that fighting broke out on Saturday. So far a reported 17 tribesmen have been killed and scores wounded.