Local sources from Sa'ada revealed that the situation is still tense between a group of tribes from Saqeen area and Houthi loyalists following clashes that left one person dead.

Saqeen tribes demand handing over nine Houthi followers to stand justice for killing their fellow tribesman Yahya Attayah; however, Houthis consider this to be a pretext for arresting them.

Sources told the Yemen Post that the existing problem might develop to a civil war that ravages the whole province, especially when a four-year war, that ended recently, has left behind a lot of problems including revenge killing cases.

Locals point out that the problem between Saqeen tribes and Houthis was mainly caused by differences over a school in the district; however, Houthi followers maintain that conflict resulted after there were being denied from entering Saqeen market.

Sa'ada province has seen relative calm since President Saleh's announcement to halt military operations there and only very few cases of ambushes or fire exchange are reported from time to time.