As the Houthis, a Shiite group organized under the leadership of Abdel-Malek al-Houthi demonstrated in Amran this Friday, officials in Sana’a, the capital worked hard at devising a plan of action which would guarantee an end to all in-fighting while preserving political and regional stability in the highlands.
Four months after the Houthis draw first blood against Sa’ada’ Salafis in Dammaj, what started off as a territorial spat with strong sectarian undertone has grown into a regional take-over of sort. As the Houthi over-powered their religious nemesis, the Salafis, al-Islah and its tribal affiliates, al –Ahmar, were drawn in, forced to stand for their political ally against Houthi advances.
With tensions at an all –time high since the Shiite group established outposts only a few kilometres away from the capital, President Abdo Rabbo Mansour Hadi has been keen to promote a peaceful resolution rather than use brute military force.
On Friday Saba (state news agency) confirmed that Secretary General of the Local Council in Amran province Saleh Almakhlus devised with members of the presidential committee “a vision to end the tension in the province and restore security and stability.”
With Yemen currently working toward the last stage of its institutional overall and transfer of power, President Hadi is focused on preserving national unity and cohesion.
That being said, sources close to the presidential palace alleged Friday that military officials ordered the mobilization of troops north and west of Sana’a to prevent a possible take-over of the capital by Houthi fighters. For weeks military officers and analysts have warned that the Houthis would attempt to storm Sana’a as to establish their rule. It is important to note that Ali al Bogheti, Ansar-Allah spokesperson denied such allegations in an interview with Asharq al-Awsat.
He noted: “We defend ourselves when someone attacks us because the government is absent. Someone must fill the vacuum left by the government,” Bakhiti said, adding, “When there is a national unity government, including in Sa’ada, we are ready to be as the rest of the political sides in Yemen.”