Media sources have confirmed this Tuesday that over 4,000 Salafi fighters have gathered in the northern province of Sa’ada ahead of a planned attack against the Houthis (former Shiite rebel group which in 2011 join political mainstream under the leadership of Abdel-Malek al-Houthi) in Dammaj.
Over the past weeks sporadic clashes have taken place in Dammaj (a city located in Sa’ada) opposing the Zaidi group (a branch of (Shiite Islam) and the Salafis (Sunni radicals). Both factions seek to control Yemen northern territories and impose their religious views onto the local populations.
While such conflicts have been flurry in Yemen restive northern region, the sectarian nature of this particular armed confrontation has officials in Sana’a standing on the edge of their seats. With Yemen standing at such a delicate political crossroads, no official wants to contemplate a regional war with sectarian undertone.
Back in 2011 when Sana’a central government was busy trying to salvage its institutions from the Arab Spring, the Houthis, whose stronghold has always been situated in Sa’ada, seized such opportunity to expand their zone of influence to neighbouring provinces: Hajja, al-Jawf and parts of Amran; directly challenging Salafis on their home-ground.
After months of brewing tensions and allegations that Iran is running a war by proxy against Saudi Arabia through its political and ideological vassal, the Houthis, the Salafis, who it is important to note have been backed by powerful factions in Saudi Arabia, have decided to move to the offensive and block their nemesis’ advances in Yemen.