Only days after government officials announced the Houthis, (Shiite militants organized under the leadership of Abdel-Malek al-Houthi) had agreed to withdraw their troops from the northern province of Amran as part of an agreed truce, tribal sources confirmed that violence broke out anew on Saturday.
Although the Shiite militants agreed previously they would not engage in further violence as to enable the country to complete its transition of power without the fear of armed clashes or political instability, the group remains intent on affirming its footprint and presence deep into al-Ahmar territory. Amran, which lies north of the capital, Sana’a is historically a fief of al-Ahmar tribal clan. One of Yemen’s most prominent tribal families, al-Ahmar weights heavy on the country’s political arena as there are high ranking members of al-Islah (Sunni radical faction).
Tribal sources confirmed that at least one Yemeni soldier and three Houthi militants have died since Saturday morning.
According to government sources, clashes took place when Shiite militants attempted to cross into Amran as to partake in a funeral procession. Since the men were heavily armed, soldiers minding a check point refused to let them pass thus prompting a fierce retaliation.
"The Houthis have staged these protests fully armed, that's why the army forces had to stop them from entering the city this time," Reuters quoted an official as saying.
Moreover, Saba (state news agency) quoted another government source as noting, “"These armed outlaw elements belong to a subsidiary of Ansar Allah [Houthi movement], they attacked a number of security points and tried to enter the city of Amran with various light and medium weapons.” 
The Houthis have denied any wrong doings, claiming to have acted in self-defence. "Once the march reached the checkpoint, there was direct shooting which led to the killing of six and the wounding of ten. Four others were arrested," said Mohamed Abdel Salam, a Houthi spokesman.
In recent weeks, several local media have flaunted the possibility that the Houthis had been commissioned by certain Gulf countries to bring down President Abdo Rabbo Mansour Hadi’s presidency. While there is no substantial proof to support such theory, it is difficult to escape the fact that the Shiite group has proven brash in its systematic opposition of the state as well as bold in its military advances.