Conflicts Among Houthi Militias’ Wings in Yemen

Conflict among leaders of the Iranian-backed Houthi militias is still escalating, yet it has become more severe and fierce, according to several field facts.

The conflict among Houthis in the Yemeni capital Sanaa and other provinces that fall under their control has begun to take new forms and various aspects, especially between the so-called Sanaa wing and the other governorates on one hand and the Houthi supervisors coming from Saada governorate wing, on the other hand, sources told Asharq Al-Awsat.

They stressed that most of these conflicts that emerged clearly within Houthi ranks are either over funds collected illegally or over the hegemony, power and authority sought by the leaders and contradict with their objectives and the absence of a national project or a unified vision.

Sources pointed out that the internal Houthi conflicts have begun to appear clearly through physical assassinations and arrests, indicating the weakness and fragility of the internal structure of this coup movement.

While differences among Houthi leaders in Sanaa and other areas are expected to increase, the struggle among different Houthi wings, especially between the so-called Saada wing and tribal wing, remains the actual facade.

Sources said there is great resentment among tribal leaders loyal to the militias in Sanaa because of what they described as the coup leader’s full trust in Saada leaders.

Tribal sources told Asharq Al-Awsat that verbal attacks took place three days ago between tribal sheikhs loyal to the militias in Sanaa and Houthi leaders from Saada.

Both were boasting about sacrificing many fighters and providing material support in the front lines.

“Don’t mock Sanaa’s citizens and tribes,” sources quoted a sheikh from Hamdan tribe as saying, accusing those from Saada of igniting the war and pointing to the responsibility held by Sanaa’s citizens and the fighters and support provided by them.

According to sources, the tribal sheikh along with other sheikhs also accused Houthi leaders from Saada of fleeing from the fronts and being devoted only to the theft and looting of Yemenis and state institutions.