A wave of fear and military preparedness has reportedly swept through Yemen’s central Al Bayda province after tribal leaders called on residents to mobilise against the Houthi militia.
Sheikh Rami bin Yasser Al-Awadi, a tribal leader from the Al Awad tribe in Al Bayda, issued a message calling on residents of the province to prepare and join efforts to confront the Houthis.
Separately, Sheikh Ibrahim Al-Jabri, a tribal leader from the Al Ghanim tribes in Qifah Al-Sufla, called on the people of Al Bayda to unite their ranks and join the fighting fronts against the Houthi militia.
Al-Jabri urged residents to fulfil what he described as their historic responsibility to reclaim their land.
Al Bayda's strategic importance
Al Bayda occupies a strategically important position in central Yemen, sharing borders with several provinces, including Marib, Shabwa and Abyan.
Its location makes the province an important geographic crossroads and a significant factor in the military balance between Yemen’s competing forces.
The latest calls for mobilisation come amid broader efforts by Yemen’s internationally recognised government to increase military preparedness.
Government orders military preparedness
The tribal appeals followed an announcement by Yemen’s Ministry of Defence and General Staff that practical measures were being launched to implement a decision to raise military preparedness at all levels.
The move was reportedly taken in accordance with directives from Rashad Al-Alimi, chairman of Yemen’s Presidential Leadership Council.
The developments come as fighting has continued between Yemeni government forces and the Houthis in parts of Taiz and Lahj, while reports have also emerged of airstrikes targeting Houthi positions in Sanaa.
Shifting front lines
Yemen has witnessed changes in the map of territorial control in recent weeks amid renewed clashes between government forces and the Houthis.
The Houthis have reportedly made advances along parts of Yemen’s western coastline and taken control of several strategically important locations, including areas around the coastal city of Al Mokha and Mayyun Island, which lies near the entrance to the Bab el-Mandeb Strait.
The developments around Al Bayda and other strategic areas underscore the continuing volatility of Yemen’s conflict, where control of territory and key transportation routes remains central to the competing sides.
