Yemen: Dangerous Houthi escalation in Al-Jawf... Tight siege of a village in preparation for storming.

Arabian Sea Newspaper - Special

Arab Sea - Ashraf Khalifa: Yesterday evening, the Houthi militias subjected a Yemeni village in Al-Jawf Governorate, in the northeast of the country, to a total siege in preparation for invading it, under the pretext of searching for wanted individuals. Sources said that Houthi militants, who arrived on board dozens of military vehicles and trucks, imposed a tight siege on the residents of Al Qubas village, located in Al Humaydat district, northwest of Al-Jawf Governorate, preventing movement to and from the village. According to the sources, the Houthis are demanding that the villagers hand over a number of their sons, whom they accuse of being behind the killing of one of the escorts of the governor of Al-Jawf, appointed by the militias, Faisal bin Haidar, who issued strict instructions for the campaign to move to impose the siege, and not to retreat until the wanted individuals are brought in. The sources indicated that Houthi militants established security points and military barriers along the length and breadth of the village's borders, and closed all outlets and roads linking it to other adjacent districts. The sources described the current situation as "very tense," amid warnings of its aggravation, especially since the Houthi elements threatened to storm the village if the wanted individuals did not surrender themselves, which could expose civilians to dire consequences, according to the sources. The sources mentioned that these movements created a state of panic and fear among the residents, especially among women, children, and the elderly. The sources hinted that the men and young men of the village began to station themselves, carrying their personal weapons and distributing themselves in specific locations inside the village, deciding to respond if the Houthis decided to storm their village, and prevent them from violating it and taking their sons by force. According to the sources, a group of sheikhs and tribal dignitaries from the surrounding villages and districts are leading an attempt to intervene and mediate in order to contain the situation, before entering a curve from which there is no return, and to spare citizens the hardship of incurring undesirable losses. The sources noted that the village's merchants depend on bringing goods from centers and areas outside the village daily to provide the families' needs, especially food, and because of the siege, they will not be able to do so, which may result in a crisis in providing food if the siege lasts long.