Houthi Siege Enters Second Week, Destroying Farms and Detaining Residents in Dhamar

For the second consecutive week, Houthi militias have maintained a severe military siege on the village of Al-Aghwal in the Al-Hada district of Dhamar Governorate, resulting in significant agricultural devastation and the arbitrary detention of dozens of local residents.

According to tribal sources, a military campaign led by Houthi commander Ali Abdullah Muslah Abu Khalbah has imposed a comprehensive security cordon around the village, effectively isolating it from all directions and blocking main roads. This restriction prevents citizens from conducting normal life activities or accessing their farmlands, coinciding with the commencement of the holy month of Ramadan.

Social media activists circulated video footage depicting intense armed clashes between residents and the Houthi forces as locals resisted attempts to forcibly storm the village.

Sources confirmed that the blockade and curfew have precipitated an "agricultural catastrophe." Frost struck over 200 qat farms and other crops on the night of February 18th because farmers were barred from reaching their lands to cover and protect them from the severe cold, which dropped below freezing. Material losses are estimated in the hundreds of millions, threatening the sole livelihood for hundreds of families.

The military operation extended beyond the siege to include deliberate acts of sabotage against agricultural infrastructure. This involved breaking locks on artesian wells, cutting solar power system wiring, and destroying equipment belonging to several citizens, including Ahmed Abdul Khaleq, Bekeel Amer, and Mohammed Maqhaish. These actions appear calculated to dismantle the economic foundations of the populace.

Furthermore, the militias conducted a wave of abductions, seizing more than 20 individuals from the village, including local leaders, while they were present in their fields. They were reportedly taken to unknown locations amidst an atmosphere of ongoing intimidation and fear. The situation is compounded by severe humanitarian cases, including a resident suffering from complete paralysis who is enduring hardship due to these restrictions.

The residents of Al-Aghwal hold the security authorities in the governorate fully accountable for these violations and their consequences. They demand the immediate lifting of the military campaign, compensation for those affected by the substantial losses incurred to their farms and wells, and an end to the systematic persecution being practiced against them during this most sacred month of the year.