Tribal Leader and Poet Assassinated by Armed Attackers in Al Jawf

A prominent tribal leader and a poet were fatally shot by armed assailants in the Khabb wa Ash-Sha'af district of Yemen's Al Jawf Governorate, an area currently under the control of the Iran-backed Houthi militia amid escalating security chaos.

Local sources confirmed that tribal gunmen opened fire on Tuesday upon a vehicle transporting Sheikh Salem Mohammed Atashah Al-Mudhfari, a leader from the Al Atashah tribe (Al Mudhafarah), and the poet Yahya bin Amer Al-Sallahi, known as "Abu Marzouq," from the Dhu Mohammed Al-Salah tribe (Dahm Hamdan). The attack occurred in the Al-Dhahra area of Khabb wa Ash-Sha'af, resulting in the immediate deaths of both individuals.

Sources investigating the incident suggest that the motivation behind the killings is likely linked to a pre-existing tribal feud or vengeance dispute.

Over recent weeks, tribal conflicts have intensified across Al Jawf Governorate, characterized by widespread security deterioration. Tribes in the region accuse the Houthi militia of deliberately exacerbating internal disputes and reviving old grudges, citing the complete absence of effective military or security apparatus under their control.