Houthi militiamen forcibly entered the home of a tribal elder in the Al-Hada district of Dhamar province, assaulting him and detaining him. Local sources reported that a militia vehicle raided the residence of Sheikh Mohammed Saleh Ali Kleib shortly before noon, with armed elements proceeding to beat him severely. He was then forcibly taken to the district's security administration headquarters in Zarajah city. According to the sources, the militia justified the assault by claiming the sheikh was a guarantor for financial obligations. Sheikh Kleib vehemently denied these allegations, asserting no connection to the purported claims. Following the incident, Houthi leaders attempted to de-escalate the situation by offering tribal arbitration and conciliatory words. However, Sheikh Kleib categorically rejected these superficial solutions. He demanded that the district director, appointed by the militia, refer the perpetrators to justice for violating the sanctity of his home and assaulting him. The incident has provoked widespread discontent and significant tribal anger among the people of Al-Hada tribe, who consider the act an insult to social figures and a blatant transgression of tribal customs and existing laws. This assault is part of a pattern of increasing arbitrary practices by Houthi militias against citizens and social dignitaries in checkpoints and areas under their control in recent years, employing a strategy aimed at intimidating and subjugating society through armed force. |
