Houthis face desertion after suffering heavy losses

hayes — The Iranian-backed Houthi militia has given instructions for the arrest of 50 of its members who fled from the fronts in the Red Sea coastal area of Yemen, especially on the outskirts of Al Jarrahi Directorate.

The militia distributed a list carrying the names of 50 people, with instructions that they should be arrested for fleeing from the battlefront.

The desertion has come in the wake of heavy losses sustained by the militia in attacks carried out by the Saudi-led Arab Coalition jet fighters with the support of the UAE Armed Forces and in battles with the Yemeni resistance forces. Yemeni military sources said the Houthi militia has set up checkpoints around besieged areas to stop its members from fleeing.

The sources added that the Houthi militia is carrying out forced recruitment of hundreds of people trapped in the besieged areas, asking their local chiefs to recruit new fighters.

The militia is also threatening to kill or kidnap those who refuse to join the militia, creating a widespread popular discontent.

The latest development comes at a time when the Arab Coalition jet fighters continue to launch air raids on the militia’s strongholds in the area of the Red Sea coast.

The UAE Armed Forces are providing military and logistical support to the ground, air and maritime operations, as part of the Arab Coalition Forces. — Wam