Tribal mediation led by senior sheikhs and dignitaries in Al-Jawf Governorate successfully de-escalated a severe military standoff in the border region of Al-Yatmah on Tuesday. The resolution involved the lifting of a tribal blockade by the Daham tribes following commitments from Houthi-aligned factions to release Sheikh Al-Hazmi and the woman under his protection. Tribal sources indicated that the blockade, established by the Daham tribes and other tribes from Al-Jawf, was lifted in Al-Yatmah after an agreement was reached. This agreement, mediated through traditional tribal customs, included a commitment from Sheikh Mansour bin Abdan to release Sheikh Hamad bin Rashid Fadgham Al-Hazmi and the woman seeking his protection, Mira Saddam Hussein. The Daham tribes have stated they will mobilize again if the Houthi militia fails to uphold its promises. The agreement followed a 24-hour period of escalating security tensions that nearly led to armed confrontation. The Houthi militia had dispatched a military contingent from Sana'a and Al-Hazm city, led by supervisor Abu Najeeb Al-Sharif, with the aim of imposing a military cordon and surrounding the tribal blockade. In response, mobilized tribal fighters positioned themselves around the Laghdam area, forcing the Houthi contingent to retreat several kilometers to avoid direct conflict. The root of the crisis dates back approximately one week, when a Houthi military unit intercepted and abducted Sheikh Hamad bin Rashid Fadgham Al-Hazmi at the Al-Hattarish checkpoint on the outskirts of Sana'a. He was returning to Al-Jawf accompanied by Mira Saddam Hussein. Ms. Hussein had sought refuge with Sheikh Al-Hazmi for protection and justice after her home in Sana'a was raided and looted two years prior by a commander named Faris Manaa. According to Yemeni tribal customs, the abduction of Sheikh Al-Hazmi and Ms. Hussein was considered a flagrant violation of the right to protection for those seeking sanctuary. This prompted the Daham tribes and the wider Al-Jawf community to declare a general mobilization last Friday, setting up tents and gathering at the Al-Yatmah blockade site to pressure the Houthi militia. Their efforts culminated in the recent agreement to lift the blockade, contingent upon the full and unconditional fulfillment of the tribes' demands. |
