Near-Sanaa Tribes Arrange Forces to Enter Capital

Houthi rebels patrol an area in Saada in northern Yemen. Reuters
Houthi rebels patrol an area in Saada in northern Yemen. Reuters
TT

Near-Sanaa Tribes Arrange Forces to Enter Capital

Houthi rebels patrol an area in Saada in northern Yemen. Reuters
Houthi rebels patrol an area in Saada in northern Yemen. Reuters

Tribal sources in areas surrounding Sanaa revealed that accelerated movements are taking place on the ground, in coordination with many tribes in Tihama and some sheikhs in Sanaa who are loyal to former President Ali Abdullah Saleh, to arrange a mechanism to progress militarily and storm Sanaa with the support of the national army.

“These movements come in light with the repression and killings carried out by the Houthi militias in Sanaa after the city was divided into security squares to monitor any movement of civilians and prevent any revolution after the assassination of President Saleh,” several sheikhs told Asharq Al-Awsat.

They added that work was underway to arrange the ranks before the occurrence of any military action that needs the support of coalition forces.

A number of sheikhs in Sanaa joined the Houthi militias under the force of arms to ensure their safety and prevent the execution of their families after militias launched a large-scale campaign of arrests, killing large numbers of leaders and destroying their homes for refusing to cooperate and obey, tribal sheikhs explained to Asharq Al-Awsat.

This move was preceded by the calls of leaders in the legitimate government, who rely on the strong reaction of these tribes in expelling of the Houthi militias with the support of the army and the Arab coalition forces, especially that these tribes have a historical experience in clearing invaders from the city.

According to tribal sheikhs, they need military support as they need to be provided with various types of weapons, enabling them to quickly enter the center of the capital.

Sheikh Mohammad Abdulaziz al-Shalif, a sheikh of the Nahm tribe, told Asharq Al-Awsat that the bloody situation in the capital, Sana'a, is caused by the Iranian-backed Houthi militias and has created panic among people inside the city.

The women, who have been subjected to investigation and arrest, especially after the protests they have carried out on Wednesday, were subjected to repression, beatings, and humiliation.

Many homes were also bombed. "The situation is now critical in Sana'a and the capital has never witnessed such situation,” Shalif stressed.



US Defers Removal of Some Lebanese, Citing Israel-Hezbollah Tensions

Smoke billows from a site targeted by Lebanon's Hezbollah, along the northern Israeli border with Lebanon on July 25, 2024, amid ongoing cross-border clashes between Israeli troops and Hezbollah fighters. (AFP)
Smoke billows from a site targeted by Lebanon's Hezbollah, along the northern Israeli border with Lebanon on July 25, 2024, amid ongoing cross-border clashes between Israeli troops and Hezbollah fighters. (AFP)
TT

US Defers Removal of Some Lebanese, Citing Israel-Hezbollah Tensions

Smoke billows from a site targeted by Lebanon's Hezbollah, along the northern Israeli border with Lebanon on July 25, 2024, amid ongoing cross-border clashes between Israeli troops and Hezbollah fighters. (AFP)
Smoke billows from a site targeted by Lebanon's Hezbollah, along the northern Israeli border with Lebanon on July 25, 2024, amid ongoing cross-border clashes between Israeli troops and Hezbollah fighters. (AFP)

The United States is deferring the removal of certain Lebanese citizens from the country, President Joe Biden said on Friday, citing humanitarian conditions in southern Lebanon amid tensions between Israel and Hezbollah.

The deferred designation, which lasts 18 months, allows Lebanese citizens to remain in the country with the right to work, according to a memorandum Biden sent to the Department of Homeland Security.

"Humanitarian conditions in southern Lebanon have significantly deteriorated due to tensions between Hezbollah and Israel," Biden said in the memo.

"While I remain focused on de-escalating the situation and improving humanitarian conditions, many civilians remain in danger; therefore, I am directing the deferral of removal of certain Lebanese nationals who are present in the United States."

Israel and Iran-backed Hezbollah have been trading fire since Hezbollah announced a "support front" with Palestinians shortly after its ally Hamas attacked southern Israeli border communities on Oct. 7, triggering Israel's military assault in Gaza.

The fighting in Lebanon has killed more than 100 civilians and more than 300 Hezbollah fighters, according to a Reuters tally, and led to levels of destruction in Lebanese border towns and villages not seen since the 2006 Israel-Lebanon war.

On the Israeli side, 10 Israeli civilians, a foreign agricultural worker and 20 Israeli soldiers have been killed. Tens of thousands have been evacuated from both sides of the border.