Tribes in Yemen's Al-Jawf mobilize against Houthis over arrest of tribal leader

ADEN, Yemen — Tribes in Yemen's northeastern Al-Jawf governorate have been carrying out a large-scale armed mobilization against the Houthi group for the past week, triggered by the arrest of tribal leader Hamid bin Fadgim al-Hazmi. The Houthi movement also launched a counter-mobilization in districts under its control, including the center of Al-Jawf. The standoff began after a woman using the alias "Mira," who claims to be a daughter of former Iraqi president Saddam Hussein, was found alongside al-Hazmi following his arrest. Sana'a-based businessman Faris Mina, who has ties to the Houthis, seized the woman's house in the capital, prompting her to seek al-Hazmi's help. At his call, hundreds of armed members from various tribes moved to the al-Riyan area east of Al-Jawf. Al-Hazmi is demanding the woman's transfer to the area and the return of his property in Sana'a. Mediation efforts are continuing as both sides prepare for a possible military confrontation. Yemen's defense minister has called on forces to go on alert, while the Houthi group has also threatened Saudi Arabia with ballistic missiles and drones. The claim that the woman is Saddam Hussein's daughter has been denied by Iraqi family members and the Sana'a administration. A DNA test reportedly showed a 99.99 percent match with Yemeni parents.