Marib (South24 Center) 

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Clashes erupted on Wednesday (June 4) between forces loyal to the Yemeni Islah Party and tribal armed groups in Yemen’s Marib governorate. 

According to local sources, the clashes led to the closure of the Marib-Hadramout international road in the Wadi district, east of the governorate, and resulted in injuries to soldiers. 

The Islah Party’s security committee in Marib said in a statement that "armed elements carried out sabotage operations on Wednesday and cut off the international road”. 

The statement added that these elements, allegedly led by a commander named Abdullah bin Saeed bin Jalal under Houthi directives, attacked security and military checkpoints tasked with securing the road and public facilities, employing medium and heavy weapons.

The statement noted that the armed groups attempted to establish positions along the main road and set up new checkpoints with an aim to destabilize security and threaten public and sovereign interests. They reportedly opened fire on security and military units during confrontations, leaving a number of soldiers injured. 

Earlier, corroborating sources reported clashes on Tuesday (June 3) between government forces affiliated with Islah and armed tribal elements in the Al-Dhameen and Al-Raqqah areas of eastern Marib after the latter blocked the international road. 

The sources stated that clashes broke out after tribal groups set up a roadblock to demand the release of trucks seized by army checkpoints - a dispute linked to iron mining sites in the region. 

Marib is a stronghold of the Internationally Recognized Yemeni Government and continues to witness intermittent tensions and clashes despite the fragile nationwide truce.