Aden (South24 Center)

Al-Jouf Governorate in North Yemen has witnessed rapid tribal and security escalation in recent days following the Houthi group’s abduction of prominent tribal sheikh Hamad bin Rashid Fadgham Al-Hazmi from the Al-Yatma area in Khabb and Al-Shaaf district.

Local Yemeni sources said an armed Houthi force raided Al-Hazmi’s home and took him to an unknown location, with reports suggesting he was later transferred to prisons run by the group in Sanaa, in an operation believed to have been overseen by a Houthi security official in the governorate known as “Abu Najeeb Al-Sharif.”

The incident triggered a wide tribal response from the Dahm tribes, led by the Dhu Hussein tribe, which called for a “tribal Nakaf” and demanded his immediate release. Hundreds of armed tribesmen gathered in Al-Yatma, where tribal encampments were set up and the group was given a deadline to respond to the release demands.

“Tribal Nakaf” is a deeply rooted custom in Yemeni society, referring to armed mobilization in support of a tribe or individual subjected to aggression, within a framework of tribal solidarity that mandates collective defense.

The situation later escalated into armed clashes between tribesmen from the Dahm tribes and Houthi elements, coinciding with the closure of parts of the vital road linking Sanaa and Al-Jouf.

Tribal sources reported a continued influx of delegations from neighboring tribes, warning that the scope of the Nakaf could expand to include additional tribes if the crisis persists.

According to local reports, tribal mediations intervened to contain the situation and proposed initiatives that included guarantees for Al-Hazmi’s release. However, the group rejected one of these initiatives, further deepening tensions.

In response, the Houthi group deployed military reinforcements around the tribal gathering areas and threatened to use force, including shelling, to disperse the encampments, contributing to escalating tribal anger and widening mobilization.

The group justified the detention of Sheikh Al-Hazmi with accusations of “inciting strife and destabilizing security,” while local sources linked the incident to his previous criticism of Houthi policies in Al-Jouf.

This development comes within a complex tribal and military context, as the governorate has witnessed a major shift in the balance of power since the Houthis took control of Al-Hazm, the provincial capital, in March 2020, expanding their influence across most districts.

Despite the escalation, field indicators suggest that tribal mobilization has not yet turned into a full-scale confrontation, amid ongoing mediation efforts and the complexities of the situation under Houthi control.