Truck drivers complained on Thursday, May 30th, 2024, about being subjected to assault and robbery in areas under the control of the internationally classified terrorist group, the Houthi, while traveling through the Al-Jawf desert in northeastern Yemen.

One of the drivers, who refused to disclose his identity for security reasons, told "Bran Press" that he was attacked by armed individuals at the entrances of Al-Hazm city in Al-Jawf province while returning from Saudi Arabia.

He added that other travelers coming from Saudi Arabia also experienced interruptions and gunfire by armed elements. He further stated that the armed individuals looted their money and personal belongings.

Another source, who preferred not to reveal his identity, reported that a truck driver was robbed by a road sector in the desert areas of Al-Jawf province, which is under Houthi control. He confirmed that they looted a large quantity of his cargo.

"Bran Press" obtained a recorded video documenting the assault and robbery experienced by the truck driver and the travelers coming from Saudi Arabia while crossing the desert at the entrances of Al-Hazm city in Al-Jawf province.

The internationally classified terrorist group, the Houthi, continues to close the paved international road (Marib-Nahm-Sanaa), despite being opened by the government authorities in Marib city. This forces travelers to cross the dangerous Al-Jawf desert, where many of them are subjected to assaults and robberies.

Earlier, travelers informed "Barran Press" that traveling through the desert road takes about eight hours to reach Marib for trucks and passenger buses while traveling through the closed international road by the Houthis takes only a few minutes.

On February 22nd, a member of the Presidential Council, Brigadier General Sultan Al-Arada, announced the opening of the road linking Marib and Sanaa through "Nahm Passage" from one side. He urged the other party (the Houthis) to take a similar step and keep the road issues away from political disputes.

During the announcement of his initiative, which was a response to widespread popular demands from the warring parties in Yemen to open roads and alleviate the suffering of citizens, Al-Arada stated, "From our side, we do not see any harm resulting from citizens crossing the roads."

The political and military leadership expressed readiness to open other roads (Marib-Al-Bayda-Sanaa) and the road (Marib-Sirwah-Sanaa) from one side, hoping for the response of the other party (the Houthis) to this initiative, which primarily aims to alleviate the suffering of citizens and facilitate their travel and movement.

The initiative of Brigadier General Sultan Al-Arada received significant official and popular acclaim. However, the Houthi group disavowed responsibility by fabricating side conditions and evading the initiative. Instead, they announced the opening of secondary roads in Taiz province, which has been under siege for 9 years.