Eight Houthis Killed or Injured in Clashes with Qifah Tribesmen in Redaa

Tribal sources reported on Saturday, August 31, 2024, that eight members of the Houthi group, internationally designated as a terrorist organization, were killed or injured in armed clashes with Qifah tribesmen in the city of Redaa, Bayda Governorate (central Yemen).

The sources told "Barran Press" that fierce clashes between Qifah tribesmen and Houthi militants erupted on Saturday morning around the central prison and the headquarters of the Special Security Forces in Redaa.

The sources explained that the clashes erupted after the Houthis refused to carry out a death sentence against a child rapist in the central prison, sparking anger among the child's relatives from the Qifah tribes, who rallied around the prison.

They confirmed that the ongoing clashes, which started in the morning, resulted in the deaths of two Houthi militants and the injury of six others. The sources also indicated that tribes from Bayda are still converging on Redaa to support the Qifah tribesmen.

Last Wednesday, August 28, 2024, the Redaa Primary Court issued a death sentence by retaliation against the perpetrator of the child rape in Redaa, under mounting public and tribal pressure.

At the time, local sources told "Barran Press" that the tribes closed off the entrances to Redaa and imposed a siege on the government compound, the central prison, and the security administration in the district, to force the Houthis to swiftly execute the death sentence against the rapist, "Abdulkarim Ahmed Saleh Al-Omrani," or hand him over to them.

They confirmed that the Redaa Primary Court issued an urgent death sentence by retaliation against "Abdulkarim Al-Omrani" to appease the escalating tribal anger, but emphasized that the Al-Abu Saleh and Qifah tribes insist on the handover of the accused or his swift execution.

Last Sunday, a child from the "Al-Ghlais" family in Redaa was raped by "Abdulkarim Ahmed Saleh Al-Omrani" inside the central prison in Redaa while the child was bringing lunch to his brother, who was being held captive by the Houthis. The Houthis acknowledged this in a statement issued on Tuesday.