Barran Press
In a statement to "Barran Press," prominent Southern politician Ali Al-Maslamani (Abu Yazid) has praised the pivotal role played by Marib Governorate in resisting the Houthi coup against the legitimate government and national consensus. He extended his congratulations to the Yemeni people on the occasion of the anniversary of the September 26th Revolution and the commemoration of the "Matareh" (tribal camps) in Marib and the province's resistance.
Al-Maslamani, Vice President of the Southern National Coalition, highlighted the significance of Marib , stating, "Marib , the embodiment of resilience, dignity, and honor, served as the initial cornerstone in safeguarding the Yemeni Republic against the Iranian-backed Houthi militia's coup." He added that the "Matareh" established by tribes in Marib represented "a turning point in the lives of Yemenis, as they preserved the Yemeni Republic, repelled the coup, and ultimately thwarted the Persian project in the Arabian Peninsula, not just in Marib or Yemen."
Emphasizing the importance of these camps, Al-Maslamani said, "When we revisit the early days of the Houthi militia's coup, we find that Marib was the first line of defense, even while President Hadi was still in Sana'a before his departure."
He revealed that the Houthis exerted pressure on former President Abdrabbuh Mansour Hadi, stating, "Their first demand was to attack these camps established by the men of Marib, their tribes, and their resistance," as they were, in his opinion, "the only ones standing against the coup."
Al-Maslamani asserted that "no other governorate or city in Yemen could have achieved what Marib has accomplished." He declared, "Marib is the Republic. Marib embodies the republican rule. It is the one standing against the militias."
Continuing his statement, he said, "All the projects orchestrated by the Houthi militia, brought about by the Houthi coup, have been confronted by Marib, and continue to be so today." He considers Marib “the impregnable fortress and the only refuge for preserving the Republic."
Al-Maslamani also touched upon the role of the "Matareh" in the re-establishment of the Yemeni army, stating, "Marib provided a fertile ground for the formation of the army, as it preserved the Republic and facilitated the emergence of the national military institution and the national army, we are proud of today."
He acknowledged the progress witnessed by the military institution in Marib, emphasizing the importance of its responsibility. He expressed hope for "achieving victories in the days to come."
In September 2014, tribes in Marib established armed popular camps known as "Matareh" on the northern, western, and southern outskirts of the governorate to counter the escalating Houthi offensive aimed at seizing control of the province by force.
This move, a traditional tribal custom for confronting threats, came after two months of Houthi mobilization and attacks on tribes in border areas with Al-Jawf and Sana'a governorates. This followed their takeover of the city of Amran in July 2014 and their advance towards the capital Sana'a, culminating in its fall on September 21, 2014.a