Barran Press | Report by Faris Yahya
On September 18, 2014, Marib province in northeastern Yemen witnessed the establishment of tribal Matareh, a proactive measure aimed at countering the Houthi movement's aggressive advances to seize control of the area by force.
Tribal members flocked to these Matareh in response to the escalating threat posed by the Houthis, who mobilized their fighters and resources to the outskirts of Marib, drawn by the region's rich oil and gas reserves and its significant political and historical symbolism.
These Matareh, which welcomed tribesmen from various political, ideological, and tribal backgrounds, formed a formidable barrier against the Houthi onslaught, catching the group off guard with a resistance strategy that diverged significantly from their usual tactics for capturing cities.
Attempts to Disrupt the Matareh
Mohammed Al-Yousufi, a leader in the Marib popular resistance, spoke to "Barran Press" about numerous attempts to undermine these Matareh through both inducements and threats.
He explained that the inducements included “the Peace and Partnership Agreement and specific clauses claiming that Marib would receive certain privileges,” facilitated through various committees—military, parliamentary, ministerial, and presidential—that sought to lure the tribes with promises of special status.
“When they realized that inducements were ineffective, they resorted to threats, including intimidation through military campaigns and multiple warnings to strike the Matareh,” Al-Yousufi said. He noted attempts to infiltrate the Matareh with dubious elements and mediators, some of whom aimed to persuade the tribes to surrender.
In the face of these temptations and threats, Al-Yousufi stated that “the people in the Matareh were determined to resist, embodying a spirit of resolve and honesty. They understood they had two options: victory by driving out these militias from the outskirts of Marib or death while defending their land and noble objectives.”
He emphasized the collective determination and trust among the tribes, along with support from local authorities, marking a significant chapter in Marib's recent history. “The people were acutely aware of their reality and remained vigilant and prepared,” he added.
Complete Rejection of Houthi Tactics
Abdulhaq bin Hamad Jaradan, another leader in the Marib resistance, discussed the efforts to dismantle the Matareh, which included sending mediators and promoting a document of agreement with the tribes that effectively called for surrendering the province. However, these attempts were met with outright rejection from the free people of Marib.
After failing to disrupt the unity of Marib's tribes, Jaradan noted that the Houthis resorted to smear campaigns, labeling the Matareh as “terrorist camps” and “gatherings of extremists.”
He expressed regret that some individuals believed and propagated these claims, despite the Matareh being open to the media, which regularly visited for interviews with tribal leaders clarifying the legitimate right of the people of Marib to defend themselves.
Jaradan highlighted the role of local authorities in supporting the Matareh and clarifying their position to committees dispatched by the president or government, affirming that the tribes were stationed on their lands to protect them and assist the army in safeguarding vital services and interests.
Suppression of Marib's Matareh
In a statement to "Bran Press," Dr. AbduRabbu Miftah, the Deputy Governor of Marib, marked the tenth anniversary of the region's Matareh by revealing ongoing attempts to undermine and dismantle them. He lamented, “Unfortunately, there are those who sought to extinguish these Matareh under various pretexts and mediations.”
Miftah insisted that all such efforts “failed against the rock from which, with God's help, the sons of Marib emerged to resist the Houthi militias and protect state institutions and the people of this province.”
Reflecting on these mediation attempts, Miftah recalled, “I remember meeting some mediators at the Republican Palace, and I still wonder how they claim the Houthis want to cross the 'black line.'” He questioned, “When you want to cross, where do you intend to go?”
He emphasized that after ten years, it has become clear that the Iranian-backed Houthi project aims not only at Yemen but at the entire Arabian Peninsula. “The Houthi group has an expansionist agenda not solely for Yemen, but thanks to the resilience of the Yemeni people, it now falters within the provinces it controls due to its oppressive behavior,” he added.
Top 8 Attempts
Since their initial expansion beyond their stronghold in Saada, the Houthis have employed tactical strategies to neutralize political and military leaders, as well as tribal figures, to easily capture territories and cities.
This report examines eight key tactics employed by the Houthis to dismantle the Marib Matareh and neutralize the tribes, aiming to control the oil-rich governorate and use it as a springboard to conquer the rest of Yemen.
1. Recruitment and Co-optation:
The Houthis attempted to entice some tribal members with promises and inducements, aiming to exploit them to undermine the tribes' support for the legitimate government and their opposition to the Houthi coup. A statement issued by the Marib tribes on September 7, 2014, revealed these "miserable" attempts to infiltrate the tribes and weaken their strong cohesion.
Despite these efforts, the Houthis failed to recruit even a minimal number of tribal members and sheikhs. The tribes' loyalty to their land and tribe remained stronger than political affiliations, as confirmed by tribal statements and sheikh pronouncements emphasizing that the bond of land and tribe is "stronger than partisanship and political squabbles."
2. Tribal Mediation:
In October 2014, tribal delegations led by sheikhs from the Khawlan tribe (east of Sana'a) arrived in the Saheel region northwest of Marib, attempting to persuade the Marib tribes to abandon their Matareh and avoid confrontation. They argued that protecting the governorate was the state's responsibility and that the tribes had the choice of facing the Houthis or allowing them to enter Marib.
This proposal was met with outrage by the tribesmen, who categorically rejected it. Sheikh Hamad bin Wehait, a prominent leader of the Nakhla and Saheel Matareh, responded to the delegation, "If you have come to stand with us and strengthen our ranks, then welcome. But if you have come as mediators, we reject any mediation with the Houthis while they continue to invade governorates and engage in plunder and robbery," despite agreements signed by the group, as reported by media outlets.
3. Hostage Diplomacy:
In October 2014, Houthi leader Abdul-Malik al-Houthi invited Marib sheikhs to a tribal meeting in Sana'a, which was under his control, to "discuss the situation in Marib."
In response, Sheikh Ali al-Qabali Namran, head of the Supreme Council of the Marib and Jawf Tribal Alliance, rejected the invitation, stating that it was "far removed from the national interest."
Al-Qabali explained in a press statement that his stance was based on the tribe's principles and its unwavering commitment to the nation's well-being, rejecting narrow-minded projects. He called on all political and social forces to assume their national responsibility.
4. The Illusion of Agreements:
On November 11, 2014, the Marib tribes sent a message to President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi, reaffirming their rejection of any intervention by parties not representing the state. They expressed their rejection of a "document" circulated among some tribes, stating that this document "places an invading militia in the place of the state."
The message came after the tribes learned of the circulation of a document among them that allowed the Houthis to enter the governorate. The tribesmen, who were presented with the document, rejected it, considering it "a sign of betrayal."
In an earlier statement, the tribes had warned "any entity, group, or individual against facilitating or allowing the militia's entry into the governorate," considering anyone proven to be "complicit or collaborating" with the Houthis as "an enemy of all the people of the governorate, bearing full responsibility for what will happen."
Days later, Houthi media outlets and those loyal to them spread claims of an agreement with sheikhs from the "Jahm tribe" west of Marib, stipulating the withdrawal of the tribes from the "Matareh Nakhla " and the formation of popular committees to protect the governorate, including Houthi fighters (who had failed to enter the governorate through war). According to these claims, the agreement was signed by Sheikh Mubarak al-Mashan, a Houthi supporter.
This was denied by Sheikh Hamad bin Wehait, a prominent leader in the Matareh, in a statement on November 22. He stated that what was published "had no basis in truth," confirming that the tribes would not return from the "Matareh Nakhla and Saheel " unless the state returned the Houthi fighters to Saada.
He added that "all the sheikhs of Marib present in Saheel, and those who are in contact with the sheikhs of Jahm, who in turn confirms that they are against the Houthis and with the tribes of the governorate." He clarified that the tribesmen "do not receive orders from parties or organizations. As sheikhs of the governorate's tribes, they take what they see as in the best interest of Marib."
In the same manner, Houthi media outlets circulated claims in late November 2014 that the "Abidah" and "Ashraf tribes" had signed a document stipulating no armed confrontation and allowing the Houthis to enter the city of Marib and the neighboring Wadi district.
This was denied by the tribes at the time, who considered it "miserable rumors," reaffirming their rejection of "surrendering Marib, its land, and its people to the Houthis coming from Saada." They pointed out that those who drafted the "alleged" document were the Houthis themselves, and the Marib tribes had no knowledge of it. This was proven false after 10 years of confrontation.
5. Parliamentary Committee
On December 9, 2014, a parliamentary committee announced the signing of a "Memorandum of Agreement" between the local authority in Marib and various social, tribal, and political groups. The aim was to reinforce security and stability while addressing the factors contributing to tension in the region.
The document comprises ten articles, which mandate the state, represented by the Ministries of Defense and Interior, to assume responsibility for maintaining security in the governorate, safeguarding public order, protecting interests, securing government facilities, and ensuring the safety of citizens.
Additionally, it stipulates that "the state shall remove any unofficial checkpoints established on the roads and dismantle armed gatherings within a week following the completion of the agreement's signing."
While the tribes expressed a positive stance towards the committee, they remained acutely aware of the Houthi group's intentions to exploit mediations and monitored the group's movements closely to prevent any breaches of the governorate.
6. Threats and Intimidation
As the tribes of Marib resisted the Houthis' attempts to neutralize them, the group resorted to threats and intimidation, launching extensive propaganda campaigns to vilify the "tribes of Marib," labeling them as "terrorists and saboteurs."
In early January 2015, Houthi leader Abdul-Malik al-Houthi threatened to invade Marib under the pretext of protecting it from what he termed "Takfiris and al-Qaeda." In a televised address, he described the tribes of Marib as "criminals," echoing accusations that the group had made since its initial advance into the governorate. The tribes firmly rejected these claims, asserting their determination to resist any Houthi attempts to seize power through force rather than elections.
On January 10, 2015, the tribes of Marib sent a second message to President Hadi and then-Prime Minister Khaled Bahah, alerting them to the precarious situation in the governorate and the threats posed by the Houthi group. They emphasized that they mobilized "to protect their land and the interests of Yemenis, under the direct orders of President Hadi."
The tribes reiterated their condemnation of "terrorism in all its forms," firmly rejecting the presence of any militia or terrorist groups in their areas "under false pretenses," referencing the Houthis' claims regarding the existence of "al-Qaeda" in Marib.
7. Presidential Committee
Days later, President Hadi established a committee headed by Minister of Defense Mahmoud al-Sobhi and including Interior Minister Jalal al-Ruwaishan, tasked with addressing the situations in Marib and Al-Jawf. This was in accordance with the fifth clause of the security annex to the "Peace and Partnership Agreement," which the Houthis signed with Yemeni parties under UN auspices just before their takeover of the capital, Sana'a.
This clause called for an immediate ceasefire in Al-Jawf and Marib and the withdrawal of all armed groups entering from outside the governorates. However, the Houthi group refused to comply with any of its terms, including withdrawing its fighters from Sana'a.
On January 14, 2015, the committee held meetings with government and social leaders in Marib. Media coverage at the time suggested that some committee members attempted to persuade the tribes to accept changes in local governance that would appease the Houthis, under the guise of preventing the governorate from descending into armed conflict.
As the parliamentary and presidential committees arrived in Marib, activists recalled the outcomes of previous governmental committees in Saada and Amran, which had enabled the Houthis to occupy those regions, culminating in their advance to the capital.
80 Threat of Airstrikes
By late March 2015, news leaked to the tribes of Marib about the Houthis' plans to deploy military aircraft under their control to bomb the "Matareh" and the homes of its leaders. It was later confirmed that the airstrikes were scheduled for the morning of March 26.
In addition to aerial attacks, reports from leaders in the "Nakhla and Saheel" regions indicated that the Houthis aimed to incite chaos within the city of Marib through pre-prepared cells to execute terrorist operations on their behalf.
While tribal leaders discussed measures to mitigate the potential fallout from the airstrikes, the "Operation Decisive Storm" commenced that night, led by Saudi Arabia, to support the internationally recognized Yemeni government in reclaiming control from the Houthis.
At that time, the tribes of Marib endorsed the Arab coalition's operation, which prevented the Houthis from "using state weapons to annihilate Yemenis and occupy their cities, looting their properties and resources by force," according to statements from tribal leaders.
Leading the Liberation Battle
Subsequently, the "Matareh," alongside the army and popular resistance forces streaming into Marib from various Yemeni governorates, played a crucial role in liberating areas occupied by the Houthis and subsequently reclaiming Al-Jawf, Shabwa, and parts of Sana'a, Al-Bayda, Saada, and Hajjah, among other fronts, with support from the Arab coalition.
For the tenth consecutive year, Marib, its land, people, and governance, continues to lead Yemenis in the "national struggle" to restore the state, eliminate Iranian influence in Yemen, and re-establish a republican system based on the principles of freedom and equal citizenship.
Meanwhile, the Houthi group finds itself unable to achieve any significant success in the governorate, having failed in its attempts to infiltrate Marib's community, thanks to the wisdom of tribal leaders, their strong will, and the unity among them, the local authority, and political parties, as well as the solidarity of the entire Yemeni community around Marib, making it a unique model for the country over the past decade.