On December 20, 2024, armed tribal members in Rad’a, Al-Bayda province, cut off a major road in protest against the Houthi group’s detention of a local security leader from the Al-Joufi tribe. This incident underscores the growing tensions between local tribes and the Iran-backed militia, which is internationally classified as a terrorist organization.

Local sources reported to "Barran Press" that the Houthis had accused the detained leader, who previously served as the security chief of the Al-Joufi area, of being responsible for a series of bombings in Rad’a in March. However, members of the Al-Joufi tribe vehemently denied these claims, stating that their leader was not present during the incidents and providing documentation to support their assertion that others were responsible.

The tribal gunmen have given the Houthis a five-day ultimatum to release their leader. The unrest follows a tragic event on March 19, 2024, when at least 15 people, mostly women and children, were killed after the Houthis detonated a bomb in a residential building in Rad’a, causing the collapse of several homes.