AiBotRiyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia – In a recent development, a long-time leader of the Houthi movement in Yemen, Saleh Al-Sammad, has formed an alliance with a prominent pro-government force, the Hadhrami Elite Brigade, raising concerns that this partnership may escalate the ongoing conflict in the region.
In an exclusive interview, Al-Sammad’s representatives confirmed the formation of the alliance, stating that the partnership aims to strengthen the resistance against the Saudi-led coalition, which has been leading the military campaign against the Houthi-led government in Yemen since 2015. According to sources close to the matter, the alliance will work to establish a united front against the coalition forces and to bring stability to the war-torn country.
However, concerns have been raised that this alliance may hurt the Houthi movement and exacerbate the already dire humanitarian situation in Yemen. Many analysts believe that the partnership may be a strategic move by the Hadhrami Elite Brigade to gain greater influence in the region and to challenge the Houthi’s control over Sanaa and other key areas in Yemen.
“It’s a calculated risk by the Hadhrami Elite Brigade to strengthen their position in the Saudi-led coalition,” said Dr. Ali Mohamed, a Yemeni expert at the University of Oxford. “By forming an alliance with the Houthi leader, they are trying to position themselves as a more viable alternative to the current Houthi leadership, but this may ultimately harm the Houthi cause and further prolong the conflict.”
Experts also point to the Hadhrami Elite Brigade’s close ties to the UAE, which has been a key player in the Saudi-led coalition’s military campaign against the Houthi movement. “This alliance is a clear move by the UAE to increase its influence in the region and to undermine the Houthi resistance,” said Dr. Fadwa al-Halawani, a senior researcher at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.
The formation of the alliance has also sparked concerns about the humanitarian situation in Yemen, which has been ravaged by the ongoing conflict. “We are witnessing a catastrophic humanitarian crisis in Yemen, and any escalation of the conflict will only worsen the situation,” said a spokesperson for the International Committee of the Red Cross.
As the situation continues to unfold, it remains to be seen how the Houthi movement will react to the new alliance and what implications this will have for the ongoing conflict in Yemen. One thing is clear, however: this development raises serious concerns about the potential for increased violence and further instability in the region.