Houthi Failure to Recruit Army Officers Who Refused to Join Them: What Role Does Hezbollah Play?

3rd December 2024

2 minutes read

Houthi Failure to Recruit Army Officers Who Refused to Join Them: What Role Does Hezbollah Play?

A report by the local website Al-Montasaf revealed that the Houthi militia has faced significant resistance from several soldiers and officers of the Yemeni army, who have refused to join their ranks since their coup against the legitimate government. Despite their efforts, including withholding salaries as a coercive measure, the Houthis have failed to recruit them.

According to sources cited by the website, the Houthi militia has adopted a new tactic to lure reluctant officers and soldiers into their ranks. This move comes after Iranian and Hezbollah experts and officers withdrew due to the ongoing war in Lebanon.

The militia has enticed dozens of these officers and soldiers with promises of paying their overdue salaries. However, once they have them under their control, the Houthis detain them, forcibly disappear them, and give them a choice between imprisonment or joining their camps to share their military expertise with recruits and so-called officers from their sectarian class, many of whom lack formal qualifications.

The Houthis have also involved themselves in the conflicts in Palestine and Lebanon, acting as an arm of the “Iranian axis”, which claims to be fighting for the “liberation” of Palestine. Meanwhile, they besiege villages, bomb civilians with ballistic missiles and explosive drones, prepare for a resumption of war, and refuse to pay salaries in areas under their control. They also dismiss regional, UN, and international calls to engage in serious peace talks and sign a roadmap to end the devastating war that has plagued Yemen for 10 years.

In November 2023, the Houthis began attacking commercial vessels in the Red Sea, disrupting global trade routes between Europe and Asia and increasing logistical costs.

These concerns were echoed by Houthi leaders, who called for preparedness against “potential movements.” On the ground, this has manifested in reinforcements being sent to their fighters on the front lines along the western coasts, fearing an offensive by government forces seeking to regain full control of the coastline and the strategic city of Hodeidah, with its vital port overlooking the Red Sea. This scenario represents a nightmare for the militia due to the immense economic importance of this area.