September 26 Haunts the Houthis as Militias Respond With Repressive Measures
In a broad popular mobilisation that defied security restrictions and alarmed the Houthis, Yemenis are today marking the 64th anniversary of the September 26 Revolution of 1962.
The revolution was launched against the imamate regime, of which the Houthi militias are viewed by their opponents as a dynastic extension. It holds a special place in the hearts of Yemenis and in their collective memory, as it is regarded as having freed them from nearly a thousand years of authoritarian rule.
Even the simple act of commemorating the revolution is perceived by the militias as a popular referendum against their movement and its control over Yemen’s government, state and republican system — a grip that began after the Houthis seized the capital, Sanaa, in September 2014.
This perception may explain the stringent measures that reach their peak around the anniversary of the September 26 Revolution every year. The Houthi militias target anyone who celebrates the occasion, raises the Yemeni flag over their home or sets off fireworks.
The measures include restrictions and close surveillance intended to prevent spontaneous public celebrations in Sanaa and other Houthi-controlled areas. They also reflect what sources describe as a state of heightened tension within the militias’ security and intelligence apparatus.
Heightened Security Measures
Local sources said that the Houthi militias had intensified security measures in Sanaa and other governorates under their control in an effort to suppress any display commemorating the September 26 Revolution.
Ahead of the anniversary, the militia-affiliated Security and Intelligence Service reportedly introduced a series of repressive measures. These included instructing police stations, security centres and neighbourhood leaders in Sanaa to take precautionary action against any celebrations or gatherings coinciding with the anniversary.
According to the sources, Houthi intelligence officials ordered neighbourhood representatives and security personnel to deploy across residential districts on the evenings of September 25 and 26, monitor all movements and arrest anyone who raised the Yemeni flag or fired shots in celebration.
Media reports also said the militias assigned three members of the Security and Intelligence Service to each neighbourhood. They were instructed to work alongside the local neighbourhood leader and other security personnel, beginning their deployment at 7 pm and patrolling residential areas in unmarked vehicles to monitor any activity.
Armed Fighters Mobilised
The measures have reportedly gone beyond monitoring and restricting public celebrations and movements in militia-controlled areas. They also include the mobilisation of heavily armed Houthi fighters in preparation for field deployment and the suppression of any gatherings.
Residents of Sanaa and other Houthi-controlled governorates said that newly established checkpoints and security positions had been observed in several areas. Dozens of armed men were reportedly stationed in homes, enclosed compounds and government buildings.
The measures reflect what the report describes as the Houthis’ anxiety over citizens commemorating the September 26 Revolution, which brought an end to the imamate’s rule in Yemen 64 years ago.
Several governorates in northern Yemen, including the city of Taiz, have held large-scale events to mark the revolution’s 64th anniversary. According to observers, the celebrations conveyed a message of defiance to the Houthis, asserting that Yemenis remain capable of restoring their state and reclaiming the territory taken from them.
