The Iran-backed Houthi rebels have moved large amounts of their weapons to their main stronghold in northern Yemen to protect them from US strikes that have intensified on in a bid to destroy the militias’ underground arms caches.
Informed Yemeni sources said the Houthis have transported rockets and drones from Amran to Saada in the north, fearing it may be targeted by US strikes.
The US conducted its latest strikes against Houthi positions on Friday, targeting the Harf Sufyan district in northern Amran bordering Saada.
The sources told Asharq Al-Awsat that the process was carried out in utmost secrecy and in stages to avoid detection.
In the meantime the Houthis carried out series of kidnappings in Amran, even among their supporters, on suspicion that people were collaborating with the US and Israel.
The US has carried out dozens of attacks on military positions in Harf Sufyan, Amran destroying facilities that have been used to launch attacks against ships in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden.
Harf Sufyan is considered the Houthis’ second major stronghold after Saada given its large area that spans around 2,700 square kms. It also borders four other provinces: Hajjah, al-Jawf, Saada and Sanaa.
Moreover, sources in Amran told Asharq Al-Awsat that Harf Sufyan is a major recruitment center for the Houthis, including the forced recruitment of Yemenis.
They revealed that the US strikes in the area dealt the Houthis heavy blows because they directly targeted their military positions, including a drone factory.
The sources suspected that the Americans intensified their strikes on Harf Sufyan after receiving intelligence information that the Houthis had dug tunnels and underground facilities there to hold meetings and recruit new members.