Yemen’s Houthi militias have approved a draft law to introduce compulsory military service for school and university students.
Observers said that the introduction of the service is aimed at compensating the shortage in the number militants, and to maintain the coup and the Wilayat al-Fakih rule.
Official Houthi sources revealed that the coup cabinet chaired by Houthi head of government Abdul Aziz bin Habtoor adopted the new bill on Wednesday.
It was submitted by Minister of Education Yahya al-Houthi, the brother of the group’s leader.
The Houthis claimed that the bill aims to benefit from the capabilities of Yemen’s youths and offer them the chance to serve their country in addition to developing their sense of responsibility in the community.
Houthi sources pointed out that the cabinet formed a seven-member committee to lay the organizational standards and procedures to manage the process.
The meeting came days after Mohammed Ali al-Houthi, a militia commander, hinted in a tweet at the group’s intention to activate a two-year compulsory service on youths above the age of 18.
Reliable sources in Sanaa affirmed that Houthi leader Abdulmalek al-Houthi called two weeks ago for the swift adoption of the bill, which has been put on hold for 17 years.
The 1991 law on compulsory military service stipulates that every Yemeni male above the age of 18 should report to duty.
Yemeni activists warned that by adopting the law, the insurgents would guarantee tens of thousands of recruits and huge funds from those preferring to pay compensation instead of being forced into military service.
International and government reports have spoken of Houthis recruiting more than 25,000 children whether through intimidation, kidnapping or invitation.
