The Iran-backed Houthi militias failed dramatically in recruiting new members in the Yemeni capital Sanaa despite its organization of a campaign aimed at winning over new supporters, revealed security and local sources to Asharq Al-Awsat.
The militants had launched this campaign ten days ago in order to back up their collapsing ranks in the western and Saada fronts, however, it failed in recruiting any new members.
This failure came at a time of mounting popular scorn against the Houthis in areas under their control, which have witnessed a deterioration of the economy and collapse of the local currency.
This frustration was compounded by the Houthis’ failure to pay employee salaries, as well as skyrocketing fuel and consumer goods prices.
The Houthis had held their campaign at schools, markets and mosques, but they were met with public rejection.
The sources said that the residents of the capital had demanded from the Houthis that they be provided with fuel and gas for their homes. They also demanded the payment of their salaries, which has been delayed for two years.
Some residents even chose to boycott the campaigns, going so far as to refrain from heading to mosques in order to avoid the militants, said the sources.
The Sanaa residents’ shunning of the campaign prompted prominent Houthi leader Mahdi Mshat to resort to prominent tribal leaders, whom he pleaded with to join his cause, said the sources.
He attempted to lure them with financial rewards and positions in the illegitimate Houthi government.
He held a meeting for these tribal leaders at a secret location in Sanaa and detailed to them the crisis the Houthis are facing on the battlefield amid their successive losses.
