Yemen’s government needs tribes to defeat the Houthis. Will they join?

What the report says

Yemen’s internationally recognised government is trying to turn a new military offensive against the Houthis into a broader political and tribal shift, according to Al Jazeera. The report says the campaign is being watched closely by tribes in areas under Houthi control, since their support could be important to any sustained push against the armed group. The fighting is centered on frontlines in places including Marib, al-Jawf and the Red Sea coast, where government forces have reported limited gains.

Al Jazeera says tribes in Yemen have long been wary of openly confronting the Houthis because of the group’s military strength and earlier failed uprisings. In Marib, a government stronghold in north-central Yemen, tribal leaders and anti-Houthi fighters held a rally that called for general mobilisation in support of the army. Analysts quoted in the report said tribal fighters could add manpower and local influence, but only if they operate within formal state and coalition command structures.

The article also provides context on why many tribes are hesitant. It notes that the Houthis have spent years weakening traditional tribal power in territory they control, using force, incentives and alliances with local leaders. A tribal sheikh quoted by Al Jazeera said some communities are waiting to see whether the government can hold territory and prove it can protect supporters before changing sides.

Al Jazeera’s report suggests the government’s battlefield progress matters not only for territory, but also for whether neutral or anti-Houthi tribes decide the balance of power is shifting enough to join the fight.