Local sources in Yemen’s capital, Sana’a, reported that the Iran-backed Houthi rebels is raising the level of security alert in the city, anticipating possible waves of public protests triggered by worsening living conditions and in response to recent developments in southern and eastern Yemen.
The sources disclosed that the rebels has reinforced the deployment of armed elements across the city, intensified checkpoints, and tightened surveillance on gatherings and residents’ movements. They described the measures as resembling an “undeclared state of emergency.”
The sources expect angry demonstrations to erupt in the capital in the coming period, driven by soaring prices of goods and services, deteriorating economic conditions, and continued crackdowns and arrests targeting opponents.