Moments after UN Special Envoy to Yemen Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed announced a roadmap for settling the crisis in Yemen, Houthi militias effectively mobilized armed factions against strategic locations held by governmental forces, media reports said. In his Wednesday statement, UN envoy Ahmed expressed his profound disappointment with the meeting held with the insurgency delegation at the peace talks in Kuwait. Discontent mainly stemmed from insurgency militias in Yemen moving toward Al Anad Air Base that lies in northwestern Lahij governorate. The UN envoy also confirmed that the advance taken on by militias potentially threatens the Yemeni peace talks. Despite the peace endeavors to save Yemen, insurgency militias advance in Al Bayda, Al Jawf and Ma'rib, and are sending for reinforcement. Over fifteen factions have been fully prepared and equipped to enter several strategic locations in the Ibb governorate. Mass executions Houthi militias have also been reported to perform mass executions against civilians. According to international reporting, Taiz, on Wednesday, witnessed multiple incidents of random shelling targeting civilian compounds. Residents of a village in central Yemen said Iran-allied Houthi fighters shot dead seven farmers on Thursday while searching for the leader of a pro-government militia. Residents of the village of Nadara in Ibb province said the Houthis could not find the militia commander but blew up his house and killed seven men working in the fields. Deceptive Houthis Local sources in Taiz told to an Arabic daily that rebel militias have made attempts and taken steps to deceive national, regional and international public opinion by circulating a succession of news stories about the release of those they claim to be "prisoners". These "prisoners" are in fact innocent Yemeni citizens who are loyal to legitimacy in their country but have not engaged in fighting or political activity. Local sources and Yemeni activists said that the newly released prisoners were actually citizens who were arrested in their homes, on roads and at checkpoints, and they do not have anything to do with the forces supporting legitimacy or the fighting. The sources added that many citizens are still languishing in militia controlled prisons in various areas under their control. Prisoners tortured by rebels These prisoners freed recently by Houthi rebels say they were ill-treated and even tortured by their captors, with many now showing signs of psychological trauma as a result. "The Houthis did not treat us as human beings but as animals," said Shukri Al Auqaili, who was one of the 76 men released by the rebels in a prisoner swap in Taiz province on June 18. He said the Houthis subjected some prisoners to electric shocks to make them reveal information about the pro-government forces, and kept them all in basements completely cut off from light. The father of one of the prisoners, who asked not to be named, said his son had been having nightmares and shouting in his sleep after returning home. At other times he appeared to be in a daze, he said. "I cannot see my son suffering in front of my eyes," he told The National. "I will sell my wife's jewellery and take my son to Aden, as there are good centers for psychological counselling there." He said his son was not a pro-government fighter but was arrested by the Houthis while he was travelling to Ibb province, where he has a small shop. — Agencies
