Heavy fighting erupts between Yemeni forces and Houthis in Hayfan front

Houthis have been systematically abducting and indoctrinating children in Yemen to believe they are fighting against Jews and Zionists, according to a former journalist who worked in Houthi-controlled territory for a decade. The journalist, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the group has increasingly been using child soldiers in their conflict with Saudi Arabia and the Saudi-backed government.

Humanitarian workers and aid employees have also been held hostage by the Houthis, with at least eight people involved in human rights and humanitarian work facing criminal prosecution on espionage-related charges since August 18.

The journalist explained that the Houthis force families in controlled territories to recruit their children, threatening them with punishment, imprisonment, or death if they do not comply. He noted that the situation is escalating, with more children being enlisted since October 7, 2023. The use of the Israel-Hamas War as a recruiting tool is a key strategy for the Houthis, as they play videos of the conflict in Gaza to incite children against Israel.

The journalist emphasized that the anti-Israel sentiment in Yemen is widespread, making it easier for the Houthis to recruit and indoctrinate children.

However, the journalist also pointed out that this approach is backfiring, with a growing number of Yemenis feeling resentful toward the Palestinians due to the economic consequences of the Houthis' actions. The group's indiscriminate shelling of homes and schools and the isolation of Yemen by attacking vessels in the Red Sea have contributed to this sentiment shift.

The journalist expressed concern that the Western support for the Houthis is based on a misconception, as many Palestinian activists and thinkers fail to recognize that the group is a terrorist organization, even if it shares some of their viewpoints.