Sheikh Naji Al-Aradah killed in Marib clashes

MARIB, Aug. 16 (YPA) -Sheikh Naji Al-Aradah, a prominent figure from the Al Fajjij tribe, was killed, on Saturday, in armed clashes with the Al-Hatik tribes in the Wadi District of Marib Governorate, northeastern Yemen.

Local sources reported that the clashes have so far resulted in the deaths of five individuals from the Al-Fajjij tribe, including Sheikh Naji Al-Arada.

The sources confirmed that the fighting is still ongoing. Both sides used various types of weapons, including drones. This indicates the involvement of multiple armed factions in the conflict, highlighting the growing security threat in the area.

Media leaks have revealed that this escalation comes at a time when Marib Governorate is witnessing rapid moves aimed at weakening the tribal and military influence of Marib Governor Sultan Al-Aradah, who is affiliated with the Islah Party (the Yemeni branch of the Muslim Brotherhood), amid Saudi and Emirati pressures to reshape the political and military scene in the governorate.

Political sources linked the outbreak of these clashes to leaks about international efforts to strip Al-Aradah of control over Marib’s oil and gas revenues, noting that shifting the tensions to his hometown is part of a calculated strategy to weaken him by targeting his key tribal support base.

According to leaks, these developments coincide with increasing military and political activity from Al-Aradah’s rivals, notably Ahmed Saleh, the son of the late former president Ali Abdullah Saleh.

Ahmed has reportedly been strengthening his presence in Marib by supporting armed groups loyal to him, reflecting a potential shift in the balance of power within the governorate.

@E.Y.M