Houthi militia leaders are forcefully drafting civilians in Yemen’s Dhamar governorate as the Yemeni army quickly approaches the area, local sources have revealed.

The forced militia recruitment, including coercing former soldiers, is at an all-time high as the battle of al-Bayda approaches, while anyone who refuses to join them gets kidnapped, the sources added.

The sources also said that the drafting rounds have even reached schools, where militia leaders are actively looking for students to fight, specifically those in secondary school and high school.

Houthis have lost several of their militiamen on the frontlines after fighting several battles with the Yemeni army and Arab Coalition.

The Yemeni army announced on Wednesday that dozens of Houthi militia leaders have been killed and injured as a result of the intensive coalition air raids of the Arab alliance.

Meanwhile, the latest reports indicate that the Yemeni army liberated the districts of Noman and Nate in al-Bayda on Thursday. The Yemeni armed forces continue pushing forward in Bayda and have secured strategic locations in the area.

Source: Alarabiya