The Houthi militia has issued a new directive to residents in areas under its control, imposing strict restrictions on sharing information about their leaders and movements. This comes amidst growing fears of targeted attacks on Houthi leadership.

According to the UAE-based newspaper Al-Ain News, the militia released audio recordings warning residents against discussing their leaders or their locations. The warnings outlined five key prohibitions:

• Movements of Houthi leaders.
• Military operations.
• Military bases and camps.
• Circulating rumors that could threaten the militia’s security.
• Discussing the militia on social media platforms.

In one of the recordings, the militia urged residents to avoid casual conversations about spotting any official in public, claiming that such information could aid "the enemies." They also emphasized refraining from discussing military and security personnel, including their names, positions, workplace locations, or family details, whether in private gatherings or on social media.

The Houthis also warned against enabling geolocation features on social media or messaging applications, claiming that such tools could be used to pinpoint the locations of their leaders.

Observers suggest these directives highlight the militia’s significant security vulnerabilities, attributed to a lack of public support and an absence of a structured intelligence framework. Instead, the group exploits state institutions to serve its own interests.

These warnings follow a wave of arrests carried out by the militia, targeting dozens of residents in provinces such as Sana’a, Saada, Hodeidah, and Ibb, under accusations of espionage for Israel and the United States.

The directives also come in the wake of Western and Israeli airstrikes on Houthi military bases and strategic targets, including Hodeidah Port and Sana’a Airport. The strikes exposed the militia’s inability to defend such sites due to its lack of effective air defense systems.

Analysts believe that the Houthis are attempting to militarize civilian life by framing various issues as security matters. This enables the group to legitimize excessive repression and conduct widespread abductions under the guise of combating espionage or other fabricated threats to achieve its goals.