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Iran-backed militias of Houthis supported by ousted president Saleh conducted, on Friday, a wider campaign of abductions against activists and local notables and dignitaries in the village of al-Haqab affiliated to Damt District in southern province of Dalea.
According to local sources, the number of abductees rose until yesterday afternoon to 38 people; most of them are activist and notables.
The area has seen fierce clashes over the past period between government-allied villagers and the Houthi militia, which ended up invading the village, raiding houses and looting properties of the owners.
The sources said that the abductees were transferred to one of the militia-run detention centers in the city of Damt.
Village elder, social figures, teachers, teenagers, and workers were reported to be targeted by the first campaign of its kind in the city.
This comes amid mutual accusations of violating a 72-hour ceasefire, announced by U.N. Yemen special envoy Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed, between the Saudi-backed legitimate government forces and the Iran-allied Houthi militia and forces loyal to ousted president allied with it.
The 72-hour truce, which went into effect at 23:59 local time (20:59 GMT) on Wednesday, was aimed at paving the way for talks to end a 19-month war in the Arab world's poorest country and allowing humanitarian workers to deliver badly needed aid.
