The Iran-backed Houthi militias in Yemen exploited the occasion of the Islamic new year, which falls on Tuesday, to launch sectarian campaigns to recruit new members. The move was prompted by growing concerns among the militias over their mounting losses on the battlefield. Informed sources in the Hajjah province told Asharq Al-Awsat that Mohammed Ali al-Houthi, one of the militias’ top officials, had arrived in the Abs district in Hajjah to mobilize people to support Houthi ranks in the Hard and Hiran regions where they are suffering heavy losses. He met with some 20 elders and tribal leaders from Abs, urging them to encourage their relatives to join the fight and counter the advance of the legitimate forces on the district. The forces are marching steadily on Abs and have reached its northern edges. Mohammed al-Houthi pledged to the gatherers that he will grant them weapons and funds to join the militia ranks, while also warning them of the dangers of not showing loyalty to the group, revealed the sources. He claimed that they will suffer reprisals from the legitimate forces should the people allow them to liberate the Abs district. Elsewhere, the Houthis decided to dedicate the first ten days of the new Islamic year to intensify their sectarian campaigns in each of Sanaa, Hajjah, Dhamar, Raymah, Amran and al-Mahwit. They have dispatched their clerics to mosques to mobilize the people and incite them to join the militias and make financial donations for them and their sectarian agenda. The militias ordered that all mosques in regions under their control should hold seminars and sermons aimed at inciting the people against the legitimate government. They were even ordered to issue religious edicts, or fatwas, on the need to combat the legitimate forces. The sectarian campaigns have even been ordered to be held at schools. Ever since their coup against the legitimacy, the Houthis have sought to promote their sectarian agenda and Khomeini teachings at mosques and schools. They have also forced public workers to attend “cultural” courses in their attempt to distort Yemen’s identity.