The Iran-backed Houthi militias in Yemen’s Hoadeidah have issued 100,000 fake identification cards to their members since they seized control of the province in 2014, a Yemeni official revealed. First Undersecretary of Hodeidah Walid al-Qudaimi said that the militias have deliberately issued ID cards with fake names for their members in order for them to occupy positions in government institutions. He explained to Asharq Al-Awsat that ever since the Houthis took over public institutions in Hodeidah, including its civil affairs and passports administration, they began bringing in residents from other regions, such as Saada, Hajjah and Amran, in order to alter the province’s demographics. The militias then started issuing ID cards for their members, claiming that they were born in Hodeidah, so that they could act as sleeper cells to later carry out terrorist operations when the province is liberated, he went on to say. He stressed that the legitimate government was prepared to address this thorny file through a team specialized in civilian and passport affairs. The team will be able to identify the fake IDs, detain their holders and hold them accountable for their actions. The team’s efforts will cover all IDs that have been issued since the Houthi takeover of Hodeidah in 2014. Hodeidah residents are eagerly awaiting the liberation of the province, stressed Qudaimi. “They are suffering under the militias and have hope in the legitimate and coalition forces,” he stated. “We are on the verge of liberating the province and the displaced will return. When they do, they will find all the needed government and coalition support and everything destroyed by the Houthis will be rebuilt,” he vowed. The Saudi-led Arab coalition and legitimate forces had in recent months launched an operation to liberate Hodeidah from Houthi clutches and they have achieved many victories on the field.