many human rights activists in Yemen and a number of Arab and Islamic countries are calling for the Houthis to be placed on the list of terrorist organizations that threaten international peace and security because of their continuous violations of killing and torturing civilians, including journalists and opponents, and direct targeting of civilians in Yemen, Saudi Arabia and the UAE with ballistic missiles and drones.

On the other hand, many human rights activists in Yemen and a number of Arab and Islamic countries are calling for the Houthis to be placed on the list of terrorist organizations that threaten international peace and security because of their continuous violations of killing and torturing civilians, including journalists and opponents, and direct targeting of civilians in Yemen, Saudi Arabia and the UAE with ballistic missiles and drones.

Last January, the pro-government Giants Brigades troops launched a large-scale military operation and expelled the Houthi militia out from Marib's district of Harib following ferocious battles.

The Houthis are still launching sporadic military operations against Marib, in an attempt to control the whole strategic province that includes the country's largest oil and gas fields.

Yemen has been mired in a civil war since the Houthi militia overran much of the country militarily and seized all northern provinces, including the capital Sanaa, in 2014.