Update 8 Rabee' Awwal 1435h: houthis reject the cease-fire, deny Yemeni Army entry into Dammaaj and attack the Masjid again

Day 93:

There was a mutual agreement among the representatives of all parties (the Government, the Military, the Tribal Committee, Dammaaj and the houthis) for a cease-fire that was to start today at 6 a.m.. The agreement was for the Yemeni Military to come today and all positions be turned over to them, along with the houthi check points and roads to be opened back up (thus removing us from the houthis siege).

Instead the houthis denied the Yemeni Army to enter Dammaaj only on the condition they would not bring heavy artillery and the soldiers would only enter with a gun and a clip vest. 

Approximately 9:15 a.m the houthis began yet another attack on the main Masjid and surrounding area. As they have done before they bombard the Masjid and its surrounding areas with tank, cannon, mortar shells and anti-aircraft artillery. The shelling usually includes the areas near the emergency shelter for the women and children and they deliberately aim for our main water supply for those that live in the area of the main Masjid. Al-Hamdulillah only some suffered minor injuries.

Yesterday the Tribal Committee headed by Al-Maqdashi came with papers about the cease-fire agreement for Sheikh Yahyaa. They brought along with them some supplies from the Government for us, may Allah reward them. The houthis continued their sniper fire throughout the night, even firing a B-10 cannon at some of the students in the Watan area. No one was hurt Al-Hamdulillah

Update 6 Rabee' Awwal 1435h: the houthis continue their Attacks on the Main Masjid during the Prayer

Day 91:

Yesterday three students were martyred by houthi sniper fire. All of them shots to the head. abdul Rahman Al-Haymi, Hudhayfah Al-Hudhayfah, and Faaiz Al-Ba'daani.

Also yesterday, the committees from the Government and the Tribes were finally able to get through the houthis to the Markaz with the ICRC. They transported 35 injured students to Sa'naa by air from Sa'dah. Some students were not able to go due to the lack of space. During this time the houthis continued to fire rounds randomly at places other than where the ICRC were. On the way out of Dammaaj the houthis obstructed the ICRC cars at their check point in Khaaniq (right outside Dammaaj) for over an hour. They search them vigorously, harassed them and took pictures of the students.

We are still waiting on the retrieval of the 38 or more students that are in an area that the houthis invaded (Masaadeer). This occurred before in the first siege. There were 21 students who needed to be recovered. After a long drown out negotiation with the houthis they agreed to let tribal leaders to retrieve the bodies. The ICRC said there were not able to get a guarantee that the houthis will not attempt to shot at them. Which is why the tribal leaders had to retrieve the students bodies. When the bodies returned we could clearly see that their faces had been disfigured. The doctors who work in Dammaaj (some of them students of knowledge here) said their faces had been disfigured with some sort of acid or other chemical.

As early as 1am this morning the houthis began to bombard the Masjid, its surrounding areas and the house of Sheikh Yahyaa with heavy mortar shells, tank and cannon artillery. Some counted as many as 21 mortar shells during the night. There were no deaths but some injuries from them Sheikh Abdul Wahhaab Ash-Shameeri (one of the teachers here also considered to be a judge) and some of his children suffered minor injuries from shrapnel.

This is the blast to the Masjid that caused Sheikh abdul Wahhaab and some of his children to be injured.

. 

Today at the time of the Mid-Day Prayer (Thuhr) the houthis began firing tank and cannon artillery at the Masjid. Simultaneously firing their anti-aircraft weaponry. All of this while the Muslims were in prayer. Al-Hamdulillah no one was injured. 

Right now it is 11p.m. here and the houthis are doing as they do every night play their usual noise on their loudspeakers and shoot randomly. For those who don't know Dammaaj is a very peaceful village in the middle of mountains (mountains that the houthis seek to control to control us). Before this siege and war there is usually total silence at night even at times during the day. For example we can hear a person's door opening and closing from afar. 

We ask Allah to remove and keep the invading houthis far away from us and return us to our previous state of peace and serenity.

Update 2 Rabee' Awwal 1435h: houthis Threaten the President and Whoever is in Agreement with him

Day 87:

The houthis refused to sign a cease-fire agreement from the government. Sheikh Yahyaa has already consented and signed it. The President stated that he will enter the Yemeni military forces to resolve this conflict. The houthis respond by threatening the President with a war that will make him and his associates shed tears. Also the houthis are using a government military plane to transport their injured to San’aa. They are currently fighting wars in Dammaaj, Hashid and Jawf (another province in Sa’dah) all at one time. Link to article in Arabic

Today the present tribal committee came and brought a truck load of food and medicine. In the process of the delivery one student from the locals (abdul Kareem Al-Waadiee') was shot by houthi sniper fire to his head, which in turn forced members of the committee to take cover in a trench. Abdul Kareem is now in a comma in critical condition. The houthis refused to let the committee take the the injured with them. The houthis pursued the delivery truck with mortar shells and machine gun fire. Two other students were injured in this process.

Also today the houthis continued their heretical act of shelling the Masjid and its surrounding areas during the prayer after the khutbahtul Jum’ah.

At this time it is 9:30pm here there is a lot of very loud speeches going on. Sometimes the Mashaayikh or some of the students give talks over a loudspeaker. Usualy every night the houthis give their talks and play their music during the late hours of the night to the early hours of the morning. Almost like a radio program. Also this night the houthis are randomly shelling, firing the machine guns and firing the 37mm anti-aircraft gun.

Update 26 Safr 1435h: Another Committee arrives

Day 82:

Today seemed to be a better day. A committee of tribesmen from Dhammaar arrived in Sa'dah a few days ago with about 400 of their men. A group from them came to Dammaaj today and there were some arrangements discussed. The committee said they would attempt to implement a cease-fire, transport the injured students, enter food, and try to open up the roads. They requested Sheikh Yahyaa to form a committee made up of four individuals to negotiate cease-fire terms. Sheikh Yahyaa said he sees good from this new committee. 

After the ‘Ishaa prayer the houthis shelled near the exit of the masjid at the time of people leaving, then afterwards near the emergency shelter for the women and children. As we mentioned before we have seen some of the most vile and disgraceful acts any of us have ever seen. But some say otherwise regarding the houthis.

There is word that the houthis have been preparing for a big heavy artillery attack. We can see some new structures built in the surrounding areas. As this has become the way of our lives here now waiting on the houthis to attack us. For indeed, we do not have the ability to initiate any kind of offensive attack. Delegates from Dammaaj are trying, as they have since the beginning of this wicked act of the houthis, to encourage the government, their affiliates, the tribes, etc. to intercede and prevent further unnecessary bloodshed.  

It should be understood that if the Yemeni Government wants to shut down Daarul Hadeeth Dammaaj we say as Sheikh Muqbil said before all the President would have to say is close the institute. Without spilling the blood of the Muslims. We find contentment in following what the Qur’aan and the Sunnah orders to (i.e. obeying the Ruler).

For the last three nights we have heard  a plane flying over us. We can only assume that it is our same white plane.

Update: the houthi War Criminals deny Officials access to Dammaj again

The houthi program is the same today as every other day (constant sniping at anyone they see, machine gun fire, anti-aircraft artillery firing and occasional explosions from heavy artillery). Yesterday the General People’s Committee came to bring food and supplies for the 15000 or more inhabitants of Dammaaj. The houthis denied entry of natural gas (for cooking) and medical supplies much needed especially for those who are in critical condition who are in dire need of oxygen. They only allowed some food and it was said they took the rest of the convoy as they had done before in the first siege. They also forbidden the ICRC to remove the injured (one of them being Abu Talhaa who the students are still pumping air into his lungs for the fifth day now).

So far there are 155 murdered students: 18 of them children, 3 women, and 4 of old age, There are 405 injured: 46 of them children, and 4 women. Seven Mosques have been subjected to shelling and constant machine gun fire in which for the most part the daily prayers have been discontinued in them because of the danger and damage. There are more than 300 houses of the students damaged either entirely or partially.