Houthi militia have been forcing restaurants in Sana'a, Yemen, to provide free meals to their armed members. This move is part of a broader campaign to exert control over the commercial sector, with restaurant owners being blackmailed and forced to pay taxes to finance the Houthi fronts.

The Houthi group has been targeting famous restaurants in Sana'a, demanding that they provide daily breakfast and suhoor meals for hundreds of young men and children recruited for intellectual mobilization and military training. Restaurant owners have complained about the relentless blackmail and demands for food and money.

This is not the first time the Houthi group has forced restaurant owners to provide meals for their members. Previously, they had demanded meals for students in summer centers, militants, and families of deceased fighters.

The Houthi group's actions are a manifestation of their consolidation of power and control over Yemen's capital city. Their tactics include extortion, intimidation, and coercion, which have become hallmarks of their rule.