Ahmed Nasser Hamidan, an intellectual from Aden, recently wrote in the local newspaper Al-Hudhud that the conflicts in Yemen should not be reduced to a simple territorial struggle. He argues that the deeper issue is about the kind of state Yemenis want to build. Should it be a state based on the rule of law, with strong institutions and a focus on its citizens? Or should it be a state built on privileges, loyalty groups, and local interests? As the anniversary of the 1962 revolution approaches—when the theocratic monarchy, known as the imamate, was abolished in northern Yemen and the republic was declared—there has been a surge in discussions about the country's identity and future. Mustafa Al-Jabzi, writing in the Yemeni newspaper Al-Masdar, criticizes the Houthis for seeking "revenge" against the republican legacy. The group has replaced the national holiday of September 26 with the anniversary of their takeover on September 21, 2014. Al-Jabzi claims that the Houthis are trying to erase the shared national identity that unites Yemenis and replace it with a more narrow one rooted in Zaydism, a branch of Shia Islam. This has led to increased tensions, as Zaydism differs from the predominantly Sunni Islam practiced by most Yemenis, and the Houthis have emphasized these differences to reinforce their own identity. The Houthis have also introduced the "khoms" tax, a religious levy traditionally used by Shia communities to fund religious and charitable activities. By collecting this tax, they reinforce their claim to being descendants of the Prophet Muhammad, which strengthens their legitimacy in the eyes of some supporters. In areas under Houthi control, such as Sanaa, schools have been transformed into places of ideological instruction, further embedding their vision of governance and identity. In response to the Houthi threat, the city of Taez, often referred to as a "martyr city" due to the heavy fighting it has endured, has declared a "popular mobilization" to defend itself. This highlights the deepening divisions within Yemen, where different regions and groups are trying to assert their vision for the country's future, whether through resistance, governance, or cultural reinforcement.