RIYADH: Houthi rebels and their cohorts have added another trick to their repertoire of strategies to gain the upper hand in Yemen.

They have reportedly removed the stickers on Saudi food aid bearing the name King Salman Center for Humanitarian Relief Aid (KSCHRA), replacing it with their own logo and slogan.

“They do this before the food from Saudi Arabia is transported by cars to Saada,” Yemeni sources told an online publication.

The Houthi rebels have done this despite the fact that the Kingdom has announced that it will scale down its military campaign in Yemen.

Asked what could be the reason for this, the sources said, “They want to deceive the Yemeni people in Saada. It’s a last-minute effort for them to gain the upper hand in the conflict.”

They said that the Houthis and their cohorts want to make themselves look good in the eyes of Yemenis in Saada in particular, and the world in general.

Saada, which borders the Kingdom, is a stronghold of the Houthis from where they have fired mortar and rocket salvos to Saudi Arabia.

But the sources said they believe that the Houthi rebels are losing the battle despite their claims to the contrary.

They also expressed happiness that despite the announced scaling down of operations by the Saudi-led coalition, the KSCHRA continues its relief efforts for Yemenis displaced by the war.

“Aside from supporting the legitimate government of President Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi, the KSCHRA has also sent medical supplies to the Province of Saada,” the sources said.

They said that the people of the province recently received 220 tons of food, medicine, medical supplies, among others.

“The assistance will go a long way in helping the people of the province who have been suffering from the war,” they said.