Rifts appearing within Houthi militia

Ahmed Adel

Rifts are spreading quickly within the Iran-backed Houthi militia. Conflicts between the different branches of the militia have become so intense that they have morphed into assassinations.

Serial assassinations

A number of Houthi commanders were assassinated in the past period, especially in the areas controlled by the militia.

These assassinations are seen as an attempt by the different branches of the militia to settle scores with each other.

Most of those assassinated are opponents of the policies of the militia. Those opposing the policies of the militia are initially marginalized, but then liquidated.

Bloody history

Over 1,200 years of rule, Shia imams got rid of their critics and opponents by killing them, under all types of pretexts.

They did this with the aim of tightening their grip on power. The same imams killed each other to clear their way to power. This policy of blood continued until the founding of the Yemeni Republic in 1962.

Reasons

Conflicts within the Houthi militia are caused partly by the money. Losses on the battle front are also causing tensions between Houth leaders.

Dozens of recruits and commanders had been killed on the frontline so far.

Class conflicts between the leaders of the Iran-backed militia are also proving destructive. Leaders belonging to the Hashemite race that hails from Sana’a take pride in paving the road for the Houthi takeover of the Yemeni capital. In this, the same leaders claim to be superior to others coming from the northwestern province of Sa’dah.