Houthi militia using poison to get rid of its commanders

Ahmed Adel

Internal rifts are raging on in the Iran-backed Houthi militia in Yemen, as swirls of conspiracies sweep through the militia.

Senior Houthi officer Hussein Zayed bin Yahia died recently in Yemeni capital Sana’a from poisoning.

Houthi lawmaker Ahmed Seif Hashed said Yahia was poisoned five days before his death.

He quoted a friend of his as saying that he decided to stay at home.

Yahia was appointed earlier as the governor of the southern province of Abyan where he hails from.

His killing is the latest in a series of assassinations taking place inside the Houthi militia. These assassinations are mainly targeting senior officers inside the militia.

According to some Houthi activists, the Houthi militia is improvising new methods for getting rid of its senior commanders. Poison is being added to this list of methods.

Yahia worked as the deputy minister of youth and sports before. In recent months, however, he was sidelined by the associates of Houthi leader Abdel Malak al-Houthi who are known to be hawks inside the militia.

His death with poison was declared by Mayhoub al-Hossam, a close associate of his who said Yahia had asked him to announce the cause of his death.

Al-Hossam added that Yahia’s will is for his home to remain open for all Yemenis.

Yahia helped found the political arm of the Houthi militia. His assassination was a direct result of conflicts within the militia.