Houthi Reshuffle Signals Deepening Distrust Within Leadership

The Houthis have made surprise changes to the leadership of two military regions as Yemeni government forces increase strikes against high-value targets, according to a Yemeni military source who spoke to Asharq Al-Awsat anonymously.

The changes affect the commanders of the Third and Seventh Military Regions. “Over the past few days, the group replaced the commanders of the Third and Seventh Military Regions with two longtime leaders considered among its closest loyalists in Saada,” the source said. The move, the source added, reflects growing doubts inside the group about the loyalty and competence of some commanders, particularly as drone strikes intensify.

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Over the past few days, the group replaced the commanders of the Third and Seventh Military Regions with two longtime leaders considered among its closest loyalists in Saada.

The source said reinforcements sent to front lines over the past 20 days have come alongside a broad reshuffling of field commanders. About 90 percent of commanders in subordinate units at company and battalion level were reportedly chosen from ideological leaders, most of them from Saada Governorate.

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state of confusion and suspicion

The changes point to what the source described as a “state of confusion and suspicion” within the group. Distrust has reportedly spread beyond tribal leaders and newly recruited members to senior figures from social and sectarian circles close to the organization. The source said confidence in tribal leaders “has fallen to its lowest levels,” prompting the replacement of several field commanders with figures more closely tied to the central leadership.

The source also linked internal tensions to the growing influence of Ali Hussein Al-Houthi, the founder’s son. His rise has reportedly caused divisions among senior leaders, including Abdul Hakim Al-Khaiwani, security and intelligence chief, military commander Abu Ali Al-Hakim, and Mohammed Ali Al-Houthi, a member of the group’s Supreme Political Council. Yemeni sources said representatives of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps are trying to contain the divisions before they affect the group’s military and security cohesion.

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has fallen to its lowest levels