The Houthi militias’ military council has imposed a security cordon against several pro-Saleh al-Sammad figures in wake of his death, revealed civil organizations in the Yemeni capital Sanaa.
Sammad was head of the Houthis’ so-called Supreme Political Council. He was killed in a Saudi-led Arab coalition air strike on April 19.
Among the figures besieged by the Houthis is Abdulaziz bin Habtoor, head of the insurgents’ cabinet.
The security cordon is aimed at barring the pro-Sammad figures from leaving Sanaa and their fleeing to liberated areas that are under the control of the legitimacy forces. The security measures against these figures were interpreted as a sign that the Houthis were seeking to replace bin Habtoor.
The Houthis have set up checkpoints in all main neighborhoods in Sanaa and they have blocked all entrances to the capital.
The measures were set up in wake of claims that bin Habtoor was seeking to flee the city in wake of the eruption of disputes between the political and military council and between some pro-Sammad leaderships. The dispute escalated to a point that bin Habtoor received death threats.
It has yet to be confirmed if he had directly or indirectly managed to contact the legitimate government.
Yemeni army spokesman Abdo Abdullah Majali did not confirm or deny the claim.
He told Asharq Al-Awsat that the army was working on liberating Sanaa as soon as possible. It would also seek the evacuation anyone wanting to join the military ranks.
The Yemeni army had revealed to Asharq Al-Awsat in mid-February that it was steadily working on evacuating some 15 high-ranking officers from Sanaa. These efforts were possible after they contacted the military with a desire to join the legitimacy forces in what would be a major blow to the Houthis, said Majali.
Director of Sanaa’s media center, Abdul Baset al-Shujaa told Asharq Al-Awsat that his media team had obtained information from the Houthi fighters and leadership that bin Habtoor wanted to flee the city to Maarib due to fears over his life.
He added that several changes took place in the Houthi ranks after Sammad’s death.
Internal fighting was reported and many figures were eliminated, prompting bin Habtoor to seek to escape Sanaa.
