A source told Asharq Al-Awsat that Saudi-led Arab coalition ships destroyed on Wednesday three Houthi explosives-laden speedboats that had attacked commercial vessels facing the port of Hodeidah, still under rebel militias’ power.
The sources asserted that the coalition was continuing to provide protection to commercial and global trade ships in Yemen's Red Sea coast and the Bab Al Mandab waterway, the fifth busiest naval route in the world.
Meanwhile, the Armed Forces of Yemen backed by Saudi-led coalition forces, controlled on Wednesday dawn a governmental compound in al-Malaheez district of Saada province.
An army statement said Yemeni forces raided the compound with the support of Arab coalition’s air force following violent clashes with Houthis.
In Sana’a, informed sources uncovered that head of the so-called Supreme Political Council Mahdi Mashat had appointed, few days ago, a person with criminal records, with the task to monitor the movements of Prime Minister of the coup government Dr. Abdulaziz Saleh bin Habtoor, who is member of the General People’s Congress (GPC) party.
Mashat’s decision came as part of his plan to strengthen his power through appointing sectarian figures in delicate Houthi-controlled institutions.
According to the sources, Mashat issued an order to appoint Hani al-Madani as the secretary of the coup Prime Ministry and had tasked him to monitor the movements and contacts of bin Habtoor, in addition to monitoring the activities of GPC ministers.
Madani’s appointment at this sensitive position drove angry reactions in Yemen, even in the ranks of Houthi officials, knowing that Madani is a man with criminal and fraud records.
On Wednesday, it was still unclear whether bin Habtoor would accept Mashat’s new offence and continue in his position or whether he would resign.
