Abdel Malik al-Houthi Chooses His Uncle to Succeed Him

Asharq Al-Awsat
Asharq Al-Awsat
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Abdel Malik al-Houthi Chooses His Uncle to Succeed Him

Asharq Al-Awsat
Asharq Al-Awsat

Houthi group Leader Abdel Malik al-Houthi has chosen his uncle Abdel Karim al-Houthi as his successor in case he dies or gets killed, informed sources in Sanaa told Asharq Al-Awsat.

He authorized him to manage most of the group's affairs in Sanaa and the rest of the provinces while maintaining a small margin for his cousin Mohammed Ali al-Houthi, head of the so-called Supreme Revolutionary Committee, and his brother Abdel Khaliq al-Houthi.

The sources said that the death of the leader in the group and former President of Yemen's Supreme Political Council Saleh al-Sammad forced Houthis and their leader to appoint a successor in anticipation of his death or assassination in any operation.

News circulated said that the leader of the Houthi group summoned several weeks ago his consultative council, which includes a number of the group’s leaders whose role is equivalent to that of the Expediency Council in Iran, and pointed to the importance of choosing a successor for himself to carry out most of his supervisory duties in order to avoid the struggle among the group’s members after his death.

Houthi chose his uncle to succeed him and assume his duties after being supported by most of his advisers, sources stressed.

The Leader’s decision, according to sources, was opposed by his brother and Mohammed Ali al-Houthi, who was preparing himself to succeed his cousin.

Notably, most of the group’s elements and their leader are included in UN Security Council sanctions list and those wanted by the Saudi-led Coalition.

In order to convince his brother and cousin of his decision, sources reported that Houthi has granted some of the political and media authorities to Mohammed Ali, including the ability to make decisions in regards to the Revolutionary Committee and the proposal to appoint leaders from outside the circle of the group.

He also granted his brother powers in terms of military affairs.



US Targets Houthis with Fresh Sanctions Action

Houthi members ride a pick-up truck while on patrol amid tensions with Israel, in Sanaa, Yemen, 18 July 2025. (EPA)
Houthi members ride a pick-up truck while on patrol amid tensions with Israel, in Sanaa, Yemen, 18 July 2025. (EPA)
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20

US Targets Houthis with Fresh Sanctions Action

Houthi members ride a pick-up truck while on patrol amid tensions with Israel, in Sanaa, Yemen, 18 July 2025. (EPA)
Houthi members ride a pick-up truck while on patrol amid tensions with Israel, in Sanaa, Yemen, 18 July 2025. (EPA)

The United States on Tuesday imposed sanctions on what it said was a Houthi-linked petroleum smuggling and sanctions evasion network across Yemen and the United Arab Emirates in fresh action targeting the Iran-backed militant group.

The US Treasury Department in a statement said the two individuals and five entities sanctioned on Tuesday were among the most significant importers of petroleum products and money launderers that benefit the Houthis.

"The Houthis collaborate with opportunistic businessmen to reap enormous profits from the importation of petroleum products and to enable the group’s access to the international financial system," said Deputy Secretary of the Treasury Michael Faulkender.

"These networks of shady businesses underpin the Houthis’ terrorist machine, and Treasury will use all tools at its disposal to disrupt these schemes."

Among those targeted on Tuesday was Muhammad Al-Sunaydar, who the Treasury said manages a network of petroleum companies between Yemen and the United Arab Emirates and was one of the most prominent petroleum importers in Yemen.

Three companies in his network were also designated, with the Treasury saying they coordinated the delivery of approximately $12 million dollars’ worth of Iranian petroleum products with a US-designated company to the Houthis.

Since Israel's war in Gaza against the Palestinian group Hamas began in October 2023, the Iran-aligned Houthis have been attacking vessels in the Red Sea in what they say are acts of solidarity with the Palestinians.

In January, Trump re-designated the Houthi movement as a foreign terrorist organization, aiming to impose harsher economic penalties in response to its attacks on commercial shipping in the Red Sea and against US warships defending the critical maritime area.

In May, the United States announced a surprise deal with the Houthis where it agreed to stop a bombing campaign against them in return for an end to shipping attacks, though the Houthis said the deal did not include sparing Israel.

The Israeli military attacked Houthi targets in Yemen's Hodeidah port on Monday in its latest assault on the militants, who have been striking ships bound for Israel and launching missiles against it.