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.



Influential Far-right Minister Lashes out at Netanyahu over Gaza War Policy

Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich attends a Plenum session of the Knesset, Israel's Parliament, also attended by Argentine President Javier Milei (not pictured), in Jerusalem, June 11, 2025
Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich attends a Plenum session of the Knesset, Israel's Parliament, also attended by Argentine President Javier Milei (not pictured), in Jerusalem, June 11, 2025
TT
20

Influential Far-right Minister Lashes out at Netanyahu over Gaza War Policy

Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich attends a Plenum session of the Knesset, Israel's Parliament, also attended by Argentine President Javier Milei (not pictured), in Jerusalem, June 11, 2025
Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich attends a Plenum session of the Knesset, Israel's Parliament, also attended by Argentine President Javier Milei (not pictured), in Jerusalem, June 11, 2025

Israel's far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich sharply criticized on Sunday a cabinet decision to allow some aid into Gaza as a "grave mistake" that he said would benefit the militant Palestinian group Hamas.

Smotrich also accused Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of failing to ensure that Israel's military is following government directives in prosecuting the war against Hamas in Gaza. He said he was considering his "next steps" but stopped short of explicitly threatening to quit the coalition, Reuters reported.

Smotrich's comments come a day before Netanyahu is due to hold talks in Washington with President Donald Trump on a US-backed proposal for a 60-day Gaza ceasefire.

"... the cabinet and the Prime Minister made a grave mistake yesterday in approving the entry of aid through a route that also benefits Hamas," Smotrich said on X, arguing that the aid would ultimately reach the Islamist group and serve as "logistical support for the enemy during wartime".

The Israeli government has not announced any changes to its aid policy in Gaza. Israeli media reported that the government had voted to allow additional aid to enter northern Gaza.

The prime minister's office did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment. The military declined to comment.

Israel accuses Hamas of stealing aid for its own fighters or to sell to finance its operations, an accusation Hamas denies. Gaza is in the grip of a humanitarian catastrophe, with conditions threatening to push nearly a half a million people into famine within months, according to UN estimates.

Israel in May partially lifted a nearly three-month blockade on aid. Two Israeli officials said on June 27 the government had temporarily stopped aid from entering north Gaza.

PRESSURE

Public pressure in Israel is mounting on Netanyahu to secure a permanent ceasefire, a move opposed by some hardline members of his right-wing coalition. An Israeli team left for Qatar on Sunday for talks on a possible Gaza hostage and ceasefire deal.

Smotrich, who in January threatened to withdraw his Religious Zionism party from the government if Israel agreed to a complete end to the war before having achieved its objectives, did not mention the ceasefire in his criticism of Netanyahu.

The right-wing coalition holds a slim parliamentary majority, although some opposition lawmakers have offered to support the government from collapsing if a ceasefire is agreed.