The transportation minister of the illegitimate Houthi-controlled administration in Yemen and fourth on the Saudi-led Arab coalition’s wanted list, Zakaria al-Shami, died under ambiguous circumstances on Sunday.
Before becoming a minister in the Houthi cabinet, Shami was assigned the post of chief of staff of militia formations in the Ibb governorate.
Conflicting reports around the cause of death were made. While some claimed Shami was killed in an air raid by the Arab coalition or in the battles in Marib, other sources told Asharq Al-Awsat that the minister died after suffering health complication caused by a coronavirus infection.
The Iran-backed militias continue to deny the outbreak of the pandemic.
Sources in the Houthi-run capital, Sanaa, said Shami passed away in a local hospital that is also treating the militias’ Prime Minister Abdulaziz bin Habtoor and three other Houthi officials who have also been infected and reportedly in critical condition.
The minister could have been killed as a result of infighting among the Houthis, well-informed sources proposed, saying that Shami was an easy target for assassination at the hospital’s intensive care unit.
Houthi militias did not immediately acknowledge Shami’s passing. This triggered even more speculation around the true nature of the circumstances surrounding his death.
Abdulaziz Alkumaim, the Houthi Planning Minister, said in social media posts Shami had died, but did not provide further details.
Considered one of the leading Houthi generals, Shami was placed fourth in the Arab coalition's wanted list, with US$ 20 million allocated for any information leading to his arrest.
The list contains the names of 39 other senior Houthi officials, including Houthi leader Abdul Malik al-Houthi.
As for Houthi infighting, Shami’s death tips the balance in the favor of Houthi forces in Saada governorate and reduces the influence of Houthi officials in the governorates of Sanaa, Ibb and Dhamar.
