Founder’s son shakes the Houthi structure: a new wing and growing internal rivalries

Ali Hussein al-Houthi, the son of the founder of the Houthi militia, has emerged as a new contender within the leadership structure of the Iran-backed group, which is grappling with growing internal power struggles.

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Yemeni security sources said that an internal report from the Security and Intelligence Service raised red flags about Ali Hussein al-Houthi establishing his own wing and loyal faction within the group, threatening its cohesion.

According to the sources, who requested anonymity, the Houthi intelligence report indicated that Ali Hussein’s network includes businesspeople, military officers, media figures, social influencers, former diplomats, and civil society activists.

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The report noted that Ali Hussein al-Houthi grants his affiliates exceptional security privileges and commercial facilities, which significantly hinders the effectiveness of the group’s specialized security units—particularly amid current instability.

It also stated that Ali Hussein moves freely without restrictions and refuses the security cover imposed by the militia leadership on senior figures.

The report, reviewed by the same sources, warned that his unrestricted movements and lack of official protection create a “dangerous gap” that could serve as an entry point for infiltration into the militia’s leadership structure.

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Calls for restriction

The sources added that the report recommended restricting the movements of Ali Hussein al-Houthi and his associates in an effort to prevent the formation of a new internal wing and alliances that might conflict with loyalty to the militia leader Abdul-Malik al-Houthi.

The intelligence report further advised issuing warnings to individuals interacting with Ali Hussein al-Houthi that their involvement at this stage constitutes an act of defiance against security protocols and official authority.

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Ali Hussein currently serves as Deputy Head of the Security and Intelligence Sector in the Houthi-controlled Ministry of Interior. He also claims the rank of major general and leads the Police Intelligence Agency, which was established by the militia in late 2023.

This agency consists of 15 investigators and officers specialized in intelligence gathering, 30 operatives tasked with monitoring social media accounts and mobile phones of targeted individuals, and a female surveillance unit.

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