Conflicts within senior Houthi security leaders sharpened: Sources
Disputes escalated withi the wings of the Houthi militia, reaching the point of assassinations and kidnappings of security elements and leaders affiliated with the so-called Preventive Security, in a conflict of powers and a race to collect royalties and loots.
Sharp conflicts erupted between the militia's interior minister, Abdul Karim Al-Houthi, on the one hand, and his deputy, Aziz Al-Jaradi (Abu Tariq), who was also the head of the Preventive Security Service and the financial official of the Houthi militia, on the other hand. Well-informed security sources told Khabar Agency.
According to the sources, Abdul Karim Al-Houthi used Mohammed Ali Al-Houthi, a member of the Houthi Governing Council, to press for the dismissal of Abu Tariq, which has already happened, as he was dismissed and appointed director of security in Saada Governorate, reduced all his powers and stopped the financial allocations he was receiving through his brother from the capital Sana'a, through the royalties he imposed on traders and his share of oil derivatives sold on the black market.
The sources confirmed that Abdul Karim Al-Houthi also dismissed most of the security leaders appointed by Abu Tariq during his tenure as head of preventive security, assassinating some of them, and putting some in secret prisons for fear of any coup attempt and revenge for what happened to their comrades who were killed under unknown circumstances.
One of the reasons for the disputes is the total control and powers that were granted to Abu Tariq, the implementation of all his orders, and the ignoring of what is issued by the militia’s Minister of Interior, Abdul Karim Al-Houthi, in addition to the financial disputes and accusing Abu Tariq of not distributing all the money looted by the Preventive Security from banks and the properties of the opponents. The sources said.