Iran-backed Houthis Release 31 of Al-Qaeda Prisoners

The Iran-backed Houthis have released, on Monday, members of Al-Qaeda, under the direction of their leader, Abdul-Malik Al-Houthi, one day after Al-Qaeda issued a statement attacking the new Yemeni Presidential Council and vowing a brutal war.
 
Security sources said that the Houthis released about 31 Al-Qaeda members who were being held in prisons under their control, which threatens civilians and constitutes a blow to international efforts to combat terrorism.
 
Among those released were 3 involved in the terrorist bombing that targeted the military parade in the Al-Sabeen Square in the capital, Sana'a in 2012, including the terrorist Majid Hizam Naji Al-Qulaisi, in addition to the terrorists Samir Khaled Ali and Ziyad Ali Mohammed Al-Qadi. The sources reported.
 
Furthermore, the Qaeda militant group no longer raids the prisons to release its members after Houthis responded to their requests, considering the prisoner exchange an excellent way to secure the freedom of their militants, regardless of international concerns.
 
According to the sources, the three were released under direct instructions from Abdul-Malik Al-Houthi as a reward after terrorist cells linked to the aforementioned carried out the assassination of Major General Thabet Jawas, commander of the Al-Anad axis, late last March in Aden.
 
The remaining elements were released through the security and intelligence services and the Military Intelligence Division of the Houthis as part of a deal to carry out terrorist operations in the liberated provinces.
 
Tribal and governmental sources say that the Houthi militia provided unlimited support to the Qaeda group since its coup in 2014 by releasing its leaders and members from intelligence prisons in exchange deals.