Houthi militia influence in AAl Mahrah

التالى السابق

Al Mahrah and the most prominent individuals involved and parties complicit with the Houthi and Muslim Brotherhood militias

Analytics - 19 hour ago

South Eye | Report

In Al Mahrah Governorate, located on the eastern border, dangerous signs of hidden alliances between influential local figures and smuggling networks linked to the Houthi and Muslim Brotherhood militias have been emerging for years. Long known for its relative calm, the governorate has gradually transformed into a hub for arms and drug smuggling, a process that primarily serves Iran's agenda in the region and facilitates the Muslim Brotherhood's repositioning through its tribal and field tools.

At the heart of this scene stands Ali Salem Al-Harizi, a former commander in the Yemeni army and former deputy governor. Al-Harizi has transformed from a military figure into a local leader leading an anti-Arab coalition movement. He has adopted rhetoric attacking Saudi Arabia and the UAE and calling for "independence of national decision-making." Field and security reports confirm his involvement in facilitating the smuggling of weapons and military equipment through land and sea ports, particularly from the Sultanate of Oman. Al-Harizi's support for the Houthi militia was not public at first, but it later became entrenched through his political positions and relationships with leaders affiliated with the Muslim Brotherhood, most notably those close to the Islah Party. These leaders leveraged al-Harizi's influence in Mahra to re-establish their political and security presence, despite the blows they suffered in other areas of the south.

Ali Salem al-Harizi was accused of leading a massive land and sea weapons smuggling network for the Houthis, supported by Tehran and the Muslim Brotherhood, and controlling the ports with the Sultanate of Oman.

Also, the smuggling networks in Mahra do not operate individually, but rather within an integrated system that includes tribal sheikhs, local officers, and merchants working in maritime transport and border trade. Repeated seizures, documented by media and UN reports, have revealed massive quantities of weapons and drugs passing through the Nishtun Port and the Shahn Port, some of which are destined for Saada and Hodeidah, while others remain to feed the black market and finance terrorist activities. One of the most prominent shipments seized in 2022 came from Iran and included components for drones and missiles. It was smuggled using forged commercial papers and an active money laundering network within the local community.

Tribal sheikhs and officers loyal to the Muslim Brotherhood and the Houthis: According to intelligence reports and documented by the United Nations, these tribal sheikhs and officers control the Shahn and other ports in Al Mahrah, using sea and land routes to smuggle various weapons, including ammunition, missiles, and drone components. Alongside drug dealers and local businessmen, they facilitate massive drug smuggling operations (including tons of hashish on ships bound from Iran to Al Mahrah). These individuals wield significant influence in the governorate and have deterred local authorities or acted under the threat of death.

 A well-known Houthi maritime cell: It was caught attempting to smuggle weapons from Mahra waters to Hodeidah. It has direct Iranian connections, including Abu Radwan and Abu Ahmed, as well as Taher Khater, responsible for joint maritime operations with border networks. Official agencies and individuals affiliated with the legitimate government were implicated in this operation. A gang from Mahra accused of smuggling (weapons and drugs) was released after interventions by the Yemeni ambassador in Muscat, sparking widespread resentment in the governorate.

These operations aim to finance Houthi and Muslim Brotherhood militias and threaten security and economic stability, including by infiltrating local and legitimate government authorities through the Muslim Brotherhood.