Houthi Interior Minister Reportedly in 'Clinical Death' Following Airstrikes; Fate Kept Secret
Two security and intelligence sources have indicated that a senior Houthi security official, purportedly the Minister of Interior, has been in a critical condition described as "clinical death" for several months in a Sana'a hospital following injuries sustained during airstrikes targeting the group's positions last year.
The sources, speaking separately on condition of anonymity due to security concerns, stated that Abdulkarim al-Houthi—who claims the title of Interior Minister in the unrecognized militia government and is a prominent first-tier leader and uncle to the group's leader, Abdul-Malik al-Houthi—has not appeared publicly since August 2025. His disappearance followed injuries sustained during raids that struck a secret meeting of Houthi commanders in Sana'a.
The sources informed the "Khobar" agency that the militia is enforcing extreme secrecy regarding his health status. This coincides with intelligence directives reportedly issued by the militia's leadership prohibiting the leak of any details concerning his condition, amid fears of potential repercussions for internal cohesion.
According to the sources, this strict confidentiality is linked to the sensitivity of the official’s position within the Houthi power structure. This situation arises amid reports suggesting intense rivalry between various factions within the militia, particularly between leaders hailing from their main stronghold in Saada and others seeking to consolidate influence within the governing institutions they control.
Al-Houthi's last public appearance was on August 17, 2025, during a security meeting, approximately eleven days before the Sana'a strikes. The sources noted that those strikes also reportedly injured several other commanders, including Major General Mohammed Abdulkarim al-Ghamari, Chief of Staff for the group's forces, whose death from his injuries was announced on October 16, 2025.
Military sources indicated that the absence or reduced role of key figures significantly alters the balance of power within the militia, especially given a complex internal environment where security, familial, and political considerations intersect.
Meanwhile, some sources suggest the prominent Houthi official has recently succumbed to his injuries, but the militia is refusing to make an official announcement, as is their custom, fearing internal divisions due to existing vulnerabilities following severe strikes by American and Israeli forces last year.