Daijiworld Media Network - Sanaa

Sanaa, Jan 23: Senior leaders of Yemen’s Houthi group have remained conspicuously absent from public activities and events organised in Sanaa and other areas under the group’s control in northern Yemen, raising strong indications of heightened security concerns within the organisation, a Saudi media report said.

According to Asharq al-Awsat, the absence of top leadership reflects a state of high alert following Israeli strikes that reportedly targeted senior Houthi figures. While the group has attempted to project a sense of normalcy through controlled media coverage and morale-boosting messages, the reality on the ground suggests growing fear and caution among its leadership.

Public events in recent days have reportedly been managed by lower-level officials and local speakers, a move seen as a deliberate precaution to minimise risks and prevent potential intelligence leaks about the whereabouts of senior leaders. The report noted that the Houthis have confirmed the killing of their chief of staff, Mohammed al-Ghamari, further fuelling uncertainty about the future of the group’s top leadership.

Residents of Sanaa observed that recent Houthi-organised events were noticeably smaller, with reduced crowds and lower-quality speeches compared to previous years. Despite intimidation and forced attendance, participation was visibly low, and armed personnel reportedly outnumbered civilians at several gatherings.

“In earlier years, senior leaders would be present on stage. This time, no one appeared, and even local supervisors were in hiding,” a resident of northern Sanaa was quoted as saying, adding that confusion was evident at the events.

Those compelled to attend also reported strict restrictions on media activity, including bans on photography and mentioning the names of attending figures, even when they were not top-tier leaders. This, observers said, pointed to an unprecedented level of panic within the group.

Among the prominent leaders absent from public view were Mahdi al-Mashat, head of the group’s ruling council, Mohammed Ali al-Houthi, and Ahmed Hamid, a key figure in the organisation’s security apparatus. Senior military and security officials were also reportedly missing from all field activities and media appearances.

The report added that the leadership’s absence has extended beyond public events to a near-complete halt in live media appearances, with senior figures now communicating mainly through written statements or pre-recorded messages, underscoring the group’s growing security anxieties.