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Never Appears in Public: Who is the "supreme leader" of the Houthi movement that is scaring oil markets

2026-09-19 23:12:31Kosova&Bota SHKRUAR NGA REDAKSIA VOX
Never Appears in Public: Who is the "supreme leader" of the Houthi
Abdul Malik al-Houthi - Photo illustration

Abdul Malik al-Houthi represents the pinnacle of political, religious and military power in the Houthi movement. His followers consider him the “Supreme Leader,” a role that, despite major differences, is reminiscent of the model of power built by Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in Iran, a country that has served as an inspiration and important ally for the movement.

Born in 1982, Abdul Malik grew up as a fighter under the guidance of his father and brother, part of a clan that embodied the resistance of the Zaydi Shiite community in Yemen.

Like many leaders of the movement, he spent a period of study in Iran, in the holy city of Qom, where, in addition to his religious training, he also established connections with the structures of the Iranian system.

His return to Yemen marked his involvement in the growth of the movement, until he took over leadership after his brother was killed in fighting in 2005. At the time, he was considered too young and inexperienced for such a difficult task.

But he managed to surprise his opponents, transforming a group of guerrillas into a military force that resisted the government, expanded territorial control, and in 2014 took control of Sana'a.

Since then, the Houthis have become one of the main components of the Tehran-backed "Axis of Resistance."

But the victory also brought a heavy burden: leading one of the poorest regions in the world and facing a large number of opponents.

Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates supported opposing forces, while mercenaries and armed groups were involved in efforts to stop the Houthis' expansion.

However, the movement continued to hold its ground. Even American-British bombing and Israeli attacks have failed to decisively alter this balance.

Part of the success is attributed to the way power is organized around the Huthi family and especially Abdul Malik: constant mobilization, strict discipline, and firm control over opponents.

Reports of torture and harsh punishments against opponents have accompanied this system, while divisions between rival forces have further favored the Houthis.

Abdul Malik has built a model of power where religion and militancy are intertwined with an undisputed leader who sets the political line. But its distinguishing characteristic is extreme security.

Never Appears in Public: Who is the "supreme leader" of the Houthi

He almost never appears in public and does not personally attend rallies or ceremonies. He delivers speeches via recorded videos or live links.

This security measure is related to repeated attempts to eliminate him. An Israeli strike has killed key figures in the movement, but not its leader.

Suspicions of foreign intelligence infiltration have fueled a strong climate of paranoia and an ongoing campaign against espionage.

Yemen's history further complicates this conflict. In the 1960s, the Israeli Mossad assisted the Yemeni monarchy in a covert operation against Egyptian forces sent by Gamal Abdul Nasser to support the republicans.

The Egyptian intervention ended in disaster and left behind a traumatic memory that helps explain Cairo's current wariness of developments in Yemen.

Yemen remains a fragmented country, embroiled in decades of war and internal rivalries. But its position at the entrance to the Red Sea gives it a geopolitical importance far greater than its size.

And Abdul Malik Al-Huthi seems intent on being not just an ally of Iran, but one of the guardians of this strategic gateway.


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