Business for Peace Award

Houthis appoint new defense minister

Published on 23 March 2015 in News
Fareed Al-Homaid (author)

Fareed Al-Homaid


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Khairan served as commander of the 1st Marine Infantry Brigade in Socotra for over two decades.

Khairan served as commander of the 1st Marine Infantry Brigade in Socotra for over two decades.

SANA’A, MARCH 23—The Houthi Revolutionary Committee announced Hussein Nagi Khairan as acting minister of defense on Sunday, replacing Mahmoud Al-Subaihi following his defection to the south on March 7.

Mohammad Al-Bukhaiti, a member of the Houthi Political Office, gave no reason for the selection of Khairan other than the need to fill a position left vacant by Al-Subaihi’s departure earlier this month.

“Al-Subaihi is no longer the defense minister and any role he plays in that capacity is illegitimate,” he said.

Al-Bukhaiti confirmed that all military units in the country will now come under the control of Khairan as acting minister of defense, except those in the south pledging support for Abdu Rabu Mansour Hadi.

“There are some rebel brigades and camps in the south that are helping members of Al-Qaeda to attack legitimate military forces in those areas,” he said, referring to Hadi loyalists, which Houthis commonly characterize as affiliates of Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP).

Khairan, 62, is originally from the Arhab district of Sana’a governorate. Prior to being appointed chief of staff by Hadi in December 2014, he served as commander of the 1st Marine Infantry Brigade on Socotra island since 1993.

Al-Subaihi, who now acts as a rival defense minister in areas falling outside of Houthi control, had served under the Houthis since his appointment on Feb. 6 before fleeing to his home governorate of Lahj.

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