Yemen's Houthi leaders go underground as regional conflict escalates

Amid escalating tensions in the region, Yemen’s top Houthi leadership has gone underground, and limited communications, people familiar with the matter said.

Senior leaders and members of the Houthi rebel movement’s cabinet have largely disappeared from public view and sharply reduced phone contacts, The Wall Street Journal reports.

The recent moves came as Iran faced attacks and the Houthis readied military action in support, according to sources. 

Since March 28, when the group began striking Israel, senior officials have moved to more secure locations, including mountainous areas, and major government offices in Houthi-held regions have mostly been emptied amid fears of further Israeli airstrikes.

This escalation follows growing concerns after an Israeli strike last year in the capital, San’a, killed the Houthi prime minister and other cabinet members. Israel stated the operation targeted senior officials based on a time-sensitive intelligence opportunity.

By Jeyhun Aghazada