Houthi and funeral implications!

Nasrallah's death marked a significant turning point in the political landscape in a number of arenas, including Yemen, and particularly among the Houthi group. The country is already embroiled in internal and external conflict, and enjoys a high level of political instability.

Nasrallah, a key figure in Yemeni politics, left a vacuum that quickly became the focus of a power struggle between various factions vying for control. Nasrallah had held a position of great influence in Yemen under the guidance of Iranian authority, leveraging his political acumen, strategic alliances, and military prowess to navigate the turbulent waters of Yemeni governance. His death therefore left a major gap in the power structure.

In the immediate aftermath of Nasrallah’s death, there was a palpable sense of uncertainty within the Houthis. Various factions within Yemen, including the Houthis, the Southern Transitional Council, and remnants of the General People’s Congress, began jockeying for greater influence.

The power vacuum has increased tensions, as these groups have sought to quickly consolidate their positions, and what I used to enjoy, the Houthi military spokesman, has disappeared; he was a caricature par excellence, with his voice cracking, declaring victory and “Death to America”!

The Houthi movement decided to contribute heavily to the funeral ceremonies. Since flights from Iran to Beirut were banned, the way to increase the number of mourners was to send a number of planes loaded with Houthi supporters via Amman airport, which is internationally permitted. This group is considered by Iran to be the second-born, after the firstborn "Hezbollah", and they are political and ideological groups that follow the state in Tehran and implement its idea of exporting the revolution.

When President Donald Trump took office in the United States, he adopted a policy that was contrary to what appeared to be the relaxation of the Joe Biden administration towards the Houthis. He returned the group to the international terrorist list, and the founder of the Houthi group, Hussein al-Houthi, was fascinated by the personality of Khomeini, to the point that he said in one of his lectures that what happened to Saddam Hussein was a divine punishment because he fought a saint of God.

As for his brother, the current leader of the group, Abdul-Malik al-Houthi, he seems to be very fond of Nasrallah’s model, and has treated him as an inspiration. He has even begun to imitate him in his speeches, by raising his index finger and leaning on some expressions. This is the background to al-Houthi’s enthusiasm to encourage his audience to attend the funeral.

The Houthi authorities described the delegation to attend the funeral as "high-level", but those delegations were not announced until everyone arrived in Beirut! The delegation was made up of religious and leadership figures from the group, or those who held previous executive or military positions. It was devoid of leaders targeted by international sanctions lists, as the implementation of the US President's decision had come soon.

In addition to the official delegation, a number of flights were allocated (again via Oman) for Houthi mourners in order to increase the number of mourners. The media platforms were active in inflating the numbers; they are 27 thousand Yemeni Houthis, which is a greatly exaggerated number!

Nasrallah’s legacy in Yemen is controversial. For some, he was a stabilizing force in a country beset by conflict. For others, his leadership of the conflict in Yemen was marked by controversy and division. His death clearly had a profound impact on Yemen’s political dynamics, and the impact is likely to grow even more pronounced over time.

Looking ahead, Yemen’s future remains uncertain. The power struggle that followed Nasrallah’s death has yet to be resolved, and the country’s path forward is fraught with challenges. A number of factors are likely to play critical roles in shaping Yemen’s trajectory. What matters is that the ongoing conflict in Yemen has evolved into a severe humanitarian crisis. Meeting the needs of the Yemeni people, including access to food, water, and medical care, is of paramount importance. Any sustainable solution to Yemen’s political conflicts must prioritize humanitarian concerns.

International actors are likely to turn to the political scene in Yemen, after the Lebanese and perhaps Syrian arenas have been tamed. The participation of the international community will be effective, in order to reduce the international security threat from the Houthis, whose participation in the funeral was a prelude to bidding farewell to a turbulent era in Yemen.

(Arab Day)