Special to WorldTribune.com

CAIRO — The Shi’ite rebel movement, which controls most of Sanaa, has been appointed to senior posts in Yemen’s military and security forces.

Officials said President Abbed Rabbo Mansour Hadi has approved the inclusion of members of the Iranian-backed Al Houthi movement in the military and security forces. They said Al Houthi operatives, formally known as Ansar Allah, were appointed in an effort to encourage a reconciliation with the Sunni-dominated government.

“There is currently a process of blending groups of our Houthi partners, Ansar Allah, in the armed forces and security, in order to create the necessary national balance,” Yemeni Defense Minister Mahmoud Subaihi said.

In a statement on Nov. 23, Subaihi, a major general, did not providedetails of the appointment of the Shi’ite rebels to the Yemeni armed forces. He said the appointments reflected an agreement between the government and Ansar Allah in wake of its seizure of Sanaa.

“These leaders understand the need to bolster the state and armed forces,” Subaihi said.

Under the accord, Hadi dismissed Prime Minister Mohammed Basindwa and appointed Al Houthis to Cabinet positions. But the agreement was said to have sparked a mutiny within the military, particularly among units loyal to the former regime of President Ali Abdullah Saleh.

On Nov. 23, Hadi ordered an investigation of the mutiny at the headquarters of the Special Security Forces in Sanaa two days earlier. The president also warned of chaos that was spreading throughout Yemen.

“We have to learn lessons from what is happening in Iraq, Syria and Libya,” Hadi said. “The neighboring Somalia has suffered from anarchy after the state collapse for over 20 years.”

  Iran-backed rebels named to key security positions, Now in control of Yemen’s capital, WorldTribune.com