CAIRO — Yemen claimed the chief of the Iranian-backed
Shi'ite rebellion had been seriously injured and incapacitated.
Officials said Yemen has conducted an air strike that resulted in the
killing of several members of the Believing Youth and the injury of its
leader. They said military commander Abdul Malek Al Houthi lost the use of
his leg and hand and transferred rebel command to his brother-in-law, Middle East Newsline reported.
"Abdul Malek is no longer functioning as the commander of the rebels and
the troops in the field are already feeling his absence," an official said.
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Officials said Al Houthi was injured in a Yemeni air strike near the
northern border with Saudi Arabia in December 2009. At first, they said, Al
Houthi was believed to have died in either the air strike or subsequently
from his injuries.
But over the last 10 days there have been signs that Al Houthi remained
alive but was seriously injured. They said Al Houthi's leg was amputated and
he
lost use of his hand.
The Believing Youth has denied that Al Houthi died. On Jan. 15, the
Iranian-backed Shi'ite movement reported the downing of a U.S.-origin AH-64
Apache attack helicopter operated by the Royal Saudi Air Force.
But Yemen asserted that Al Houthi was forced to transfer his
responsibilities to his brother-in-law, Yusef Al Madani. Officials said Al
Houthi was being treated in secret near his village in the northern province
of Saada.