Ghazwan Al-Mikhlafi embarrasses the security of Taiz with a picture with a prominent Houthi leader
English - Sunday 26 February 2023 الساعة 05:27 pm
Taiz, NewsYemen, Exclusive:
Ghazwan al-Mikhlafi appeared, along with the prominent leader of the Houthi militia, Sultan al-Sami'i, in a qat session at one of the militia's headquarters in the al-Hawban area, east of the city of Taiz.
Activists on social media circulated a picture of Al-Mikhlafi alongside Al-Samaei, noting that it was taken at one of the Houthi militia headquarters in Al-Hawban.
According to Newsyemen sources, Ghazwan is related to a family relationship with a Houthi leader in the Sharaab area of Taiz, called Hammoud Munsar (the latter is Ghazwan's uncle), and all of them are from the Sheikh al-Qibli area in Taiz, Hammoud al-Mikhlafi.
The appearance of Ghazwan alongside the Houthi leader came after months of violent confrontations between his armed groups and security forces in Taiz, against the background of the killing of his brother Suhaib al-Mikhlafi, in which a number of people were killed and wounded on both sides.
Since August of last year, Ghazwan has been showing off from time to time in the streets of the city, after being fortified in the seam areas between the army forces and the Houthi militia in the Kalaba area - north of the city, which are areas that are prohibited for the security forces to enter.
Although the Director of Taiz City Security announced the continuation of the campaign during the past year, the Taiz Security Department ignored the movements of Ghazwan al-Mikhlafi, who continued to supervise the revenues of al-Mujahid market to sell qat in the city center on a daily basis.
Ghazwan al-Mikhlafi enjoys the support of influential military leaders affiliated with the Brotherhood’s Islah Party, and he is close to the commander of the 22nd Mika Brigade, Brigadier General Sadiq Sarhan, who is affiliated with the Brotherhood and who is considered the first man of Ali Mohsen al-Ahmar.
Ghazwan is also related to the tribal leader of the Islah Party, Hammoud al-Mikhlafi.
The name of Ghazwan al-Mikhlafi emerged during the war against al-Houthi, and he led armed groups that engaged in robbery, theft, and acts of armed violence, the most famous of which occurred with the Abu al-Abbas Brigades against the background of collecting qat taxes in the Deluxe and al-Walid markets in Taiz.
Activists said, commenting on his appearance with the leader, Sultan Al-Sami'i, that there are many army leaders and partisans who are corrupt in Taiz, standing against the army and security, plundering revenues, and standing against any consensus or unification of ranks.
They pointed out that the military and security leaders of the Brotherhood were partners in the crimes committed by Ghazwan. They added: They also benefit from the transfer of Ghazwan to Al-Huban.
Others point out that Ghazwan's disappearance in the Kalaba area for months and his reappearance today in Al-Hawban confirms that the Kalaba area and the forty were run by gangs and cells that target the security of Taiz and spread crime within it.
The journalist, Tawfiq Al-Sharabi, did not rule out that Sultan Al-Sami'i was in Osaifra, hosted by Ghazwan Al-Mikhlafi, as they are adjacent areas.
