Mahmoud al-Subaihi
Mahmoud al-Subaihi | |
---|---|
Minister of Defence of Yemen | |
Assumed office 9 November 2014 | |
Prime Minister | Khaled Bahah |
Succeeded by | Hussein Khairan[note 1] |
Personal details | |
Born | July 22, 1956 |
Military service | |
Allegiance | Yemen |
Rank | Major General |
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Mahmoud al-Subaihi is a Yemeni military officer. He serves in the cabinet of President Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi as defence minister. In the Yemen Army, he holds the rank of major general.[1] He was appointed to head the Ministry of Defence by Prime Minister Khaled Bahah in November 2014.[2]
Al-Subaihi was placed under house arrest by the Houthis in January 2015, during their coup d'état in Sana'a. He resigned on 22 January, but after the Houthis' "constitutional declaration" on 6 February, in which they dissolved parliament and officially took control of the government, he was appointed to head the Houthi government's Supreme Security Committee. He attended the announcement of the constitutional declaration in Sana'a.[3] On 7 March, however, he fled Sana'a and traveled to Lahij Governorate, eventually joining President Hadi in Aden.[4] Jalal Al-Rowaishan was appointed to succeed him as chairman of the Houthi-appointed Supreme Security Committee.[5]
Forces commanded by al-Subaihi participated in the Battle of Aden Airport on 19 March 2015, repelling special units loyal to former president Ali Abdullah Saleh from Aden International Airport and capturing an adjacent military base.[1] They also fought against a Houthi military advance through the Lahij Governorate, where al-Subaihi was reportedly captured on 25 March 2015 in Al Houtah.[6] Reuters cited Houthi and tribal sources reporting that he was released on 22 April, amid the start of Operation Restoring Hope.[7]
According to the Yemen Times, al-Subaihi is from Lahij Governorate.[5]
References
- ^ a b "Soldiers loyal to Yemen's former president storm Aden airport". The Guardian. 19 March 2015. Retrieved 23 March 2015.
- ^ Madabish, Arafat (9 March 2015). "Yemen defense minister escapes Sana'a to Aden after being held by Houthis". Asharq al-Awsat. Retrieved 31 March 2015.
- ^ "Saudis Unswayed by Houthi Rebels' Overture in Yemen". The New York Times. 7 February 2015. Retrieved 23 March 2015.
- ^ "Yemen's defense minister escapes Houthi-controlled Sanaa". Reuters. 8 March 2015. Retrieved 23 March 2015.
- ^ a b Al-Khameri, Bassam (9 March 2015). "NEW SUPREME SECURITY HEAD APPOINTED AFTER AL-SUBAIHI'S ESCAPE". Yemen Times. Retrieved 23 March 2015.
- ^ "Conflicting reports on fate of Yemen defense minister". Al Arabiya. 25 March 2015. Retrieved 25 March 2015.
- ^ "Houthis free Yemen's defense minister: sources". Reuters. 22 April 2015. Retrieved 29 April 2015.