Yemen: The Assassination of Yahya Wuhaysh… Who Is Undermining the National Resistance?
By / Mohammed Alawadhi
The assassination of commander Yahya Abdullah Wuhaysh was not merely another security incident to be added to the long list of assassinations that Yemen has witnessed over the past years. What happened serves as a serious warning about the direction in which the liberated areas are heading and the extent of the security breaches that now threaten the national forces opposed to the Houthis.
Yahya Wuhaysh fought in defense of the Republic and stood against what his supporters describe as the Iranian-backed Houthi project. He played a significant role in establishing the National Resistance as one of the most prominent military formations confronting Houthi expansion along Yemen’s western coast. For this reason, his assassination cannot be separated from the broader struggle over Yemen’s future and the ongoing attempts to reshape the balance of power within the anti-Houthi camp.
The question that arises today is this: How can military leaders of such stature become easy targets for assassination in areas that are supposedly under the control of the internationally recognized government and its allied forces? And where are the security and intelligence institutions that are expected to protect national leaders?
The continued wave of assassinations and the growing security instability stretching from southern Yemen to the western coast reveal a deep and troubling failure that can neither be ignored nor concealed. Every new assassination represents the loss of another national figure and, at the same time, strengthens the position of those who benefit from weakening the forces opposed to the Houthis.
Furthermore, the increasing divisions and rivalries among factions within the anti-Houthi camp, along with indications of political and field-level intersections that may directly or indirectly serve Houthi interests, raise serious questions about the future of this camp and its ability to remain a united front.
In this context, the Yemeni government and the Arab Coalition, particularly Saudi Arabia, face growing scrutiny regarding their handling of the deteriorating security situation. Military and political support alone is not enough without an effective security system capable of protecting national leaders and preventing the breaches that threaten stability in the liberated areas.
The assassination of Yahya Wuhaysh should not be viewed simply as the end of the story of a field commander. Rather, it should be seen as an indicator of a deeper crisis concerning the future of the National Resistance and the future of the republican project in Yemen. Unless these challenges are confronted with seriousness, transparency, and genuine accountability, the greatest loser will not be a particular political faction, but Yemen as a whole.
Today, more than ever, national forces need a comprehensive review of their political and security structures and must strengthen their ranks against infiltration and internal conflict. The real battle is not decided solely on the battlefield; it is also determined by the ability to preserve unity, protect leadership, and safeguard the institutions and principles upon which the Republic is built.