New Houthi political leader steps in after predecessor martyred in airstrike

Mahdi al-Mashat, former director of the Houthis leader office, was sworn in as president of the Supreme Political Council in Sana’a on Wednesday, replacing former Houthi political leader Saleh al-Samad who was martyred in Saudi-led airstrike last Thursday in Hodeidah.

Mahdi al-Mashat took the oath, promising to “fully respect the interests and freedoms of people and to preserve the unity of the nation and its independence and territorial integrity.”

The Saudi-led bombing campaign continues in Yemen with US backing. The United Nations estimated that more than 10,000 have been killed and more than three million people have been displaced since beginning of the war in March 2015.