Commander of the IRGC Comments on the Assassination of Saleh in Yemen: Thankfully, the Conspiracy Was Stifled in Its Infancy

In response to recent events in Yemen, the Commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) stated on Tuesday, December 5, without directly mentioning the assassination of Ali Abdullah Saleh, that "the conspiracy was stifled in its infancy." Meanwhile, a Saudi television network reported that Saleh's son vowed to take revenge for his father’s death. Ali Abdullah Saleh, the former President of Yemen, was shot dead on Monday after changing his position in the country’s civil war. He was targeted in a direct attack by the Houthi Shiite group just days after he had shifted from a two-year alliance with the Iran-backed Houthis to cooperating with the Saudi-led military coalition. Reports on Tuesday from local media indicated that Mohammad Ali Jafari, the IRGC commander, referred to the recent conspiracy in Yemen against Yemeni fighters and Ansar Allah, stating that thankfully this conspiracy was stifled in its infancy. The Houthi leader also used the term "conspiracy" in reference to Saleh's change of position following his assassination. Abdulmalik al-Houthi congratulated the Yemeni people on Tuesday in a televised speech for the defeat of what he described as a "treacherous conspiracy," without directly mentioning Saleh's death, claiming that this "conspiracy" was designed by the enemies of the Arab Gulf. In this context, Reuters reported on Tuesday, citing a Saudi television network, that Saleh's son promised revenge for his father’s murder. The Saudi channel Al-Akbariyah quoted Ahmed Ali Saleh as saying he would take revenge on the Houthis. He also directly referenced the Islamic Republic, stating, "The echo of my father's blood will always be in Iran's ears." He urged his father's supporters to "take Yemen back from the Iranian-backed Houthi militants." Ahmed Ali Saleh held the position of Yemen's ambassador to the UAE during his father's presidency but was placed under house arrest by the UAE following the escalation of the civil war and the formation of the Saudi-led coalition. Reuters suggested that his statement on Tuesday could indicate that his enemies in the Saudi coalition intend to "put him against the Houthis." Meanwhile, Reuters reported that the Houthi leader has extended a hand of cooperation toward Saleh's political party following his death, stating that he has no intention of conflict with them. The Houthis and Saleh's forces have always competed for control over their respective territories, and this rivalry culminated in armed clashes in Sana'a last week. On Monday, with the Houthi attack on the bulletproof vehicle carrying Ali Abdullah Saleh and his subsequent death, the political maneuvers of this veteran Yemeni leader came to an end.