Yemen Monitor / Newsroom:
Former Iraqi Prime Minister Adel Abdul-Mahdi arrived in Sana’a, which is under Houthi control, on a surprise visit that has sparked many questions about its purpose and timing.
Social media platforms circulated images of the former Iraqi official and his accompanying delegation on Wednesday after their arrival at Sana’a International Airport, where they were received by several Houthi leaders.
Houthi media outlets have not officially reported Abdul-Mahdi’s arrival in Sana’a.
Abdul-Mahdi, a well-known Shia politician with strong ties to Iran, served as Iraq’s Prime Minister from October 25, 2018, to November 25, 2019, and played a significant role in the formation of the Popular Mobilization Forces.
His visit has raised numerous questions among activists in Yemen, with speculation suggesting that he arrived in Sana’a under the pretext of attending a conference related to Palestine.
Many activists believe that Abdul-Mahdi’s visit is part of a mediation effort to present U.S. proposals to the Houthis concerning Red Sea operations, at a critical time marked by escalating military tensions in the region.
The former Iraqi Prime Minister’s arrival in Sana’a coincides with U.S. President Donald Trump’s recent vow to “completely annihilate the Houthis” and to carry out U.S. strikes that he claimed “will gradually worsen,” as he stated on his Truth Social account on Wednesday.
