As repression intensifies across Houthi-controlled territories, Ali Hussein Houthi, son of the group’s late founder Hussein Badr al-Din al-Houthi, has emerged as a powerful security figure. According to reliable sources, Ali Hussein has established a parallel intelligence body known as the “Police Intelligence”, surpassing even the traditional Security and Intelligence Service headed by Abdul Hakim al-Khiwani. Backed fully by his uncle, Houthi leader Abdul-Malik al-Houthi, this apparatus has become a key tool for silencing dissent.

Through this network, more than a hundred opponents—including academics, doctors, bank employees, and charity leaders—have been arbitrarily detained. Rights groups report that detainees are denied access to lawyers and family visits, while charges remain undisclosed.

Ibb province has become a focal point of the crackdown, with 90 arrests recorded in the past three months. The campaign also targets mosques resisting sectarian slogans, imposes forced levies, and bans civic and cultural activities.

Political analysts link the current crackdown to Houthi fears of renewed public commemoration of the September 26, 1962 Revolution—which overthrew the Imamate—and the August 24 anniversary of the General People’s Congress party.

By consolidating power into a hereditary security system, the Houthi leadership is forcing Yemenis to live under an iron-fisted police state, while the international community remains largely silent.