Since early 2025, most of the Houthi movement’s top leaders have vanished from public view — a phenomenon described as “putting on the cloak of disappearance.” Monitoring reports reveal that six prominent figures have gone missing, some not seen publicly since February.
The first to disappear was Ahmed Hamed, known as “the president’s chief,” whose last public appearance was on February 7. Abd al-Karim Badreddin al-Houthi, the group’s interior minister and uncle of the movement’s leader, has been missing since August, while Mahdi al-Mashat, head of the Supreme Political Council, has avoided public events since May, releasing only pre-recorded videos.
Jalal al-Ruwaishan vanished in January, and Mohammed Ali al-Houthi has not been seen since February, though his online activity continues. Ali Hussein al-Houthi reportedly withdrew from security affairs after being accused of orchestrating kidnappings and questionable appointments.
The wave of disappearances coincided with Israeli airstrikes in June and late August that killed Houthi Prime Minister Ahmed al-Rahawi and Chief of Staff Mohammed al-Ghamari, suggesting the group has entered a phase of organized hiding to protect its senior leadership from further attacks.