On December 20, 2024, reports emerged from Sana'a indicating significant internal strife within the Houthi political council, with speculation about the possible replacement of its leader, Mahdi al-Mashat.

According to a source cited by Chinese news agency Xinhua correspondent Fares Alhemyari, tensions have escalated for weeks, leading to discussions about a reshuffle within the council. Al-Alhemyari noted that prominent Houthi figure, Sadiq Amin Abu Ras, rejected the nomination of a conference figure to lead the council, demanding the release of all detained party members and the appointment of deputies and officials in ministries from which conference leaders were removed in recent years.

The source indicated that there is a current push among the Houthis to appoint Qasim al-Humran, a key ideological figure within the group, to replace al-Mashat. Al-Humran, whose full name is Qasim Qasim Ahsan Ali al-Hamran, hails from the Dhahyan area in Saada, the Houthi stronghold.

Al-Humran, who holds the rank of major general, commands the so-called "Support and Reinforcement Brigades," a force recently established under the direction of the group's leader. This unit has been integrated into the Houthi Ministry of Defense and is equipped with various military assets, including drones, and comprises multiple subdivisions such as a sniper unit. The brigades conducted significant military exercises, notably "If You Return, We Will Return," in mid-2023.

Additionally, al-Humranleads the so-called "National Resilience Program," which aims to tackle the challenges facing the Houthi movement, according to Alhemyari.

However, "Barran Press" could not independently verify these claims, and there have been no clear indications of conflict or intentions for structural changes within the Houthi political council amidst the current situation in Yemen and the broader region.