A major terrorist network with ties to Houthi leaders and extremist organizations, including Al-Qaeda and ISIS, has been dismantled in Al-Shamayteen district of Taiz Governorate, the Supreme Security Committee announced on Saturday. 

The cell is reportedly led by Amjad Khaled, former commander of the Transport Brigade, and is accused of orchestrating numerous terrorist and subversive operations in liberated provinces.
The Yemeni official news agency, Saba, reported that the operation to dismantle the network followed continuous intelligence monitoring and was directly supervised by Dr. Rashad Al-Alimi, Chairman of the Presidential Leadership Council and Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces.

The Committee revealed that the network managed by Amjad Khaled was directly linked to prominent Houthi figures Mohammed Abdul Karim Al-Ghumari and Abdul Qader Al-Shami, who are described as the masterminds behind terrorist and destructive activities in liberated areas. The network also facilitated coordination and collaboration between the Houthis and cross-border terrorist organizations.

Presiding over the Committee meeting, which was also attended by Prime Minister Salem Saleh bin Brik, Dr. Al-Alimi lauded the efforts of the security and military campaign in Taiz. The campaign successfully "culminated in the dismantling of one of the most dangerous terrorist cells linked to the Houthi militias, Al-Qaeda, and ISIS, involved in sabotage operations and assassinations in several provinces."

Confessions Reveal Heinous Crimes
The Supreme Security Committee stated that confessions from apprehended suspects have revealed the network's involvement in a series of horrific terrorist crimes. These include the assassination of Moayad Hameidi, the World Food Program Director in Al-Turbah, an act the committee believes the Houthis intended to use to undermine government efforts to build trust with international organizations and secure humanitarian activities in liberated governorates.

Authorities have arrested several individuals involved in Hameidi's assassination, including the primary perpetrators, as well as dozens implicated in other assassinations and bombings.
Further investigations have linked the cell to additional crimes, such as the October 2021 bombing of Aden Governor Ahmed Hamid Lamlas's convoy, which resulted in the martyrdom of several of his escorts. The network is also implicated in multiple assassinations, kidnappings, and enforced disappearances targeting investigators, unit leaders, and religious and community figures. Additionally, they attempted to assassinate several military and security leaders in the governorates of Aden, Lahj, Taiz, and Al-Baydha.

According to Saba, the Committee also uncovered explosives manufacturing labs, facilities for preparing car bombs, and a cache of improvised explosive devices and various mines found inside residential homes used by the terrorist group in Al-Shamayteen.
The apprehended network reportedly utilized visual documentation for assassinations and liquidations, and engaged in espionage with the Houthi enemy, providing sensitive security coordinates and information. This was part of a broader scheme to destabilize and take over cities and governorates from within.

The Supreme Security Committee commended the vital roles played by the Governor of Taiz Governorate, the Commander of the Tor Al-Baha Axis and the Fourth Mountain Infantry Brigade, the Director of Al-Shamayteen District, and all relevant agencies involved in the successful joint security and military campaign.
The Committee also praised the public's awareness and crucial support for the campaign, which it said exemplifies the national spirit of the free people of Taiz, who have consistently proven to be a safety valve for the state and its republican system. The Committee issued a stern warning against dealing with, harboring, or showing leniency towards terrorist elements under any pretext.

During its meeting, the Committee made several decisions, including pursuing and apprehending wanted individuals, and coordinating with sister and friendly countries and Interpol for their extradition to face justice within Yemen.