Bassam Mahdar Takes Command of Nation Shield Forces in Yemen Amid Unclear Reasons for Dismissal of Bashir Al Subaihi

Yemen’s Nation Shield forces have announced the completion of a leadership handover from former commander Bashir Al-Subaihi to his successor, Bassam Mahdar Al-Sanabi, following a presidential decree issued by Presidential Leadership Council Chairman Rashad Al-Alimi, numbered 57 for this year.

In a statement, the forces said the transition process had been finalized, including the transfer of all military and administrative responsibilities between the two commanders.

Al-Subaihi had been the first commander of the force, which was established by a decision from Al-Alimi and is widely viewed as aligned with Saudi Arabia. The group maintains a presence across several Yemeni provinces and has recently assumed control over military positions in a number of cities and fronts, particularly following setbacks suffered by formations affiliated with the Southern Transitional Council.

The reasons behind Al-Subaihi’s dismissal remain unclear. It is also not known whether the decision is linked to recent developments, including the advance of Southern Transitional Council-affiliated forces into eastern Yemeni provinces.

The Nation Shield forces are largely composed of members of the Salafi movement, many of whom were previously based in Saada province before dispersing to other areas following the Houthi takeover of the capital, Sanaa.

The force has gained prominence in recent periods, particularly after the decline of Southern Transitional Council forces, and has taken control of key military positions, especially in eastern provinces such as Hadramout and Al-Mahra. It is generally regarded as operating under Saudi backing.

The newly appointed commander, Bassam Mahdar, is affiliated with the same Salafi current and previously served as deputy to Al-Subaihi within the Nation Shield forces.

Mahdar was born in 1985 in the Sirah district of Aden governorate and joined Salafi religious education at Dar al-Hadith in Dammaj in 2008.

With the outbreak of fighting in Aden during the Houthi advance, alongside forces led