Taher al-Aqili
Taher al-Aqili | |
|---|---|
طاهر العقيلي | |
| Minister of Defense | |
| Assumed office 6 February 2026 | |
| President | Rashad al-Alimi |
| Prime Minister | Shaya al-Zindani |
| Preceded by | Mohsen al-Daeri |
| Chief of the General Staff of the Yemeni Armed Forces | |
| In office 4 September 2017 – 7 November 2018 | |
| President | Abdrabbuh Mansour Hadi |
| Preceded by | Mohammed Ali al-Maqdashi |
| Succeeded by | Abdullah al-Nakha'ai |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Al-Aqili, Bani Suraim district, Amran Governorate, Yemen Arab Republic |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |
|
| Branch/service | Yemeni Land Forces |
| Years of service | 1984–present |
| Rank | Lieutenant general |
| Commands |
|
| Battles/wars | Yemeni civil war (2014–present) |
Taher Ali Aidh al-Aqili is a Yemeni lieutenant general who has served as the Minister of Defense of the internationally recognized government of Yemen since February 2026. His military career spans from 1984, when he joined the military of the Yemen Arab Republic, and has seen him serve numerous field and instructional positions in the Yemeni Armed Forces, most notably as Chief of the General Staff from September 2017 to November 2018 during the Yemeni civil war.
His tenure as chief of staff saw pro-government forces make notable gains in late 2017 before he was injured in a landmine explosion on 5 January 2018. He eventually returned to his duties and continued to serve until being reappointed to a military advisorship role in November, and later being named deputy head of a Presidential Leadership Council-affiliated security committee in May 2022. He was named the Minister of Defense under the cabinet of Prime Minister Shaya al-Zindani.