A gripping new documentary aired by Al Arabiya titled “Ali Abdullah Saleh… The Final Battle” is shedding new light on the final chapter of Yemen’s controversial former leader. Through exclusive interviews, rare footage, and compelling narrative, the film reconstructs the final days leading up to Saleh’s death in December 2017.

The centerpiece of the documentary is a powerful testimony by Medyen Saleh, son of the late president, who offered a firsthand account of his father’s last moments. Contrary to widely circulated reports by Houthi sources, Medyen claims that Saleh was not killed inside his home but in a premeditated ambush outside it—a revelation that challenges the long-standing narrative.

The film chronicles Saleh’s complex political alliances, notably his strategic—but ultimately doomed—collaboration with the Houthi movement. As tensions escalated, the alliance fractured, resulting in a deadly power struggle in the streets of Sana’a.

Al Arabiya’s investigative team spent months collecting interviews from members of Saleh’s personal guard and political aides to piece together the fragmented truths behind his final stand. The documentary also delves into the deeper question of betrayal, hinting at internal divisions and intelligence leaks that may have compromised Saleh’s plans for a comeback.

Already the documentary has sparked fierce debate across Arab media platforms, with viewers split between admiration for its revelations and skepticism of its political implications.