ADEN: Yemeni President Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi reshuffled his Cabinet Tuesday, naming new foreign and interior ministers following signs of discord within the government of the war-torn country.

The shakeup comes as anti-rebel forces struggle to push Iran-backed Houthi insurgents out of the southwestern province of Taez, seen as key to retaking the capital Sanaa.

Abdulmalek Al-Mikhlafi, who leads a team of government peace negotiators, will replace Riad Yassin as foreign minister, the Saba state news agency reported.

The replacement of Yassin, who is said to have good relations with Hadi but not with Prime Minister Khaled Bahah, is understood to be aimed at smoothing relations between the president and the premier.

“The reshuffle is mainly to replace Yassin who had differences with Bahah,” a source close to the prime minister said.

Among other changes, Gen. Hussein Arab was appointed interior minister, replacing Gen. Abdo Al-Huzeifi who will lead the country’s intelligence services, Saba said citing presidential decrees.