Al-Alimi calls for general mobilization against the Houthis, and Egypt affirms its support for the stability of Yemen

The head of the Yemeni Leadership Council, Rashad Al-Alimi, called on the people for general mobilization and national mobilization, to rally around the armed and security forces, to join their ranks through official channels, and to contribute everything they can to the defense of their republic and their national institutions against the terrorist Houthi militia.

Al-Alimi announced, in a speech to the people on the occasion of the anniversary of the September 26 Revolution, the opening of the door to the safe return of those who were deceived to the side of the republic and constitutional legitimacy, based on the state’s responsibility to spare the blood of the Yemenis, put an end to the war, and prevent acts of revenge and vengeance.

The President explained that everyone who takes the initiative, as of Friday, to leave the Houthi militia, and stop fighting in its ranks or working for it, will be subject to a comprehensive amnesty issued later in accordance with constitutional and legal procedures, with a commitment to regularizing the conditions of members of the army and security, in a way that preserves their legally acquired job rights.

Al-Alimi stressed that “this is the historic moment for all Yemenis to rise up, return our country to its proper path among nations, and triumph for the sacrifices of the first generation of heroic fighters, human dignity, and the right of their sons and daughters to security, education, and work, and a future free of violence and cross-border racist and sectarian militia projects.”

The President asked the brotherly and friendly countries that want security and stability in Yemen and the Red Sea to “stand by our people, their government, and their armed forces, and to support the Saudi-led coalition to rid our country of the terrorist Houthi militia,” considering that restoring state institutions “is not only a Yemeni interest, but an interest for all countries in the region and the world.”

Al-Alimi stressed that “Yemen deserves a future worthy of its history, location, and the potential of its people, and to be at the forefront of beneficiaries of the renaissance and prosperity of the countries of the region, not an arena for chaos, or a platform for pre-state projects, myths of divine right, and a threat to the security of neighboring countries and regional and international peace.”

The President added that the serious attacks and violations carried out by the Houthis today represent a dangerous escalation, and place the state’s leadership before its constitutional and moral responsibility to deter the threat and protect civilians, after these militias once again chose the logic of force and weapons, instead of the language of dialogue and peace.

Al-Alimi pointed out that what is happening in areas in Taiz, Ma’rib, Al-Jawf, Hodeidah, Lahj Hadhramaut, Al-Bayda, Shabwa and Al-Dhalea is an extension of the approach of sabotage, and an attempt to impose a new reality by force at the expense of the blood of the Yemenis, their security and the future of their homeland. He warned that the danger does not stop there, as “the Houthi project aims to transform our land and coasts into a continuous threat to the security of Yemen and the entire region.”

The president continued: “Experience has proven that making concessions to the militias does not lead to peace, but rather gives them an opportunity to reorganize their ranks, prepare for a new round of escalation, and return the nation to the whirlpool of war and senseless conflicts,” stressing that the Houthis were the ones who started the escalation at home and across the border, and caused the killing of civilians and the terrorization and starvation of the Yemeni people, and that the state will take all measures to protect civilians, civil peace, and the highest interests of the country.

Al-Alimi said: “The great national battles are not measured by progress here or retreat there, nor by a location that changes one day, but rather by clarity of purpose, solidity of will, and the ability to transform crises into opportunities, and challenges into additional reasons for strength and cohesion,” stressing that “the goal is clear to everyone, which is to restore state institutions and extend its sovereignty over its entire national territory, all the way to Sanaa.”

The President addressed the citizens, both male and female, in governorates forcibly under the control of the militias, saying: “You were, and still are, at the heart of the state’s responsibility, because you are more than able to bear the bitterness of this war, but this suffering should not become a permanent fate for you,” adding: “It is time for this long chapter of suffering to end, and for the Yemeni family to regain its security, tranquility, and normal life.”

Al-Alimi continued: “The state does not view you as a party to a conflict, but rather as its people, partners, and holders of the first right to peace and stability, and what was imposed on you by force of arms cannot detract from your status, nor from your full right to a homeland that can accommodate all its people,” calling on the people of these regions to preserve the lives and future of their children, and not to use them as fuel for the militia’s wars and reckless adventures that have caused the destruction of Yemen, its people, and its national capabilities.

The President pointed out that “every young man who is saved today from the project of this terrorist group is a building block in building a new Yemen that is reconciled with itself, its neighbors, and the international community,” praising the honorable positions of the Yemeni tribesmen alongside the state, its institutions, and its armed and security forces. He stressed that “the state is counting greatly on the continuation of this well-known national role in solidarity, unity of ranks, and the prevention of retaliation and revenge.”

Al-Alimi, on behalf of himself and the members of the Leadership Council and the government, renewed his full commitment to what the Saudi-sponsored south-south dialogue will lead to, and to ensure a just and comprehensive solution to the southern issue.

President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi affirmed Egypt's support for all efforts aimed at achieving security and stability in Yemen, and reaching a comprehensive political settlement that meets the aspirations of the Yemeni people, during a phone call with the Chairman of the Yemeni Presidential Leadership Council, Rashad Al-Alimi, on Friday.

According to a statement issued by Egyptian presidential spokesman Ambassador Mohamed El-Shenawy, the call confirmed “the depth of the historical and fraternal relations between Egypt and Yemen.” The Chairman of the Yemeni Presidential Leadership Council praised the Egyptian role in supporting the stability of Yemen and its territorial integrity, praising Egypt’s steadfast positions towards the brotherly Yemeni people.

Ambassador Mohamed El-Shenawy, the official spokesman, added that the call dealt with the latest developments in the situation in Yemen and the efforts made to restore security and stability there, as Sisi affirmed “Egypt’s keenness to continue its support for Yemen and its brotherly people.”

Al-Sisi stressed the importance of preserving the unity of the Yemeni state and its national institutions, and reiterated Egypt’s position in support of all efforts aimed at achieving security and stability and reaching a comprehensive political settlement that meets the aspirations of the Yemeni people.

The two sides also stressed the importance of continuing coordination and consultation between the two countries regarding various regional issues, in a way that contributes to enhancing security and stability in the region and achieves the interests of the two brotherly peoples.

Last January, Egypt affirmed its “steadfast position in support of the unity, sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Republic of Yemen,” and stressed the necessity of preserving the national state institutions and preserving the capabilities of the Yemeni people.

She said that “providing comprehensive solutions that address the roots of the crisis is the only way to end the conflict and achieve the aspirations of the Yemenis for security, stability and development.” She also pointed out “the importance of giving priority to the language of dialogue and logic, the necessity of achieving calm and restraint, avoiding taking any unilateral measures that threaten security and stability, and working to support efforts aimed at reducing the escalation.”

According to the Foreign Ministry’s statement at the time, Cairo “renewed its continued push towards working towards finding a comprehensive and sustainable political settlement for the Yemeni crisis by continuing contacts with all concerned parties, based on national dialogue for all components of the Yemeni people within a framework of consensus and respect for Yemeni national constants, and in a way that contributes to strengthening the unity of the position, protecting Arab national security, and consolidating security and stability in the region.”

The Houthi advance on the Taiz and Lahj fronts collided with painful strikes by Yemeni government forces during the past hours, along separate fronts, with the recovery of sites and heights in western Taiz and Lahj, and the group’s attempts to isolate Taiz from Aden were thwarted, in conjunction with air strikes and marches targeting Houthi gatherings and vehicles on several fronts.

While the Houthis' military escalation exacerbated the humanitarian situation by raising the number of displaced people to more than 180,000, the head of the Presidential Command Council, Rashad Al-Alimi, placed the developments within the framework of restoring the initiative and deterrence power, while demanding actual international efforts to deter the Houthi threat.

Local sources reported that government forces, backed by local fighters, regained several positions on the fronts west of Taiz, and the ruling mountainous heights located on the administrative border between the Al-Shamaytain and Al-Wazi’iyah districts.

These sites are gaining field importance given their supervision of areas and roads linking the western fronts of Taiz to the south of the governorate, at a time when government forces are consolidating their positions around the corridors linking Taiz to the southern regions, after weeks of continuous battles along the highlands overlooking the western coast of Taiz and in its southeastern highlands.

The sources also reported that the government forces participating in the operations, from the Giants and Homeland Shield brigades, regained mountain peaks overlooking Bab al-Mandab from the south, all the way to other heights in the north overlooking the Al-Wazi’iyah District.

These developments are related to the ongoing confrontations on the Kahboub, Al-Waziyah and Jardad fronts, where battles are taking place around the highlands overlooking large areas of western and southwestern Taiz.

On the Haifan and Al-Maqtara fronts, government forces thwarted a Houthi infiltration attempt near the Haijat Al-Abd road, and announced the security of Wadi Al-Maqtara and the reopening of the road linking Taiz, Lahj, and Aden.

The spokesman for the Yemeni Armed Forces, Colonel Majid Al-Nuzaili, said that units from the Taiz axis, the Tur Al-Baha axis, and the Giants Brigades, with the support of the popular resistance, confronted the infiltration attempts and forced the attacking elements to retreat, indicating that they suffered human and material losses, according to the government military account.

In Haifan District, clashes continued in Al-Ahkoum isolation, in conjunction with government air and artillery bombardment targeting Houthi sites. The Al-Ashbout and Hijat Al-Abd areas in Al-Maqtara also witnessed clashes with elements who tried to approach the road and position themselves in locations close to it.

In Jabal Habashi and Al-Kadha, government forces said they shot down two Houthi drones, while government drones targeted gatherings and sites of the group in Al-Kadha. The Taiz Axis Media Center reported that one of the strikes led to the death of seven Houthi members and the injury of others.

The strikes extended to the city of Mokha, as the Armed Forces spokesman said that the forces targeted Houthi elements, as part of operations targeting the group’s locations and movements and limiting its ability to carry out attacks against the forces and residents.

In Ma'rib Governorate, intermittent clashes, exchanges of artillery shelling, and the use of marches continued along the lines of contact, and government forces' strikes continued on the neighboring Al-Jawf Governorate front, amid reports of Houthi losses in personnel and equipment.

Regain the initiative

Politically, the head of the Presidential Command Council, Rashad Al-Alimi, placed field developments within the framework of what he described as the government forces’ transition from containing attacks to regaining initiative and deterrence power.

Al-Alimi said, during his meeting with the British Ambassador to Yemen, Abda Sharif, that the armed forces and military formations showed, according to his assessment, the ability to deal with Houthi attacks on multiple fronts, noting that the developments on the West Coast constituted a difficult test, but they prompted the government forces to unify ranks and regain the initiative.

The head of the Yemeni Leadership Council warned against continuing to deal with the Houthis using the logic of containment, considering that a truce that does not prevent rearmament may lead to new rounds of violence.

Al-Alimi linked the security of the Red Sea and Bab al-Mandab to the presence of a Yemeni state capable of controlling its lands, coasts and territorial waters, calling on the international community to take more effective measures to implement the arms embargo and pursue smuggling networks, financing and transfer of military technology.

Rising humanitarian cost

On the humanitarian side, the number of displaced people as a result of the recent operations in southern Hodeidah and western Taiz has risen to more than 180,000 people, according to the latest report of the Executive Unit for the Management of Displaced Persons’ Camps.

The report said that the total number of forcibly displaced families reached 27,413 families, including 180,513 individuals, distributed over ten governorates. Taiz topped the list of hosting areas, with about 13,409 families, including 93,917 individuals, followed by Lahj with 5,782 families, Aden with 3,741 families, and Abyan with 2,157 families.

The displacement movement also included Al-Hudaydah, Ma’rib, Al-Dhalea, Al-Mahra, Hadramaut, and Shabwa, while Al-Hudaydah recorded a new displacement movement of some families towards Aden.

The report warned that sudden displacement deprived the majority of families of securing their basic needs, in light of an acute shortage of emergency shelter, food, drinking water, sanitation services, health care, and protection, especially for children, women, the elderly, and people with disabilities.

The Executive Unit launched an urgent appeal to local authorities, international and international organizations, and donors to provide life-saving aid and activate rapid response mechanisms.