Ansar Allah leaders vow escalation against Saudi blockade in Yemen

Abdul-Malik al-Houthi, leader of the Ansar Allah movement, stated that the ongoing conflict in Yemen is a struggle for the rights of the Yemeni people rather than a movement specific to the Houthi group. He accused the United States of providing political cover for crimes in Yemen and claimed Saudi Arabia has engaged in military escalations to dismantle Yemeni military capabilities due to Sanaa's support for Gaza.

Al-Houthi criticized the Saudi blockade for causing catastrophic living conditions and warned other nations, specifically mentioning Turkey and Pakistan, against involving themselves in the conflict alongside Riyadh. He also addressed the sanctity of Mecca, asserting that Yemenis view it as an Islamic landmark for all Muslims rather than a Saudi emirate.

Mahdi al-Mashat, President of the Supreme Political Council, characterized recent Yemeni military actions in coastal areas as national operations to assert sovereignty and expel Saudi mobilizations. He declared a policy of “blockade against blockade and escalation against escalation,” emphasizing that Yemen will not retreat from its demands to end the blockade and reopen airports and ports. Al-Mashat maintained that maritime navigation in the Red Sea and Bab al-Mandeb remains safe, except for vessels associated with Saudi Arabia.