Yemen's president accuses Houthis of serving Iran after Red Sea escalation

Yemen's President Rashad al-Alimi directly accused Houthi rebels of sacrificing the nation's interests to advance Iran's agenda. His statement followed a significant escalation in the Red Sea, involving Houthi attacks on merchant vessels and a retaliatory military response from the Saudi-led coalition. Al-Alimi pledged his government's commitment to collaborating with the coalition and international partners to counter maritime security threats.

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the Houthis and their supporters insist "every time an opportunity for de-escalation arises" on "playing with the interests of the Yemeni people" and dragging the country into "successive crises in service of the Iranian regime's agenda."

The president asserted that the Houthis consistently "play with the interests of the Yemeni people" and drag the country into successive crises whenever an opportunity for de-escalation arises. He emphasized that the Yemeni people's aspirations for a state, dignity, security, and stability are not, and will never be, bargaining chips.

The recent clashes began after the Houthis attacked a Saudi ship in the Red Sea. The rebels claimed the action was part of a maritime blockade against Saudi navigation, in response to what they described as a Saudi blockade on areas under their control. The Houthis warned of "grave consequences" following the coalition's strikes on the port city of Hodeidah.

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the will of the Yemeni people and their aspirations for a state, dignity, security, and stability are not and will never be bargaining chips.

This exchange of threats and attacks represents a notable escalation in the Red Sea region, breaking a period of relative calm between the Houthis and Saudi Arabia that had followed a UN-negotiated truce in 2022. Al-Alimi reiterated his government's dedication to working with the coalition to restore legitimacy, protect shipping routes, and combat terrorism, smuggling, and organized crime.

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grave consequences