Yemeni Forces Prepared for Houthi Escalation
Yemen's armed forces are prepared to handle any field development or escalation by the Houthi militia, spokesman Brig. Gen. Abdu Majly said. In remarks to Asharq Al-Awsat, he condemned the “direct Iranian meddling” in Yemen, which he said was a threat to regional and international security that would undermine efforts to reach a political settlement to the war.
Majly specifically cited Iran’s operation of a direct Mahan Air flight from Houthi-held Sanaa airport as a “flagrant violation of the Yemeni republic’s sovereignty” and an undermining of international laws and UN Security Council resolutions. He also deemed it a “dangerous threat to Yemeni and regional security.”
Iranian Flight Carried Advisers and IRGC Members
According to Majly, the flight carried Iranian advisers and members of the Revolutionary Guard Corps. They arrived in Yemen to run military operations alongside the Houthis. This is evidence that Tehran is using the militants as “a tool to implement its expansionist agenda in the region and undermine the sovereignty of the Yemeni state,” he added.
Yemen’s Presidential Leadership Council criticized the flight, saying it demonstrates the close relations between the Houthis and Iran. The council highlighted the Houthis’ continued use of state institutions in areas under their control to serve the Iranian agenda. It is an act of “defiance” against Security Council resolutions and international law, it added, warning that it tests the international community’s commitment to protecting Yemen’s sovereignty.
Coalition Vows Unprecedented Response
A statement by the Coalition to Restore Legitimacy in Yemen said the latest developments not only reflect internal Yemeni conflicts, but also raise questions of regional security. Coalition spokesman Turki Al-Malki vowed that the coalition will “respond with unprecedented force” to any attack against Saudi Arabia or Yemen.
Majly told Asharq Al-Awsat that Iran’s continued support of the Houthis shows it “is using the group to serve its agendas in defiance of the will of the Yemeni people, and regional and international efforts to end the war and restore peace.” Through direct Iranian support, the Houthis “are undermining all political initiatives and rejecting peace, starting with Saudi-led efforts in cooperation with brothers and international partners.”
Humanitarian and Economic Deterioration
Majly held the Houthis responsible for the continued deterioration in the humanitarian and economic situation in Yemen. The armed forces, out of their constitutional and legal responsibilities, will maintain their protection of the Yemeni republic, defend its skies and territories, and repel any threat to its legitimate institutions, he said.
On the ground, Majly said the Houthis were amassing forces on several fronts, especially around Hodeidah and the west coast. On Saturday, they struck a position held by government forces in Hays, causing casualties. Majly accused the Houthis of seeking to threaten navigation in the Red Sea and other marine waterways, warning that such practices harm the Yemeni state and the interests of the Yemeni people.
High Combat Readiness
The armed forces are on high combat readiness, and their morale is firm, he added. They are determined to liberate territories, reclaim state institutions, and consolidate their legitimate authority, he said. Commenting on recent “hostile” Houthi statements against Saudi Arabia, Majly said they were aimed at “diverting attention away from the violations the militants are committing against the Yemeni people and their responsibility in deepening the humanitarian and economic crisis in the country.”
