General mobilization against the Houthis declared in Yemen
The Yemeni leadership has intensified the fight against the Houthis and called on citizens to join the army and security forces. A full amnesty was promised to those who leave the movement and stop fighting.
General mobilization against the Houthis announced in Yemen
The head of Yemen's Presidential Leadership Council, Rashad al-Alimi, has announced a general mobilization to fight the Iran-backed "Ansar Allah" (Houthi) movement. In a televised address on September 25, he called on citizens to join the ranks of the state armed forces and security agencies.
Al-Alimi stated that the government's goal is to restore the functioning of state institutions and extend sovereignty to all territories of the country, including the capital Sana'a, over which the government lost control in 2014. He referred to the Houthis as a terrorist militia. He promised a full amnesty to those who leave the movement and stop fighting. According to him, the amnesty takes effect immediately, but the pardon must be formalized based on constitutional and legal procedures.
This statement came after significant successes by the Houthis in the west of the country. In September, they captured Mokha and Mayun Island, establishing a firm foothold on the Red Sea coast. This gave them access to the Bab al-Mandab Strait and heightened concerns regarding the safety of shipping. Last weekend, for the first time in several years, the Houthis attacked the Saudi Arabian capital, Riyadh. Government forces are fighting with the support of Saudi Arabian aviation.
According to AFP, Al-Alimi requested assistance from Washington during a telephone conversation with President Donald Trump. In another development, on September 25, the chiefs of general staff of Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Pakistan held their first meeting within the framework of the "Mecca Pact" tripartite defense agreement.
According to the Al-Hadath TV channel, on September 28, the Yemeni parliament officially approved the declaration of mobilization. There is no other confirmation of this yet. The duration, procedures, and categories of the mobilization have not been disclosed.