Yemeni leader calls for mobilization amid Houthi attacks
The Chairman of the Presidential Leadership Council of Yemen, Rashad al-Alimi, called on citizens to mobilize and join the ranks of the government forces due to the escalation of the conflict with the Houthis. He stated that those who leave the ranks of the Houthis and defect to the government side will be pardoned under an upcoming amnesty.
Yemeni leader called for mobilization amid Houthi attacks
According to DW, al-Alimi addressed the country's population on Friday, September 25, urging citizens to contribute to the defense of Yemen.
The appeal came at a time of further escalation in the ongoing conflict with the Iran-backed Houthis. A few weeks ago, the Houthis launched strikes against government forces. According to the publication, despite the support of Saudi Arabian military aviation, the Yemeni army continues to retreat.
According to DW, in recent months, the Houthis have seized Yemen's entire Red Sea coast, as well as areas adjacent to the Bab al-Mandab Strait.
The publication notes that the strategic importance of this strait has increased since the start of the US and Israeli war against Iran. It is being used as an alternative trade route, allowing to partially compensate for disruptions in oil supplies caused by the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz.
The article emphasizes that the military achievements of the Houthis have allowed Iran and its allies to strengthen control over key waterways in the region. This is affecting the oil exports of Saudi Arabia and other Gulf states to the world market. Rebel attacks are threatening international trade routes and also driving up electricity prices.
According to Reuters, the Houthi advance is being led by Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. The agency's sources in Tehran said that Iran is thus seeking to open a new front in the confrontation against the US.
A civil war has been ongoing in Yemen since 2014. The conflict has led to the de facto division of the country between three warring factions.
The Houthis have seized the northern and western provinces of the country, including the capital Sana'a. According to DW, about 70 percent of Yemen's population lives in the territories under their control.
In early September, the Houthis announced the expansion of their military operations in the Middle East, striking four cities in southern Saudi Arabia. As a result of the large-scale attack, more than 70 people were injured, and fires broke out at oil facilities.