Yemen's President Al-Alimi Urges National Enlistment Against Houthis
Yemen's internationally recognised president Rashad al-Alimi has called for national mobilisation against the Houthis, who in turn accused Saudi Arabia of meddling.
The head of Yemen's internationally recognised government, Rashad al-Alimi, has called on Yemenis to mobilise and join the ranks of the country's armed forces and allied groups in their fight against the Iran-backed Houthis.
In remarks delivered from Riyadh, al-Alimi, who chairs the Presidential Leadership Council, said the Houthi movement had triggered the current escalation both within Yemen and across its borders, resulting in civilian deaths and what he described as the terrorising and starvation of the Yemeni people. He said the state had therefore taken measures to protect civilians, civil peace and the country's supreme interests.
Invoking his constitutional responsibility and decisions taken by the National Defence Council, al-Alimi urged citizens to heed the call for national enlistment, rally around their armed forces and join through official channels. The stated objective of the fighting, he said, is to restore his government's control over Sanaa, the capital, which the Houthis seized in 2014.
Speaking separately on Friday, Mahdi al-Mashat, head of the Houthis' supreme political council, framed the group's current campaign as an effort to restore Yemen's national sovereignty. He accused Saudi Arabia of interfering in Yemen's internal and external affairs for 64 years.
Al-Mashat also sought to reassure international shipping, saying navigation remains safe and that the Houthis remain committed to their international obligations. He said their operations target Saudi troop concentrations and have no connection to maritime traffic, adding that there is no cause for concern.
The exchange of statements underscores the continuing divide between Yemen's internationally recognised government, backed by Saudi Arabia, and the Houthi authorities who control the capital.