Yemen's president calls on his people to mobilise against Iran-backed Houthis

Yemen’s Riyadh‑based President Rashid al‑Alimi, who also serves as Supreme Commander of the Yemeni Armed Forces and heads the Saudi‑backed Presidential Leadership Council, called on the nation’s citizens to join a general mobilisation in support of the armed and security forces. In a televised address he urged “the sons of our great people” to rally around the military as the Iran‑backed Houthi rebels, who have seized the entire Red Sea coastline and imposed a naval blockade on Saudi Arabia, continue their offensive. Al‑Alimi promised a forthcoming general amnesty for any Houthi defectors who switch allegiance to the government side.

The mobilisation plea follows a dramatic escalation by the Houthis, who over the past weeks have captured Yemen’s Red Sea coast, attacked Saudi territory—including a rare strike on Riyadh—and intensified assaults on the world’s top crude exporter. Their actions have shattered a years‑long truce, prompting the Saudi‑led coalition to provide air support to government forces. Internationally, the conflict has drawn attention as Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Pakistan’s chiefs of staff convened to discuss assistance, while Yemen’s leadership sought U.S. backing. A senior aide disclosed that al‑Alimi appealed to President Donald Trump for help, but Trump declined to commit military aid, a rebuff echoed in earlier reports of the Saudi crown prince’s pleas.

The broader implications of al‑Alimi’s call underscore the deepening crisis in Yemen’s civil war, which began when the Houthis seized the capital Sanaa in 2014, prompting a Saudi‑led intervention the following year. With the government now operating from its temporary capital in Aden and the Houthis controlling much of the north and key population centers, the conflict threatens regional oil flows and stability. The proposed amnesty aims to weaken Houthi ranks by encouraging defections, while the mobilisation effort seeks to bolster a beleaguered government facing mounting pressure from a rebel group that now dominates the strategic Red Sea corridor.

⚡ Effects Interpreter