On Monday, huge crowds came out in support of Palestine in the Yemeni capital of Sanaa and in other provinces across the country following a series of US airstrikes against Yemen.
According to Yemen’s SABA news agency, demonstrators in Sanaa marched under the slogan “Steadfast with Gaza… We Confront American Escalation with Escalation.”
The demonstrations came after Abdul Malik al-Houthi, leader of Ansar Allah, also known as the Houthis, called for a demonstration in response to the US airstrikes and to show solidarity with besieged Palestinians in Gaza.
“We announce our comprehensive move in response to the recent aggression and US escalation with military escalation, general mobilization, and economic boycott of the enemies,” said a statement issued by organizers, according to Iran’s PressTV. “We fear no one and bow to no one except God. We will confront escalation with escalation.”
Mohammed Ali al-Houthi, a member of Ansar Allah’s political council, said Yemenis were ready to face the US. “You are mistaken, Trump. We are ready to face all the tyrants of the earth, to make sacrifices, and remain steadfast in our positions,” he said. “We are always with the Palestinians and will not abandon them. We will continue the siege on the enemy and confront them until the siege on Gaza is lifted.”
The US bombed Yemen over the weekend, killing at least 53 people, a few days after al-Houthi announced Ansar Allah’s blockade on Israeli shipping would go back into force following Israel’s blockade on aid and all other goods entering Gaza. The Houthis had ceased their attacks on shipping in response to the Gaza ceasefire deal, which took effect on January 19.
More US airstrikes were reported in Yemen on Monday, and so far, the Houthis have launched two rounds of attacks on the US aircraft carrier USS Harry Truman in response to the new US bombing campaign. US officials have said the attacks were intercepted.
About 80% of Yemenis live in Houthi-controlled territory, and the group has controlled Sanaa since 2014. Despite this, Western media frames the Houthis as “rebels” and portrays them as an Iranian proxy, and President Trump has said he would blame Iran for their attacks. While the Houthis are aligned with Iran, they are an independent organization with their own interests, a fact acknowledged by US officials.
The US backed a failed Saudi-led effort to oust the Houthis from 2015-2022, which involved a brutal bombing campaign, blockade, and ground fighting. According to UN numbers, which are considered a low estimate, the US-backed war killed at least 377,000 people, with more than half dying of starvation and disease.
