Houthis advance: Yemeni authorities make urgent statement
Yemeni authorities have declared a general mobilization amid a Houthi offensive that captured the city of Mokha and Perim Island near the Bab el-Mandeb strait within a month. Head of the Presidential Leadership Council Rashad al-Alimi called on citizens to join the army and promised amnesty to militants who switch sides. Saudi Arabia, which supports the government, faces missile attacks and a threat to oil exports through the Red Sea.
Yemeni authorities have declared a general mobilization amid a rapid Houthi offensive that captured the strategically important city of Mokha and Mayyun Island (Perim) near the Bab el-Mandeb strait within a month. Head of the Presidential Leadership Council Rashad al-Alimi issued a statement calling on citizens to join the army and promising amnesty to militants who switch sides. He stated that the goal is to restore state institutions and sovereignty over the entire country, including Sanaa, which the Houthis have held since 2014. According to a 2024 UN expert estimate, the movement has about 350,000 fighters. Analysts believe a mass defection to the government side is unlikely in the near future. The offensive began after the 2022 ceasefire, which halted 12 years of fighting, collapsed. Saudi Arabia, which supports the recognized government, faces regular missile and drone attacks—six ballistic missiles were intercepted in the last 24 hours alone. Oil exports through the Red Sea are under threat, especially after Tehran closed the Strait of Hormuz. Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Pakistan announced an urgent meeting of military leaders after signing a joint defense agreement in August. The Houthis stated they would keep Bab el-Mandeb open, with attacks directed only against Saudi vessels.