YEMEN / AA

- Member of the Presidential Leadership Council Salem al-Khanbashi affirms government readiness to 'deter Houthi militia escalation and mobilize various capabilities for the battle to restore state institutions and end the coup'

- Houthi group: The current phase is different from all previous phases, and there is a strategic shift in the confrontation

- British ambassador to Yemen Abda Sharif: We stand firmly alongside Saudi Arabia and our partners in the region in confronting Houthi threats

Escalation continues between the Yemeni government and the Houthi group, with the Presidential Leadership Council announcing on Wednesday the mobilization of capabilities against the group, while the Houthis spoke of a 'strategic shift' in the confrontation.

For its part, Britain affirmed its support for Saudi Arabia in confronting Houthi threats, calling for a halt to escalation.

** Presidential Council mobilizes

In the context of these developments, member of the Presidential Leadership Council and governor of Hadhramaut Salem Ahmed al-Khanbashi announced on Wednesday that government authorities are mobilizing all capabilities to end the 'Houthi coup'.

This came in a statement by al-Khanbashi during an expanded meeting he held on Wednesday in the city of Mukalla with scholars, sheikhs, preachers, and imams of mosques, according to a statement by the local authority in Hadhramaut published on the American platform Facebook.

He stressed the importance of 'strengthening the moderate religious discourse to confront the sectarian ideology promoted by the terrorist Houthi militias, and consolidating values of moderation and national unity,' according to his words.

He affirmed 'the readiness of the state, armed forces, and military formations to deter the escalation of the terrorist Houthi militias, and mobilize various capabilities for the battle to restore state institutions and end the coup,' according to his words.

He pointed to 'taking necessary measures at various levels to deal with Houthi threats, and confronting any attempts to impose a fait accompli outside the framework of the state's exclusive authorities.'

The member of the Presidential Leadership Council touched on the measures taken by the state to resume oil exports and direct their revenues to meet the state's basic obligations.

He categorically denied 'the allegations promoted by some parties regarding granting any percentage of those revenues to the terrorist Houthi militias,' according to the statement.

He warned that 'the revenues will be dedicated to serving citizens and improving economic and service conditions.'

** Strategic shift

In contrast, Deputy Director of the Moral Guidance Department in the Houthi group Abdullah bin Amer said that 'the current phase is different from all previous phases, and that Yemen has moved from long patience to practical implementation of its legitimate rights.'

He added in a statement published by the group's website '26 September' on Wednesday that 'the group's decision to ban maritime navigation for Saudi Arabia represents a strategic shift in the course of confronting the US-Saudi aggression that began in 2015,' according to his expression.

The Houthi official claimed that 'the main motive for this move is to end the humanitarian suffering that Yemenis are experiencing as a result of the siege.'

** British stance

Amid this escalation, Britain announced a supportive stance for Saudi Arabia.

British ambassador to Yemen Abda Sharif condemned on Wednesday the Houthi group's threats to Saudi Arabia, affirming that she stands firmly with Riyadh in confronting them.

Sharif said in a statement on the American company X platform: 'The United Kingdom strongly condemns the recent Houthi threats against the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, including their efforts to impose a naval blockade.'

Sharif added that 'these provocations involve risks that will lead to further regional instability, also endanger freedom of navigation in the Red Sea, and undermine efforts to achieve peace in Yemen.'

She continued: 'We stand firmly alongside the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and our other partners in the region in confronting these threats, and we call on the Houthis to immediately cease their escalatory actions.'

The military spokesman for the Houthis, Yahya Saree, had announced on Monday in a video statement 'a ban on maritime navigation for Saudi Arabia' in response to what the group claims is a blockade imposed by Riyadh, adding that the decision comes into effect immediately upon its announcement.

Saudi Arabia, several Arab countries, and the Gulf Cooperation Council rejected on Tuesday the Houthi group's threats to the kingdom's security and freedom of navigation in the Red Sea, affirming the need to protect international waterways.

** Renewed escalation

Despite intermittent clashes, Yemen has been witnessing a truce since April 2022 in a war that began more than 11 years ago between government forces backed by a coalition led by neighboring Saudi Arabia and the Iran-backed Houthi group, which has controlled provinces and cities including Sanaa since September 21, 2014.

On July 13, the Yemeni Ministry of Defense announced that its forces targeted the runway of Sanaa Airport to prevent an Iranian plane from landing, while the Houthis accused Saudi Arabia of carrying out the attack and considered it the end of the de-escalation phase.

In recent days, clashes have renewed between government forces and the Houthis in provinces including al-Jawf, al-Dhale, and Taiz, amid mutual threats between the two sides.