Yemen / Anadolu

The National Bloc of Parties and Political Components in Yemen announced on Tuesday its support for the government's move to end the 'Houthi coup'.

This came in a statement by the bloc, which includes 22 parties and political components, on the American platform 'X'.

The bloc said it 'closely followed the speech of Chairman of the Presidential Leadership Council, Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, Rashad al-Alimi, and the outcomes of the National Defense Council meeting.'

It announced its 'full support for the decisive national directions included in the outcomes, aimed at restoring state institutions and ending the Iranian-backed Houthi coup.'

On Monday evening, al-Alimi called on the people, tribes, and national forces to rally around the armed forces to 'restore state institutions and end the Houthi coup.'

The National Defense Council in its Monday meeting discussed 'the readiness of the armed forces and all military formations to deter the escalation of the terrorist Houthi militias, and to mobilize all capabilities for the battle to restore state institutions and end the coup.'

The bloc stressed that 'the suffering of Yemenis is a direct result of a coup by an armed militia that chose to serve the Iranian project at the expense of the state, citizenship, and national partnership.'

Despite intermittent clashes, Yemen has witnessed a lull since April 2022 in a war that began more than 11 years ago between government forces and the Houthi group, which has controlled governorates and cities, including Sanaa, since September 21, 2014.

In recent days, clashes have renewed between government forces and the Houthis in several provinces, including al-Jawf, al-Dhale, and Taiz, amid mutual threats between the two sides, while the country faces one of the worst humanitarian and economic crises in the world.

The bloc expressed its 'appreciation for the steadfast fraternal stance of the sisterly Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in supporting Yemeni legitimacy, calling for the continuation of this support to serve the stability of Yemen and the security of the region.'

It called on the international community to 'move from condemnation to actual action to implement UN Security Council Resolution 2216,' which stipulates the withdrawal of Houthis from areas under their control.

It explained that this action is achieved 'by supporting Yemeni legitimacy politically and legally in confronting the terrorist Houthi coup and the repeated Iranian violations of the sovereignty of the Republic of Yemen.'

On Tuesday, Yemeni Defense Minister Taher al-Aqili stated in a statement that the army is 'at the highest levels of combat and moral readiness to wage the battle of liberation and end the Houthi coup that has inflicted calamities on our people.'

Al-Aqili called on Yemenis in Houthi-controlled areas to 'protect their children and not drag them into a losing battle fought by proxy mercenaries of the Iranian regime,' as he put it.

Tensions have been escalating since the Houthis accused Saudi Arabia on Monday evening of imposing a siege on areas under their control, and announced the start of a naval blockade on the neighboring kingdom.

The Saudi Foreign Ministry responded in a statement, saying the kingdom will take all necessary measures to protect its ships, in accordance with international law and the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.

Also on Monday evening, the Saudi-led Coalition to Support Legitimacy in Yemen vowed to respond 'with all firmness and strength' to Houthi threats against coalition ships crossing the Bab al-Mandab Strait, announcing the start of implementing measures to protect its vessels.