On Friday, Rashid al-Alimi, the Riyadh-based head of Yemen’s Presidential Leadership Council, issued an urgent call for his compatriots to join the nation’s armed forces in response to the intensifying threat posed by Iran-backed Houthi rebels.
In a televised address, Alimi, who also serves as the Supreme Commander of the Yemeni Armed Forces, asked citizens to rally behind security institutions during what he described as a national mobilization. He further announced that a general amnesty would be granted to any Houthi fighters who defect and switch allegiance to the government.
The declaration comes amid a significant deterioration in the security landscape. Weeks ago, the Houthis captured the entirety of Yemen’s Red Sea coastline, effectively imposing a naval blockade against Saudi Arabia and dealing a severe blow to the internationally recognized government. The group has since resumed offensive operations against Yemeni government troops and their Saudi backers, ending a years-long truce that had largely held since the civil war’s resurgence.
Tensions reached a new peak over the weekend when Houthi forces launched an attack on Riyadh, marking the first time the Saudi capital has been targeted in years. In response, military chiefs of staff from Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Pakistan convened on Friday to discuss coordinated support for the kingdom.
Alimi’s administration has been actively seeking international assistance to counter the rebel advances. Reports indicate that Alimi requested military aid from US President Donald Trump via telephone earlier this week. However, according to the New York Times and Axios, Trump declined to promise direct military intervention, having previously rebuffed similar requests from Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
The conflict in Yemen originated in 2014 when Houthi militants seized the capital, Sanaa, prompting a Saudi-led coalition to intervene the following year in support of the government, which is now based in the southern port city of Aden. Despite the ongoing war, the Houthis continue to hold substantial territory in the north and other densely populated regions.
Saudi, Turkey, and Pakistan coordinating is significant. This looks like a formalized military alliance forming against the Houthis now.
How is the average Yemeni supposed to feel about being called up for a war that keeps expanding? We just want peace.
Trump refusing to intervene again feels like history repeating itself. Will the US stay completely out this time too?
Amnesty for defectors? Smart move. If the rank-and-file Houthis are tired of fighting, this could crack their ranks from within.
This escalation is terrifying. A direct attack on Riyadh changes everything; the regional stability we hoped for is clearly gone.