Yemen's 22-party bloc gives full support to Saudi Arabia and calls on government for 'firmness'
The National Bloc, comprising 22 political parties in Yemen, condemned the Houthi threats against Saudi Arabia and called on the legitimate government to show resolve on all fronts. The bloc also condemned an Iranian aircraft's violation of Yemeni airspace and its landing at Sanaa Airport.
The National Bloc, which comprises 22 political parties in Yemen, announced its full support for Riyadh in the face of Houthi threats against Saudi Arabia. The bloc also called on the legitimate government to confront the Houthis "with the utmost resolve on all fronts."
In a written statement issued by the National Bloc on Saturday, the threat by Houthi military spokesman Yahya Sare to target airports and vital sites in Saudi Arabia was described as a "serious escalation." The statement said, "This rhetoric by the Iran-backed coup Houthis is a dangerous step targeting the stability of the country and the region."
Addressing the legitimate government, the bloc demanded "the firmest possible response to any Houthi escalation, no leniency, and no reconciliation with a terrorist group linked to Iran." The statement stressed that "the Yemeni people will never accept tolerance toward a terrorist organization under Iran's control."
The National Bloc also strongly condemned an Iranian aircraft's violation of Yemeni airspace and its landing at the Houthi-controlled Sanaa Airport. The violation was described as proof that Iran continues to provide military and logistical support to the Houthi militia, and the statement said it was "a clear violation of Yemen's sovereignty and a challenge to international law, particularly UN Security Council Resolution 2216."
The bloc also called on the international community and the UN Security Council to fulfill their legal and moral responsibilities in the face of this "clear sovereignty violation" by Iran. It also urged all national political forces to "further unite against the Iran-backed Houthi project."
Meanwhile, the Saudi-led coalition supporting the legitimate government in Yemen announced on Saturday that any attempt to target Saudi Arabia or violate Yemen's sovereignty would be met with "unprecedented force and resolve." Coalition spokesman Turki al-Maliki said the Houthi threats were "an attempt to cover up the grave violations the group has committed against the Yemeni people and the economic problems it has caused."
Houthi military spokesman Yahya Sare claimed on Friday that Saudi warplanes had violated Yemeni airspace and threatened that any violation would be met with "a comprehensive response targeting Saudi airports and vital interests on land and at sea."
Although a ceasefire has largely held in Yemen since April 2022, sporadic clashes continue. The war, which has lasted more than 11 years, pits the legitimate government against the Houthis, who have controlled the capital Sanaa and many other areas since September 2014. The conflict has devastated most sectors in Yemen and triggered one of the world's worst humanitarian crises. UN-led peace process efforts are ongoing.
