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Ansarullah Warns Saudi Arabia to Restore Yemeni Rights Amid Siege — AI-generated representative image. A senior Ansarullah political official addresses the media regarding the ongoing blockade and tensions with Saudi Arabia.

Editorial Team

Hizam al-Assad says Riyadh's stubbornness will lead to its downfall as the blockade-for-blockade campaign intensifies into its third week

A senior political official of Yemen's Ansarullah movement warned Saudi Arabia on Wednesday that the kingdom has no choice but to restore Yemeni rights, as a reciprocal "siege for siege and escalation for escalation" campaign against Riyadh entered its second week.

Hizam al-Assad, a member of Ansarullah's political bureau, said in a social media post that the Yemeni people are determined to reclaim all their rights and break the imposed blockade, adding that Saudi Arabia's "stubbornness and arrogance" would only lead to its downfall.

The warning signals a further deterioration in the long-standing conflict between Yemen's Ansarullah-led government in Sana'a and Saudi Arabia, which has been locked in a nearly 12-year confrontation. The latest escalation comes amid a broader regional context in which Yemen has conducted strikes against Israeli-linked targets in solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza.

Escalation and Military Action

Assad accused Saudi authorities of imposing what he described as "an unjust and oppressive siege" on Yemen for nearly 12 years, alleging that Riyadh has been "plundering our resources and implementing a complete blockade." He further stated that Saudi Arabia's billions in spending to secure regional and international support would not alter the will of the Yemeni people or prevent them from continuing their "just and legitimate struggle."

In a related development, the Yemeni Armed Forces announced they have carried out strikes against Saudi vessels in the Red Sea, marking a significant escalation in maritime hostilities.

Background of the Conflict

Saudi Arabia and its Arab allies launched a comprehensive military intervention in Yemen in March 2015, imposing a blockade and initiating a war that has since killed tens of thousands of Yemenis. The campaign received military, political, and logistical support from the United States and several Western countries, yet failed to achieve its stated objective of reinstating the previous Yemeni regime aligned with Riyadh.

A fragile ceasefire brokered by the United Nations was established in 2022, but tensions have continued. More recently, the United States, Britain, and Israel launched multiple aggressive actions against Yemen, which officials in Sana'a say were designed to undermine Yemen's ability to conduct solidarity strikes against Israeli targets in response to the military campaign in Gaza.

Official Statements

In his social media post, Assad asserted that the Yemeni people, "relying on God," are prepared to make any sacrifices necessary to achieve their objectives. He maintained that the Saudi regime's current trajectory would prove self-destructive. The Ansarullah official also dismissed Saudi diplomatic and financial efforts to build international backing as futile in the face of Yemeni resolve.

What Lies Ahead

The "siege for siege and escalation for escalation" campaign against Saudi Arabia remains in effect, with no indication from Sana'a that it will be scaled back. The Yemeni Armed Forces' confirmed strikes on Saudi vessels in the Red Sea suggest the operational scope of the campaign continues to expand. No official response from Riyadh regarding Assad's latest statements has been reported.