Yemeni leader says armed forces can reclaim all territory from Houthis

Yemen’s Presidential Leadership Council Chairman Rashad Mohammed Al-Alimi has affirmed that the country’s armed forces are capable of regaining the initiative and restoring state control over all Yemeni territory. He warned that continued attempts to contain the Houthi militia would not end the threat, but could instead lead to renewed escalation and rearmament.

During a meeting on Thursday with the UK ambassador to Yemen, Abda Sharif, Al-Alimi said Yemenis have confidence in their armed forces and their ability to regain the initiative. He stressed that, according to his statements, sustained international support for the government, armed forces, and popular resistance is the most effective way to end the Houthi threat, which is backed by Iran.

He explained that the armed forces and military formations have demonstrated competence in responding to Houthi escalations on multiple fronts, shifting from merely containing attacks to regaining the initiative and strengthening deterrence. He noted that recent developments on the western coast posed a tough test, but the forces maintained their cohesion and turned the situation into an opportunity to regain the initiative and unify ranks.

The council chairman cautioned that a truce which does not prevent rearmament effectively leads to further rounds of violence and sabotage. He said Taiz had been a “graveyard for the militia,” just as Marib, Al-Dhale and other provinces had been.

Al-Alimi linked the restoration of state control over its land and coasts to the security of the Red Sea and Bab Al-Mandab, stressing that supporting the armed forces to restore state institutions is “an investment not only in Yemen’s security, but in the security of global trade, energy, and international interests.”

He called on the international community to move beyond condemning Iranian support for the Houthis and take practical steps, including enforcing an arms embargo, targeting smuggling and financing networks, and preventing the transfer of military technology. He also praised Saudi Arabia’s pivotal role and its ongoing support for the Yemeni government and people, as well as its economic, humanitarian, and development interventions and its backing for reform programs and improved basic services.