Yemeni ambassador in Iran:
Ansarallah will hit any enemy target in crosshairs
Yemen’s primary goal is to ‘eradicate cancerous tumor’ of Israel
Ibrahim Mohammed al-Dailami, the ambassador of Yemen in Iran, said that in response to the US and British attacks on the Arab country, the Ansarallah movement will “hit any target in their crosshairs”.
The war in Gaza has entered its fifth month, while the military operations of the Yemeni army have caused Israel to be under severe economic pressure, and this issue has brought the United States and the United Kingdom to the region to counter the actions of the Yemeni resistance under the pretext of establishing security in the Red Sea.
Addressing a ceremony on February 13, Abdul-Malik Badruldeen al-Houthi, the leader of Yemen’s Ansarallah, discussed the developments of the war in Gaza. In his speech, he stated that despite Israel’s numerous crimes and support by foreigners, the regime failed to achieve its goals. One indication of this failure is the extension of the duration of military service in the regime. He also said that the Israeli army is not accustomed to prolonged conflicts. Additionally, he noted that following his previous speech, the Yemeni army continued its attacks on Umm al-Rashrash, or Eilat, resulting in the failure of the Eilat port.
He also said that the movement of ships from the Bab el-Mandeb towards Israel has been completely halted, which is a success. Referring to the clashes with Americans, he stated, “This week we had five clashes with US forces, one of which lasted for 14 hours according to the Americans’ admission. Instead of implementing a cease-fire, the US has decided to enter into war and engage in the region. In the end, he pointed to the silence of the Arab governments and said, “For every Jew in Palestine, there are more than 150,000 Muslims who only watch the killing of the Palestinian people and do nothing for them.”
Regarding the Yemeni government and people’s support for the Palestinian resistance, IRNA had an interview with the country’s ambassador in Tehran. The full text of the interview is as follows:
IRNA: About four months have passed since the war in Gaza, and Yemenis, like some countries, find themselves involved in this war. Western experts and media present the Yemeni army as powerful and capable. For example, Thomas Faiz, an American journalist, said that what the Yemenis are doing will be recorded as a historical and transformative turning point in the modern era. He said we are talking about a poor country that has fought and won against the US, one of the most powerful armies in the world. In addition, the Yemeni people widely welcomed the support of their country’s army of the Palestinian people. What is the motivation of the people and the Yemeni army to do such a thing, which certainly imposes a lot of costs on them?
DAILAMI: We are a Muslim nation and we see oppression against Palestinians to a great extent. Considering our moral, human and religious responsibility, we cannot be indifferent in this matter and not show any reaction. The actions of the people and the Yemeni army are a natural reaction to supporting the oppressed and preventing oppression. This is the position of every person who has a high sense of responsibility. It is not appropriate for the Arab and Muslim people to be indifferent in this matter and not take any action.
Our role in this case is not limited to military and security operations. The people of Yemen organize millions of demonstrations every week out of a sense of duty. The Yemeni government passed the law of embargo on the entry of American and Israeli goods into the country’s markets through the House of Representatives. The Yemeni people also donate whatever they can by collecting financial aid for the Palestinians.
A few months ago, an image of the seizure of the second Zionist ship by Ansarallah in the Red Sea was published and quickly spread on social media. This picture showed that the Yemeni forces are smoking hookah on the ship’s deck after taking possession of it. This image shows well the lack of fear of the Yemeni forces from their enemy. What is the reason for the exemplary courage of Yemenis?
This was an operation carried out by the people and the Yemeni army. Regarding the pictures that were broadcast about the ship, it can be said that as [Ayatullah] Khamenei said, those who fear God, do not fear anyone other than God.
Yemen’s naval capability is one of the points that have been discussed a lot in the past few months. Al-Akhbar newspaper has written in a report quoting informed military sources that in response to the request of the then government of Yemen in 2014 to equip the country’s navy in an efficient manner, Chinese experts said that it is impossible to implement this request. How did the Yemeni army achieve this capability?
The Yemeni army is more than a hundred years old. The navy of this country was one of the strongest naval forces in the region during the 20th century, especially in the 1970s and 1980s. During that period, the Yemeni army was supported by Soviet technology and weapons. The military force of this country is trained and efficient, and it is connected with the army of different countries in the region and the world.
The Yemeni people and armed forces faced Saudi-American aggression for more than eight years and have gained a lot of experience. In addition, Yemen is primarily a maritime country and the length of its coast reaches more than 2,500 kilometers, which makes it strong in terms of naval power.
Westerners are bending over backward to attribute the actions of Ansarallah and the Yemeni resistance, both during the conflict with Saudi Arabia and presently, to direct instructions from Iran. What are your thoughts on the Iran-Yemen relationship, and why are Westerners attempting to implicate Iran in these activities? Also, there are claims that Iran is the source of Yemeni missiles and other armaments like drones. Given the existing naval blockade, how plausible is this assertion? If these armaments are not originating from Iran, where are they getting them from, and is there any significant military capability they are planning to reveal soon?
The Western propaganda machine incessantly brings up this ludicrous and baseless issue. They habitually point fingers at other parties in every situation. The West accused the resistance during Operation Al-Aqsa Storm, carried out by the Palestinian people as if the Palestinians were devoid of issues and oppression. We consider these accusations to be unfounded and absurd, aiming to divert attention from the atrocities committed by the Zionists in Palestine. Iran has repeatedly refuted these allegations through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The Americans claim the formation of an international coalition against the Yemeni resistance, can you elaborate on this?
The coalition orchestrated by the American and British administrations raises suspicions. This coalition is primarily established to shield Israel and hinder the Yemeni armed forces from executing their responsibilities in the Red Sea. Notably, countries bordering the Red Sea like Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Djibouti, and Eritrea, wary of the sea’s insecurity, have refrained from joining this questionable alliance. I believe that the reluctance of these nations to engage in a coalition that seeks to militarize the Red Sea and safeguard Israel can be attributed to their understanding of the American intentions.
As the Yemeni government, we have invited all Red Sea-bordering countries to convene conferences and committees to ensure the security and navigation of this vital sea for them. The involvement or non-involvement of European countries or others in this coalition holds little significance for us; our priority is to counter this aggression.
European countries have shown limited interest in joining this coalition; what could be the rationale behind this decision?
The militarization of the Red Sea by the US and the UK does not align with the interests of European nations. Many countries do not adhere to the American storyline. Moreover, numerous shipping companies operating in the Red Sea, the Gulf of Aden, and the Arabian Sea recognize that only Israeli vessels, or those bound for occupied Palestine, are targeted. Hence, they are skeptical of the claims made by the US and UK and do not perceive them as significant, as other ships unrelated to Israel traverse the Red Sea without incident.
The naval actions of the Yemeni resistance have significantly impacted Israel’s economy. How long do you believe they can withstand these circumstances?
We believe that the Zionist regime cannot endure further losses. The economic, military, and moral setbacks have rendered this regime vulnerable globally. However, Yemen has obligations, and our duty is to persist in supporting the Palestinian people until the cessation of aggression and the lifting of the blockade on them.
We will escalate anti-Israel operations in Yemen to exert more effective pressure on halting the Zionist aggression machinery.
The Zionist regime’s Transportation Minister tweeted about pushing forward with a plan to establish a hub for goods transfer from India to the occupied territories via the UAE, aiming to sidestep Yemeni army attacks in the Red Sea. The notion that Arab countries might transport goods needed by Israel by land raises questions. Are these claims accurate?
The actions taken by the Zionist regime are futile, unable to conceal its incapacity to allow Israeli-related ships into Palestine.
We strongly believe that Arab nations, particularly Saudi Arabia and the UAE, should refrain from engaging in such disgraceful endeavors. These countries must not remain silent in the face of Zionist aggression; they need to take a stance. We caution the world against ties with the Zionist regime, emphasizing its aggressiveness and oppression against the entire Arab and Islamic world.
Is this news true?
I don’t confirm or deny it. The responsibility lies with the UAE and Saudi Arabia to address such claims and clarify their veracity.
If this claim proves true, do you have a plan to prevent it?
We’ll do our utmost, but remember, this isn’t solely Yemen’s responsibility; it’s a duty for all Muslims and Arabs.
It is said that the US airstrikes are carried out in uninhabited areas and are mostly for show. Is this claim true? Why doesn’t the US get seriously involved in the war with Yemen?
This claim is not true. The US is resolute in its aggression against Yemen, not a symbol of peace, but a clear enemy. While in a full-scale war with the US, we find strength in God’s support.
About a month ago, Politico magazine cited US intelligence sources mentioning Yemen’s plans to ramp up their attacks. Given the recent “promised conquest and holy jihad” drill aimed at seizing Israeli settlements, how viable is this assertion?
Our prime objective in Yemen and within the axis of resistance is to eradicate the cancerous tumor of Israel from the Arab and Islamic world.
Brigadier Yahya Sare’e, the spokesman of the Yemeni armed forces, has declared that US assaults will not go unchallenged. What are Yemen’s avenues to retaliate against the US?
In light of the US and UK’s recent aggression in Yemen, we are locked in an ongoing struggle with them. It’s not the right time to discuss responses to these aggressions, as our ongoing operations with full force against the US and UK’s interests in the Red Sea and the Arab Sea are part and parcel of these responses. We are currently in full conflict with them and hit any target in our crosshairs.