Houthi chief accuses Saudi Arabia of unjustly besieging Yemen with US backing
Abdul Malik al-Houthi said Saudi Arabia is imposing a siege on Houthi-held areas with U.S. support and blamed Riyadh for recent attacks on Yemen’s Sanaa airport.
The Houthi movement’s leader, Abdul Malik al-Houthi, condemned Saudi Arabia for conducting a siege against territories under his control, claiming it is backed by the United States. He argued that Saudi aggression aims to destabilise Yemen and cited recent strikes on Sanaa International Airport as evidence. Al-Houthi also rejected Saudi accusations that the Houthis launched a drone toward Mecca, calling the claim an "ugly lie" intended to justify their actions and rally external support.
Why it matters
The remarks highlight escalating rhetoric in the Yemen war and underscore the role of external powers in the conflict.
How this story developed
- Aug 28 Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkey launch Mecca Defence Alliance, secretariat set in Riyadh
- Sep 3 Greece delivered a diplomatic note to Turkey’s Foreign Ministry, instructed by Foreign Minister George Gerapetritis, contesting Turkish objections to Greek spatial planning frameworks and the creation of two national maritime parks. Athens maintains that international treaties define Aegean sovereignty and that Turkey’s own maritime park declarations overstep its jurisdiction. Both sides exchanged notes reiterating their positions, while Greece pledged to raise any unilateral Turkish actions with European partners. Despite tensions, intelligence chiefs met to keep security cooperation alive, and leaders plan to attend the UN General Assembly.
- Sep 6 Turkey reiterated its long‑standing claims over continental shelves.
- Sep 11 The UN International Organisation for Migration says at least 46,000 Yemenis have been displaced since last week as clashes intensify.
- Sep 13 Pakistan reiterated that no immediate military response under the Makkah pact is being discussed.
- Sep 13 The Greek prime minister publicly called for dialogue with Turkey while maintaining a formal protest over Turkey’s maritime park claims.
- Sep 14 The displacement figure has risen to nearly 86,000.
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