Barran Press
Yemen's Defense Minister, Lieutenant General Mohsen Al-Daari, stated on Friday that the Yemeni army is prepared to advance towards the capital, Sana'a, "at any moment." He emphasized that the Houthi movement, classified as a terrorist organization, is "weakening day by day."
In an interview published by the London-based newspaper Asharq Al-Awsat, Al-Daari declared, "Our primary goal in the army, the armed forces, the Ministry of Defense, and all Yemeni components is Sana'a."
He criticized the Houthis, describing them as a "temporary and unsustainable project" that could collapse at any time. "We are ready to be in those places today, tomorrow, or the day after," he asserted.
Al-Daari noted that these militias do not adhere to agreements and, when weakened, resort to various tactics to gain sympathy from others. He affirmed the readiness of Yemeni forces for all options, whether for war or peace.
The minister spoke of "significant efforts to achieve peace," yet he warned that renewed conflict could occur at any moment due to ongoing Houthi provocations, which have led to casualties among Yemeni forces.
"We are prepared for all options and have comprehensive strategic plans for deploying our forces," he said.
He acknowledged that the past two years, marked by a ceasefire, have seen considerable efforts from the coalition to achieve peace through dialogue rather than conflict. However, he warned that war could restart at any time.
Al-Daari emphasized that patience remains a virtue for the legitimate authority in Yemen, describing it as "patience, preparedness, and readiness until the zero hour arrives, whether for peace or war."
Regarding events in the Red Sea, he stated that the continuing Houthi attacks on international shipping represent a threat to Yemen and the region. He characterized these assaults as an escape from the dire situation the Houthis face internally, suggesting that the group attempted to exploit the recent events in Gaza to garner sympathy from Yemenis.
The defense minister accused unnamed parties of trying to portray the Houthis as a regional power, when in fact they are ineffective on the ground. He added that the Houthis are attempting to use extortion tactics against nations traversing the Red Sea.
Al-Daari warned that the Houthis would continue targeting international shipping even if the conflict in Gaza ceases, as they constantly seek new alliances with terrorist entities, using regional conflicts to assert their presence.
He reiterated accusations against Iran for playing a "negative role" in supporting the Houthis for many years through arms smuggling and expertise, aiming to ignite chaos without regard for the stability of Yemen and the region.
Iran has long provided support to the Houthis, he noted, stating, "What is their project and what do they want? We do not know. They have never come to us claiming to have mutual interests." He concluded that they merely export death to Yemen and the region, believing they could dominate everything through their agenda, but he insisted that the peoples of the region will not surrender.
Since the UN-brokered ceasefire took effect in April 2022, the intensity of fighting in Yemen has significantly decreased, although sporadic violations and attacks continue in various fronts.
On December 23, 2023, the UN announced that Yemeni parties had reached agreements to commit to a series of measures, including a nationwide ceasefire and steps to improve living conditions, while preparing for a comprehensive political process under UN auspices.
However, the roadmap for peace has been hindered by Houthi attacks on commercial shipping in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden since November.