Yemen's al-Alimi calls for general mobilisation against Houthis, offers amnesty to defectors
Rashad al-Alimi urged Yemenis to join the armed forces and offered immediate amnesty to Houthi defectors, in his first speech since government forces were routed from the western Red Sea coast.
Yemen’s internationally recognised leader has called for a general mobilisation against the Houthis and offered an immediate amnesty to any Houthi fighters who defect, in a speech marking the 64th anniversary of the country’s September 26 Revolution.
Rashad al-Alimi, chair of Yemen’s Presidential Leadership Council and Supreme Commander of the Yemeni Armed Forces, urged Yemenis on Friday to “engage in general mobilisation and national mobilisation, to rally around their armed and security forces, join their ranks through official channels, and contribute each from their respective position in whatever way they can”, Al Jazeera reported.
It was his first speech since government forces were routed from the western Red Sea coast. The Houthis now hold Yemen’s entire coastline and control of the Bab al-Mandeb strait.
Al-Alimi said the government’s objective was to restore state institutions and sovereignty “over the entire country, including Sana’a”, the capital seized by the Houthis in 2014. The amnesty would apply to Houthis who leave the group, granted under constitutional and legal procedures.
The appeal came as the military chiefs of staff of Saudi Arabia, Turkiye and Pakistan held talks on Friday on the Mecca Pact defence deal, amid Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia. A source from Al-Alimi’s office told AFP earlier this week that he had requested US support in a call with Donald Trump, who did not promise military help.
On Saturday, the Saudi-led coalition said its air defences had intercepted a Houthi ballistic missile headed for Khamis Mushait and two drones bound for Riyadh.
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