Yemen Enters a New Phase: Full Military Readiness to Confront Trump

The United States is heading down a dangerous and reckless path in its dealings with the decision-makers in Yemen.

Washington has once again raised the stick of “terrorism” against Ansar Allah, but the Yemeni Armed Forces responded swiftly by shooting down an American MQ-9 drone — a move packed with significant messages and implications.

In a statement published on Monday, March 3, 2025, US Secretary of State Rubio declared: “The State Department is fulfilling one of President Trump’s earliest promises upon taking office, and I am pleased to announce the designation of Ansar Allah — commonly referred to as the Houthis — as a Foreign Terrorist Organization.”

Rubio attempted to justify the decision, accusing the “Houthis” of carrying out hundreds of attacks on commercial ships in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, as well as targeting American service members defending “freedom of navigation”. He further claimed that the “Houthis” deliberately avoided attacking ships bearing the Chinese flag.

Naturally, everyone knows this American decision is political rather than strategic. It stems from Washington’s desperate attempt to “discipline” the Yemenis, who have inflicted severe defeats on the US in the Red Sea during the al-Aqsa Flood campaign. During that battle, the Yemeni Armed Forces managed to defeat the so-called “Prosperity Guardian” coalition, which the US had formed with several other nations. This historic military operation stood as an unprecedented act of solidarity with the oppressed people of Gaza, who endured 15 months of genocidal war waged by the Zionists, with full Western and American backing. That war left Gaza in ruins and caused catastrophic humanitarian disasters that cannot be forgotten.

To debunk Rubio’s allegations, it is essential to recall that Yemen — despite enduring ten years of American-Saudi aggression — never resorted to military action to disrupt navigation in the Red Sea. Even under the crushing siege, Yemen exercised patience, watching Saudi, American, and Israeli naval vessels pass through the Bab al-Mandab Strait. This confirms that all claims made by Saudi Arabia and the US since the launch of “Operation Decisive Storm” on March 26, 2015, alleging that “Ansar Allah” threatens maritime navigation in the Red Sea, are utterly baseless.

A New Phase of Confrontation

Today, Yemen enters a new phase of confrontation with Trump — but this time from a position of strength and unprecedented readiness. Yemen now possesses the determination, organization, and preparation necessary to face any looming threats.

All signs indicate that the US has shut every door to dialogue with Sana’a. By adding prominent Yemeni figures, including the head of the national negotiating delegation, Mohammed Abdul Salam, to its terrorism list, Washington has effectively lit the fuse of war and is preparing to fire the first shot. This escalation is driven by American mercenaries who eagerly anticipate igniting the situation, even if it means bringing hellfire down upon themselves. This explains why certain armed factions aligned with the Islah Party are now attempting to make military advances in Marib, hoping to score gains on the ground in parallel with the US announcement that the terrorism designation has officially taken effect.

The First Fiery Response

Sana’a chose to respond to American arrogance with firepower, demonstrating its full readiness for any confrontation with the Americans. Cameras captured the dramatic footage of the American MQ-9 drone crashing down in Hodeidah province, west of Yemen. The message was clear: Yemen will not tolerate any violation of its sovereignty — whether by land, sea, or air.

In a statement on Tuesday, the Yemeni Armed Forces confirmed that the drone had been conducting hostile operations while violating Yemeni airspace. This was the fifteenth MQ-9 drone shot down by Yemen’s forces during the ongoing battle of “The Promised Victory and Sacred Jihad,” launched in support of the Palestinian resistance in Gaza and Lebanon.

The Armed Forces stressed their ongoing commitment to defending Yemen against all aggression, affirming their full preparedness to confront any developments in the Red Sea or the Arabian Sea.

If Washington claims that Yemen is targeting its aircraft, ships, and warships, it must first answer a fundamental question: What brought these American military assets into Yemeni territory in the first place? Who gave them the right to violate Yemen’s airspace and territorial waters?

If the Americans have grown accustomed to such unchecked aggression against Yemen before the September 21, 2014 revolution, they must now understand that the situation has fundamentally changed. The revolutionary, military, and political leadership has made it clear: violating Yemen’s sovereignty is a red line. This was reiterated just days ago by Defense Minister Major General Mohammed Nasser Al-Atifi.

A Reminder from Sayyid Abdul-Malik Al-Houthi

It is worth recalling the words of Sayyid Abdul-Malik Badr al-Din al-Houthi in a previous speech:

“During [Trump’s] first presidency, we faced American aggression and its partners’ war on our country — with all their advanced weapons, their conspiracies, their plans — while we were in a far weaker position than we are today, and under far harsher conditions than we are in now. Our situation today — with our full reliance on Allah, our trust in Him, and our dependence on His support — leaves us neither impressed by the number of weapons we possess nor the type. What matters is their effectiveness when accompanied by divine support and assistance.”

Trump and the Americans know well that defeating Yemen is an impossibility. They have already experienced the futility of confronting the Yemenis in the past. Trump himself achieved no victories in Yemen worth mentioning. And if the Saudis are pinning their hopes on Trump’s promises regarding Yemen, they should remember what happened to Aramco, to Buqayq, and to Khurais — all under Trump’s watch. They should brace themselves for even worse scenarios in any future misadventure.