The Great Mujahid Sayyid Hassan Nasrallah: Yemen’s Beloved Leader
The people of Yemen, like the free peoples of the world, were deeply grieved by the news of the martyrdom of Sayyid Hassan Nasrallah, the Secretary-General of Hezbollah. For Yemen, the martyred Sayyid Hassan Nasrallah stands as a symbol of pride, dignity, honor, and freedom. He has long been revered in the hearts of Yemenis, his image proudly displayed in homes, sold in markets, and present in public gatherings. Yemenis’ love for Sayyid Nasrallah grew stronger with the onset of the brutal American-Saudi-Emirati aggression on Yemen. He was the first to stand with Yemen and support its people.
Sayyid Nasrallah was one of the most prominent and sincere defenders of Yemen, never wavering in his clear and honest stance. No other Arab leader or figure matched the depth of his support for Yemen, and his speeches continually echoed his complete solidarity with the Yemeni people.
On the second day of the aggression on Yemen, Sayyid Hassan Nasrallah gave a speech condemning the attack and sharply criticizing the Lebanese government under Saad Hariri for aligning with the Saudi-led assault. He also expressed astonishment at the stance of the Palestinian Authority under Mahmoud Abbas, which also supported the aggression. He asked Mahmoud Abbas directly: “How can you endorse a war on a people? Go home, because you will lose all credibility when Israel wages war on you. When aggression strikes the West Bank or Gaza, how will you find sympathy for your cause?”
Nasrallah firmly declared that no amount of intimidation or threats would deter him from condemning the Saudi-American assault on Yemen. His position, he explained, was rooted in responsibility before Allah on judgment day, not in history or geography. “Let history write whatever it wants,” he said. “We will be held accountable for our stance on the Day of Judgment.”
He also questioned the very premise of the war: “Did the Arab peoples authorize Saudi Arabia to wage war on their behalf? How can this be called a war for Arabs when it is being waged against a purely Arab people?”
In a speech on March 1, 2016, Nasrallah called his declaration on the second day of the aggression one of the most honorable moments of his life. He stressed that no other injustice in the world compared to the suffering inflicted on the Yemeni people by the Saudi-led war. He emphasized that standing with Yemen was even more significant to him than Hezbollah’s fight against Israel in the July War.
While many believed that the Saudi-American assault would swiftly overwhelm Yemen, Sayyid Hassan Nasrallah had a different vision. He saw the resilience of the Yemeni people, declaring: “Any people who say, ‘We refuse humiliation,’ will ultimately triumph.”
For nearly a decade, during the American-Saudi assault on Yemen, Nasrallah closely followed every detail of the war. He shared in Yemen’s joys and sorrows, feeling the pain of its losses, particularly when children, women, and civilians were killed, or when infrastructure was senselessly destroyed. He lamented that such destructive power was not instead aimed at the Zionist regime.
Nasrallah continually extended his condolences to the Yemeni leadership, such as when President Saleh Ali al-Sammad was assassinated in April 2018. He likened the martyrdom of Yemeni leaders to that of Imam Hussein, noting that their sacrifices continued to inspire the oppressed and their resistance.
Nasrallah also expressed admiration for Yemeni fighters and leaders, particularly after the battle on Yemen’s western coast, which he described as nothing short of miraculous. He often declared his desire to fight alongside them, saying, “I am ashamed that I am not with the Yemeni fighters on the western coast, fighting under the banner of your wise and courageous leader.”
In his Ashura address, Nasrallah drew striking parallels between the suffering of the Yemeni people and the tragedy of Karbala. He stated that Yemen’s ongoing conflict was a modern-day Karbala, with all the pain, suffering, and injustice that marked that historic event. He called on the world to break its silence and take action against the daily massacres being carried out against Yemen, framing it as a moral, ethical, and religious duty.
Nasrallah further pointed to Yemen’s role in derailing international plans, particularly the failure of the “Deal of the Century” proposed by former U.S. President “Donald Trump”. He highlighted that Saudi Arabia’s inability to secure a victory in Yemen was a key factor in the collapse of that deal.
In a significant speech on November 12, 2019, Nasrallah praised the bold stance of Yemen’s leader, Sayyid Abdul-Malik al-Houthi, who had declared that any Israeli aggression on Yemen would be met with a decisive response. Nasrallah noted that al-Houthi’s declaration carried immense weight, given Yemen’s resilience in the face of five years of war, and that Israel took this threat seriously.
One of the aspects of the Yemeni people that fascinated Sayyid Hassan Nasrallah most was their deep love for the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) and their grand celebrations of his birth. This connection only further strengthened the bond between Nasrallah and the Yemeni people.
In conclusion, Sayyid Hassan Nasrallah emerged as the foremost global defender of the Yemeni people. His unwavering support, sincerity, and dedication have left a lasting impression on the hearts of Yemenis, who will forever hold him dear and continue to honor his solidarity and sacrifice.