In a powerful display of popular solidarity, millions of Yemenis took to the streets in the capital, Sanaa, and across the country on Friday to mark the third anniversary of the Al-Aqsa Flood operation. 

Public squares overflowed with crowds chanting in support of Palestine and reaffirming their steadfastness in the face of aggression and blockade. 

The rallies renewed their pledge to continue supporting the Palestinian people, defending the causes of the Islamic nation and its holy sites, and declaring a state of mobilization and readiness to confront the Saudi enemy’s escalation and its continued campaign of falsehoods against the Yemeni people.

From Al-Sumoud Square in Sanaa, packed with crowds arriving from across the capital’s districts, to squares and gathering sites throughout the free provinces, Yemenis staged massive rallies embodying their unwavering solidarity with Palestine, their commitment to the path of resistance, and their steadfast adherence to the positions they have upheld since the launch of the Al-Aqsa Flood operation on October 7, 2023. 

The crowds waved Palestinian and Yemeni flags and chanted slogans affirming that the Palestinian cause will remain the central cause of the Islamic nation, and that neither the passage of time nor successive developments will alter Yemen’s position on Gaza and Islamic holy sites.

The rallies were held in response to a call by Revolution Leader Sayyed Abdulmalik Badr al-Din al-Houthi under the slogan, “Steadfast with Palestine and Mobilization Against the Saudi Enemy’s Aggression, Blockade and Falsehoods.” 

Participants began gathering in the early morning hours, in a scene reflecting the scale of popular mobilization surrounding the occasion. Patriotic and religious chants rang out alongside slogans supporting the Palestinian resistance and denouncing the continued aggression and blockade against Yemen.

Through banners, chants and statements issued during the rallies, the crowds reaffirmed the Yemeni people’s commitment to supporting the Palestinian people and standing alongside the people of Gaza and the Palestinian resistance factions. 

They renewed their pledge to continue their support regardless of the sacrifices involved, stressing that the aggression and suffering endured by the Palestinian people impose religious, moral and humanitarian responsibilities on the Islamic nation—responsibilities that demand practical action commensurate with the scale of the crimes and challenges.

Amid fervent chants, participants proclaimed: “Gaza, heroes of our time, we stand with you until victory!” and “O Hamas and Islamic Jihad, you are the standard-bearers of jihad!” The squares also echoed with the slogans: “October 7 was a decisive day, separating truth from falsehood,” and “God is our protector and suffices us; He will bring injustice to an end through our own hands.” 

The chants underscored the enduring place of the Al-Aqsa Flood anniversary in the Yemeni public consciousness and recalled what participants described as a major turning point in the course of the conflict with the Israeli enemy.

Participants also paid tribute to the Palestinian leaders and fighters associated with the Al-Aqsa Flood operation, praising the sacrifices and steadfastness demonstrated by the Palestinian people over the past three years. 

They stressed that the Palestinian cause would remain firmly rooted in the hearts and minds of Yemenis, and that Gaza’s suffering would never make them forget their duty toward the Palestinian people or their right to freedom and independence.

Islamic Holy Sites Take Center Stage in Chants and Rally Statements

Islamic holy sites featured prominently in the slogans chanted and statements issued during the rallies. The crowds affirmed that Mecca, Medina and the blessed Al-Aqsa Mosque are sacred sites belonging to the entire Islamic nation, and that defending them is a shared responsibility that transcends geographical boundaries and political affiliations. 

Participants stressed their rejection of attempts to exploit holy sites in conflicts and wars, affirming that the Yemeni people, who took to the streets in support of Al-Aqsa Mosque, would remain steadfast in their position on all Islamic holy sites.

The crowds chanted forceful slogans against the Saudi regime, accusing it of serving the Zionist project. They chanted: “The House of Saud is the enemy of the nation, serving the Zionists,” and “The House of Saud spread terrorism and perpetrated its crimes, showing no reverence for the Kaaba.” 

They also chanted: “Exploiting the Kaaba is a crime against all Muslims.” These slogans expressed their rejection of Saudi allegations concerning the targeting of Islamic holy sites and what they described as Riyadh’s exploitation of those sites in its confrontation with the Yemeni people.

Participants stressed that any targeting of Islamic holy sites constitutes an assault on the entire Islamic nation. They renewed their call for Arab and Muslim peoples to take clear positions against conspiracies targeting Palestine and Islamic holy sites, rather than settling for media statements and general slogans.

Popular Mobilization to Confront Saudi Aggression and Blockade

Alongside the slogans in support of Palestine, the crowds chanted slogans affirming their readiness to confront Saudi escalation and remain steadfast in the face of aggression and blockade. 

They declared their full support for the Yemeni armed forces, renewed their mandate to the leadership, and affirmed their readiness to provide the armed forces with the human and material resources needed to continue the confrontation.

The crowds condemned the continued Saudi aggression and blockade, as well as attacks on civilian infrastructure, schools, hospitals and markets in several parts of Yemen. They stressed that these crimes would not be erased by the passage of time and that those responsible must be held accountable. 

Participants affirmed that continued pressure would not force the Yemeni people to abandon their positions, and that years of war and the suffering they had brought would only strengthen their commitment to steadfastness and the defense of sovereignty and independence.

The crowds chanted slogans vowing to confront any new escalation, including: “O son of Saud, what comes next will be even greater—you will regret it, by Allah, you will regret it”; “Plot as you will and strive as you wish; Allah is with us and will put an end to your tyranny”; and “By Allah, we will eliminate your forces down to your very last military buildup.”

The crowds also welcomed the military operations announced by the Yemeni armed forces on multiple fronts, including strikes on sites and facilities inside Saudi territory and attacks on military buildups belonging to the Saudi enemy, as well as announced operations targeting Saudi oil facilities and airports. 

They voiced their support for the continuation of these operations, describing them as a response to the aggression and blockade and part of the equation of confrontation declared by Sanaa under the slogan “Blockade for Blockade, Escalation for Escalation.”

The crowds declared a state of general mobilization as part of the popular mobilization effort and expressed their readiness to provide whatever resources were needed to support the armed forces. They stressed the need to press ahead with efforts to end the blockade, secure the Yemeni people’s legitimate rights, and achieve sovereignty over every part of Yemeni territory.

Taiz Features Prominently in the Rallies, as Participants Praise Residents of Liberated Districts

Taiz Governorate featured prominently in the rallies and their slogans, with participants expressing solidarity with its residents and chanting slogans praising the people of Taiz. 

The rallies’ statement also commended residents of the districts that had won their freedom and rid themselves of the militias and gangs mobilized by the Saudi enemy.

This position came as part of the Yemeni people’s reaffirmation of their full support for efforts to liberate Yemeni areas under occupation and back the armed forces in confronting Saudi military buildups. 

The statement also stressed the need to press ahead with efforts to end the military presence and reclaim every inch of the homeland.

Bab al-Mandab: Reaffirming Sovereignty and National Security

In another part of the statement, the rallies underscored the importance of Bab al-Mandab as an integral part of Yemen’s geography and a key component of its national security. 

They stressed that Yemen’s strategic location gives it particular significance in the equations of regional security and maritime navigation.

The statement warned that targeting the strait or militarizing the surrounding area threatens the safety of maritime navigation, holding the Saudi enemy responsible for any consequences that may arise. 

It further stressed that protecting Bab al-Mandab and safeguarding Yemeni sovereignty over its surrounding geographical area are integral to the responsibility of defending the country’s resources and national security.

Rally Statement: Steadfast in Our Positions and Continuing to Support Palestine

At the conclusion of the rallies, Sheikh Mohammed Abdulrahman Othman, Deputy Head of the Correction Organization, delivered a statement affirming that the massive turnout reflects the Yemeni people’s faith-based, Quranic, humanitarian and moral commitment to supporting the Palestinian people—a commitment they have upheld since the launch of the Al-Aqsa Flood operation and continue to uphold today. 

He noted that Yemen has made significant sacrifices at both the official and popular levels, despite the aggression, blockade and pressure to which it has been subjected.

The statement reaffirmed Yemen’s steadfast position on the Palestinian cause and Islamic holy sites, its adherence to the path of jihad and resistance, and its solidarity with the resistance forces in Palestine, Lebanon and Iraq, as well as the Islamic Republic of Iran. 

It also stressed the need to confront schemes aimed at reshaping the region and establishing what is known as “Greater Israel.”

The statement called on the Arab and Islamic nations to adopt firm positions against Saudi-Israeli conspiracies. It reaffirmed continued support for the armed forces, a commitment to confronting Saudi military buildups, and rejection of allegations targeting the Yemeni people and their positions on Islamic holy sites.

It also declared a state of general mobilization and called for providing the armed forces with manpower and available resources. The statement stressed that breaking the blockade and ending the aggression are non-negotiable imperatives, affirming that the Yemeni people will continue to demand their rights to freedom, independence and a dignified life.

The rallies concluded with a renewed pledge of solidarity with Palestine and Gaza, reaffirming continued support for the Palestinian people and adherence to the declared positions opposing Saudi aggression and blockade. 

Millions took to the streets in the capital, Sanaa, and across the governorates, waving flags and chanting slogans that underscored the Palestinian cause’s central place in Yemen’s popular stance and the continued mobilization in the face of the challenges confronting the country.