The aggression against Yemen continues. It started with the aggression launched by the Saudi regime, announced from the American capital Washington, followed by American and British targeting and then American and Israeli targeting. The siege and economic pressure on the livelihood of the Yemeni people continues today.
Below is an interview of Abdulwahed Abo Ras, the Minister for Foreign Affairs, in the Sana’a based governing authorities of the Supreme Political Council. The interview was conducted by Stephen Bell, an activist in the anti-imperialist and anti-war movement in Britain. In was conducted by Zoom, through simultaneous translation between Arabic and English, on Tuesday 21st April, 2026.
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Question: U.S. imperialism has clearly lost the initial military campaign against Iran, having failed to secure regime change. It appears that the US will have to escalate, or accept a settlement that is unsatisfactory from its point of view?
Yes, indeed, through following the first round that took place in the 12 day war and the round which stopped in the past few days, which lasted for 40 days, the indicator is very strong that there will be another third round of war. There is a large military buildup in the region. The aircraft carrier has now arrived in the region, whether it is in the north of the Red Sea or another coming via the Cape of Good Hope. All of these are indicators. There is also the arrival of forces from the US, in addition to the continuation of the blockage or imposition of a blockade on Iranian ports, means an attempt to impose an agenda and to impose an American project in the region.
All indicators confirm that war is coming.
The war may be more comprehensive that before in terms of its impact on the Gulf States. The Gulf States are the ones who made their countries and their location a launching pad for this aggression against the Islamic Republic.
In Iran, at the same time, it turned into a defender or in a state of protection for these bases that were subjected to Iranian attacks. There was also funding in the past period. We all saw and heard during the last few months and the last year about the large amount of funding that the Gulf States were providing to the criminal Trump. There are trillions that were paid. It is certain that they were paid in this direction in terms of the impact on Yemen.
Question: Yemen has been subjected to a war and siege since 2015. The forms of this aggression appear to be constantly changing?
The aggression against Yemen continues, starting with the aggression launched by the Saudi regime, announced from the American capital Washington and continuing with rounds of attacks that resulted in American and British targeting, and then American and Israeli targeting1. This targeting continued until the aggression against Gaza stopped. Yemen is part of the targeting in a continuous manner in multiple forms. The siege continues and the economic pressure on the livelihood of the Yemeni people continues.
A Zionist project is attempting to impose itself on the region through the Americans, the Israelis and their various proxies, both regionally and internationally. There is an attempt to usurp the will of the people, to eliminate liberation movements, and resistance movements in the region and to impose the ‘Greater Israel project through what is termed ‘changing the Middle East’. We have witnessed many such activities in recent times including expansion into Syrian territory.
The current control extends to Lebanese territory up to the Litani River, as well as control over more than half of Gaza. There is also an attempt to establish pro-Zionist entities in the region, seen in Somaliland (The Federal Republic of Somalia), Sudan and even in Southern Yemen recently. This demonstrates the extent of the Zionist drive to control the region. Iran represents a major obstacle to this project.
The axis of resistance in general, and we see the reality of this bleak and grim picture. But we see a great glimmer of hope through this movement through co-operation and solidarity among the parties of the countries of the axis of Jihad and resistance which imposed a new reality and imposed its conditions on the table in the negotiations that took place recently in Pakistan. And the possibility that if there are any negotiations that may begin today or tomorrow or in the coming days, the conditions are still the same conditions. This is the reality of the conflict that is taking place between the Zionist project and the project of the people of the region.
Question: This year, we have seen the long crisis in areas controlled by Saudi coalition in Yemen come to a head. The conflict between Saudi and UAE ended in favour of the Saudis.2 Has the UAE withdrawn completely from Yemen, including from Socotra and other islands where it was collaborating with Israel?
Firstly starting from the point where the criminal Trump failed to harm the Iranian regime in fact this is a clear matter, there is a clear explicit and declared failure, and a clear admission from some members of the Republican Party, let alone the Democrats and others, in terms of Yemen’s support for Iran and Gaza, Yemen takes a principled stance on this side, firstly with the people of Gaza, Yemen’s position regarding the victory of Gaza.
The actions of Ansarallah and the Yemeni Armed Forces in the Red Sea to end the genocide against the people of Gaza is a principled and irrevocable position. Yemen’s position is also declared with the Islamic Republic, from declaring solidarity to participating in military action gradually, in light of the crises in some of the occupied governorates. There is a conflict of American projects that gave space to regional mercenaries represented by the Saudi and Emirati regimes. These projects clashed in an attempt to serve the Zionist agendas.
The most favoured of the Americans in Yemen was the Saudi regime, which was the most capable of providing the Americans with a lot, whether in terms of financial funding or even in terms of the connection of these mercenaries to the Saudi regime. Also, the Saudi empowerment came as part of rearranging the American cards in the region and Trump needs the Saudi at this stage more than he needs the Emirati. The Emirati moves according to a direct Israeli agenda. The Emirates have withdrawn formally from the geography, but it still has a presence. This presence is represented by many mercenary elements, which engage in clashes with the other side loyal to the Saudi regime.
Also UAE has a presence on the islands through its cooperation with the Israeli enemy on the Yemeni islands, including Socotra, including the island of Mayyon, and some other islands.
Regarding the situation in Socotra, as we explained, the Saudi regime controls the general scene in terms of appearances but the Emirati side is deeply entrenched in intelligence for the benefit of the Israelis. The Emiratis do not have a project in Yemen or in any other country in the region. The Emirati regime carry the Israeli project in the region. The Israeli presence is certain and there have been many occasions that have spoken about this. This presence is true. Although it has disappeared, in the past period it appeared to the world clearly and explicitly.
Now in the light of the changes that have occurred in the region, it has been forced to disappear somewhat and hide behind its mercenaries, whether in the land of Somalia or in Yemen.
Question: The resolution of the Saudi-UAE conflict appears to have empowered the Islah party and the Riyadh government. Is the situation stable now?
Firstly, we see that what is happening in the occupied southern governorates, in the Eastern Governate, is an occupation and external project that has no connection to the interior or the Yemeni people. What appears on the surface is that these projects are being implemented by experts within the American arrangements in the region. The US needs the Saudi side greatly at this stage in the region, and therefore it has given the UAE the largest space to threaten Ansarallah.
Within any other arrangements, if the American sees that it is in the interests of the UAE to have a greater presence, the Transitional Council will return to the forefront again in these areas. The issue is simply an exchange of roles within the space that the American allows for his regional mercenary parties. The Yemeni people, in reality in general, have no connection to all that is happening.
It is true that there are that has been an injustice done to the people in the South throughout the past stages. This injustice has been formed among many people. These mercenaries linked to foreign powers came to ride this wave and take advantage of this state of celebration and exploit it to the implementation of this agenda. Therefore, there is no victor or vanquished party among them. This is a role reversal as we saw. The Transitional Council controlled all the governorates in those areas within 72 hours, and then it faded away in approximately 72 hours. The Transitional Council faded away based on directives. The strikes were minor here or there and its components are collapsing under such blows as these. This is something strange, it hasn’t happened anywhere else. Rather, there are interventions and control over the situation from abroad. As we said within the framework of shaping the scene in the region, Yemen has a very significant presence in the regional battle.
The Israelis reach the Red Sea, the Arabian Sea, the Indian Ocean and the Gulf of Aden. However, the Americans have a different interpretation. The Americans initially aimed to target the regime in Iran, but both the Israelis and the Americans failed to topple it.
What is happening in Yemen in occupied provinces is merely a role reversal among the mercenary groups who are not fully aware of their actions3. They are moving without awareness. Some of them might believe they have a legitimate project. For example, the Southern Transitional Council announced its separation project, while the Saudi intervention was based on the premise that it was against secession, and when it formally removed the UAE from the scene, it directed these parties to Riyadh to hold the same conference under the banner of secession and under its name.
In summary, what we are saying confirms that the Saudi regime bears full responsibility for what is happening in Yemen. The Saudi regime is the one that declared war on Yemen and declared this war through its foreign minister from Washington. It is the one that summoned the other parties. It is the one that summoned the Emirati side and summoned many countries, and it also summoned the Sudanese regime at the time and it summoned some criminal security companies with a criminal record including Blackwater. So, the Saudi regime is the one that bears full responsibility. It is the one that brought these people into the country, and it is the one that bears the responsibility for removing them.
Question: Negotiations between Ansarallah and the Saudi coalition led to the drawing up of a UN mediated “Road Map” towards a political settlement in Yemen. How does this now stand?
In the past, there were extensive discussions and negotiations, under UN auspices and with Omani participation. An agreement was reached on almost all details, and only the signatures of the two main parties in this ongoing conflict on the ground remained. The Yemeni side is represented in Sana’a and the Saudi side is represented in Riyadh. The Saudi side refused to sign the road map after it had been agreed upon until the visit of the so-called Saudi ambassador to Sana’a. The visit of the so-called Saudi ambassador to Sana’a came within this context as part of the preparations for the signing of the road map.
However, two things happened, and it must be clarified here. First the Saudi side tried to transform itself from an adversary into a mediator. This is illogical and unacceptable, as it was the Saudi side that launched this war, declared it, mobilised and gathered others and continues to this day to impose a blockade and to maintain that the matter is still in its hands. It is the Saudi side that continues to this day. This means imposing its conditions or exerting control over many of the occupied governorates. What happened in the southern governorates is clear evidence of this.
Secondly, on the other hand it coincided with the events in Gaza, the aggression against the Palestinian people, and the campaigns of genocide that took place there. Yemen’s participation in stopping these crimes meant that the American side also pressured the Saudi side not to proceed with the road map, attempting to derail the peace process is part of this effort. The pressure on the Yemeni people is intended to leave the Palestinian people standing alone.
Question: There has been tension between Ansarallah and the actions of some NGOs, including UN agencies, inside Yemen. Have these been resolved?
Regarding humanitarian organizations operating in Yemen, we have previously clarified in many statements and declarations, as well as in letters to the United Nations, its envoy, and other representatives of humanitarian organisations, including the World Food Programme and UNICEF, that we are fully prepared to provide a safe and operational environment for humanitarian work.
However, what happened recently was a major criminal act, unprecedented in modern times. The targeting of an entire government in Sana’a, resulting in the martyrdom of the Prime Minister and half the cabinet, and the remaining members wounded, along with numerous other crimes committed within the humanitarian sector, is deeply troubling4.
The World Food Programme, as the governing body in Yemen, oversaw the targeting of the government. We clarified to them that we were fully prepared to rectify this situation and that humanitarian work must remain separate from political activity and intelligence operations. Communication on this matter was ongoing. We discussed this issue a few days ago, but we observed that aid is being used as a tool to blackmail Yemen into abandoning its principal stances whether regarding Its support for the Palestinian cause or its general position within the axis of resistance.
We have no problem with this, On the contrary, we believe that the United Nations and humanitarian organisations are obligated to play an active and positive role in alleviating the suffering of the Yemeni people, which has resulted from ongoing aggression and blockade since 2015.
Furthermore, we recently drafted a set of regulations governing the work of these organisations. It closes these gaps through which espionage and sabotage activities are carried out, but we note that the United Nations is still standing still and trying to comply with American pressures and use humanitarian aid for blackmail, nothing more and nothing less even though we aspire for them to take action on this side.
Question: Exchanges of prisoners between the coalition and Ansarallah have been negotiated in the past. Recently, an anticipated exchange failed, why is this?
Firstly, the prisoner exchange is noteworthy, as there is interest from the Saudi side in closing the file of the prisoners we have. In return, we are committed to closing this file in general, all for all. However, the problem lies with the other side. The other side consists of many parties meaning an agreement is reached with one of these parties, and the other party disagrees. There is more than one party, there is a party that represents Marib, a party that represents Aden, a party that represents Mocha, and there is also someone who represents the Saudi side.
The Saudi side must achieve an understanding between many parties, while we are only one party. The problem lies here is that the other side has many parties that have no relation to the subject. I mean, what is happening now in terms of war in the region and aggression against the Islamic Republic of Iran has no relation because the Saudi side is keen to complete this deal to obtain the family. The problem is only in the multiplicity of parties on the other side, and each party comes with conditions that differ from the conditions of the other party. Within the party the mercenaries affiliated with the Saudi side, from our side, we must be prepared, we must be ready whether there is an agreement. Although we would prefer a comprehensive all for all agreement and to close this file.
Question: Is there a message that you have not so far been able to convey?
Firstly, we were pleased with this meeting and we are happy with this communication. Secondly, we want to convey messages, whether at the official level or at the popular level in Europe. The battle is currently taking place in our region is not Europe’s battle. This is what we want everyone to understand. The battle is the battle of Zionism, represented by the current regime in America, headed by the criminal Trump, as well as in Israel, headed by the criminal Netanyahu. These are the ones who graduated from Jeffrey Epstein school. We want the European parties to understand.
Even from the official European side, there is an awareness of the reality of this battle. The region has been targeted and completely targeted and killed. The noose is being tightened and the economic blockade is being intensified to a very great extent. The state of resentment among the people of the region is rising more and more and is becoming more deeply rooted in the general consciousness of the peoples of the region to a very great extent. The state of loyalty that exists to some regimes in the region, whether to the Americans or others, is nothing but a momentary phenomenon or a certain period of time that will not last.
Those who are dying from it are beginning to understand the true nature of this battle. Even within American Society, there is a re-examination and a re-evaluation of the reality of this war. This is what we want from you, given your position and your relationships: to convey a clear message from us, the peoples and governments of this region that Europe has no connection to this war and that Europe must not be dragged into this.
Question: And is there a final message for the international anti-war movement?
This is a humanitarian, historical and honourable stance, and we and you are partners in these stances. The issue of awareness is very important. We and you all, especially you within European societies, must work to raise the level of awareness among the people regarding this battle and the reality of the crimes committed against the people of the region. The people of the region are not enemies of anyone, and it was not, nor does it carry within any of its projects any hostile intention towards anyone. Therefore, we thank you for these efforts and appreciate your generosity.
In the future, we will work together to open channels of communication and cooperation in joint projects, God willing, within the framework of this revolutionary humanitarian liberation project in every sense of the word. We were very pleased and welcomed, and we are honoured by this meeting.
Notes:
1)Between 2015 and 2022 the Saudi led coalition conducted a bombing campaign against the resistance forces and supported proxy intermediaries on the ground in Yemen. Saudi Arabia recognized its defeat and called a truce with Ansarallah (correct title for “The Houthis”) in 2022. The truce has largely held.
2) Saudi Arabia primarily supported the Al Islah forces in Yemen, which favoured a unitary Yemeni state. The UAE primarily supported the Southern Transitional Council which seeks a separate state in the south of Yemen. The conflict has included several rounds of fighting, despite the local forces both being part of the “Internationally Recognised Government” (IRG) and “Presidential Leadership Council”.
3) The Southern Transitional Council took control over large parts of the south of Yemen in December 2025 to January 2026. It announced an intended secession. IRG forces, with direct air strikes and logistical support from Saudi Arabia, launched a counter offensive which overturned the Council’s gains.
4) On August 28th 2025, Israeli war planes struck Sana’a killing Prime Minister Ahmed al-Rahwi and several ministers in the Government. Members of NGOs including UN staff were arrested afterwards.