Yemen Monitor / Marib / Exclusive:
Ali Al-Emad, a member of the Houthis’ political bureau, revealed that the movement is now in a “state of declared war,” affirming that the group’s forces are ready to engage in a comprehensive regional confrontation in coordination with the “Axis of Resistance,” while awaiting instructions from the higher leadership to determine the time and place of direct engagement.
In press statements to the website The Cradle, reviewed by Yemen Monitor, Al-Emad explained that the decision regarding Yemen’s field escalation is governed by battlefield conditions and the leadership’s assessments within the movement.
He noted that Abdul-Malik al-Houthi had announced full readiness from the very first day, considering that Yemen’s move comes within a “unified collective path” that brings together the parties of the axis.
Al-Emad stressed that coordination with Iran and resistance forces in the region is a “religious and national duty,” describing Iran as representing the first line of confrontation against projects targeting the region, whether the “Greater Israel” project or plans for a “New Middle East.”
He added: “The path is one, and coordination exists within a unified front, and the Yemeni decision is strongly present as part of a broader vision for the nation.”
Responding to speculation about the positions of neighboring countries and claims that the Houthis are tied to Gulf pressure, Al-Emad strongly denied any communication or offers from Gulf regimes to link Yemen’s position to their decisions, affirming the independence of the Yemeni military decision, which he said is connected to the axis’s strategy.
Regarding the nature of the Houthis’ anticipated participation, Al-Emad indicated that the adopted military strategy is based on “clear escalation phases.” He added: “When the enemy crosses certain red lines, we move to a new phase,” noting that this approach proved effective during the “support front” that he said was established to back the Gaza Strip, and that the same method will be applied in the current confrontation.
On Wednesday, a Hebrew newspaper said that the Israeli army expects a surprise attack from the Houthis and that its forces are preparing to respond.
In his first speech following the U.S. and Israeli airstrikes on Iran on Saturday, the movement’s leader Abdul-Malik al-Houthi adopted an unusually calm tone, avoiding the fiery rhetoric that typically characterizes his speeches. While he expressed strong support for Tehran, he did not explicitly pledge military support.
After Ali Khamenei’s assassination was announced by Iran, al-Houthi delivered another relatively short speech—shorter than his usual lengthy addresses—offering condolences to the Iranian people. Once again, he refrained from pledging military action.
