ADEN – Yemen’s Presidential Leadership Council Chairman Rashad Al-Alimi has called on the Yemeni public to support government forces in efforts to restore state institutions and end what he described as the Houthi movement’s control over northern and northwestern parts of the country.
Al-Alimi, who is backed by Saudi Arabia and leads the internationally recognized government’s top political body, said national unity and support for state forces were essential to rebuilding Yemen’s institutions and restoring government authority.
According to Al Jazeera, Al-Alimi accused the Iran-aligned Houthi movement of carrying out a “coup” against Yemen’s legitimate institutions after seizing the capital Sanaa in 2014 and expanding control over large areas of the north.
He urged Yemenis to stand with the country’s armed forces and security institutions, arguing that strengthening state authority was the only path toward stability and the restoration of public services.
The statement comes as Yemen remains divided between the Saudi-backed government, which operates mainly from the south, and the Houthis, who control Sanaa and much of the northern highlands.
The conflict, which began more than a decade ago, has created one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises, with millions of Yemenis affected by displacement, food insecurity, and the collapse of essential services.
Regional tensions have also increased following Houthi attacks on commercial shipping in the Red Sea, which the group says are linked to the Gaza war. The attacks have triggered international military responses and raised concerns over the security of one of the world’s busiest maritime routes.
Al-Alimi said restoring Yemen’s sovereignty and state institutions requires continued support for government forces and a unified national effort to confront what he called the “Houthi coup.”
