IQNA – Mohammed Abdulsalam, spokesperson for Ansarallah and head of the Yemeni negotiating delegation, welcomed the call by the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar to end regional conflicts, while shedding light on the dimensions of the Saudi aggression.
This comes as the Egyptian government has recently discussed the possibility of deploying troops to Saudi Arabia to provide military support in the ongoing aggression on Yemen. On Sunday, Egypt’s Al-Azhar—a prominent religious institution—issued a statement calling for the formation of a committee comprising representatives, scholars, intellectuals, and well-intentioned figures from across the Islamic and Arab world. The proposed committee would aim to mediate the resolution of disputes and crises, extinguish the flames of existing conflicts, bridge differing perspectives, reconcile members of the same faith and the unified Ummah, and prevent further bloodshed.
Sheikh Ahmed Al-Tayeb, the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, emphasized his full readiness to dedicate every effort to supporting the work of this noble committee. He expressed confidence that all parties possess the necessary wisdom and capacity to overcome their differences, move past the past, prevent the shedding of blood, and safeguard innocent lives.
In response to this initiative, Mohammed Abdulsalam stated on Wednesday, “We welcome Al-Azhar’s responsible and wise call to put an end to the wars in the region.”
Addressing the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, Abdulsalam said the current situation between Yemen and Saudi Arabia is one of the most volatile crises today. “We wish to clarify for you the realities of the Saudi aggression against the Yemeni people, which has persisted since 2015. The people of Yemen have never posed a threat to any neighboring country, including Saudi Arabia, nor have they ever initiated a war against it.”
He added, “Before the Saudi-led coalition launched its aggression against Yemen in 2015, we—the Yemenis—were grappling with certain political disagreements and internal tensions. In 2015, I was tasked by Sayid Abdul-Malik Badreddin al-Houthi, the leader of the Yemeni Revolution, to convey a reassuring message to Saudi Arabia. I explained the nature of the events unfolding in Yemen to the Saudis, aiming to ensure they would not perceive the Yemeni Revolution as a challenge or a threat to themselves. We also expressed our readiness to resolve any political disputes through dialogue and mutual understanding. This was the essence of the message from the leader of the Yemeni Revolution to Saudi Arabia during the reign of King Abdullah.”
Abdulsalam stated that following the passing of King Abdullah, “I was asked to return to Yemen, with the hope that relations between Yemen and Saudi Arabia could be restored. However, what transpired was that King Salman ascended to the Saudi throne with a plan for war, rather than a plan for peace”
He noted that consequently, a devastating war was launched against Yemen without any justification, when the new Saudi regime—on March 26, 2015—caught the Yemeni people and the entire region off guard with a series of airstrikes.
The Ansarallah spokesperson said the initial Saudi airstrikes targeted Sana’a International Airport and a nearby residential area under the cover of night, while the people were asleep. “Then, the world awoke to what was termed ‘Operation Decisive Storm’.”
Abdulsalam said this war against Yemen was launched as a treacherous and blatant act of aggression—announced from Washington without any justification—based on the assumption that Saudi Arabia could achieve its objectives, with its air power and American support serving as the decisive factors.
The head of the Yemeni negotiating delegation continued, “Through this aggression, Saudi Arabia has escalated the situation and fanned the flames of a conflict that has now spread on a much larger scale—all due to this reckless and irresponsible gamble. Instead of taking the initiative, Saudi Arabia resorted to aggression in Yemen.”
The Yemeni official emphasized that given the principles of Islam, Arab identity, and good neighborliness, the situation in Yemen did not require a foreign war; rather, the Arabs should have taken the initiative to resolve this conflict.
“Saudi Arabia ought to have responded positively to the reassuring message I personally conveyed, and should have taken the lead in seeking a peaceful resolution—without taking sides against any party.”
Addressing the Sheikh of Al-Azhar, he added, “From your position of responsibility, you are surely aware that any intervention to resolve a conflict between brothers must begin with dialogue, not war. If reconciliation cannot be achieved, it must be determined which side is the aggressor—and that party must be confronted until it returns to the right path.”
Abdulsalam emphasized that what has been clarified serves as an essential starting point for understanding the current situation—which is a continuation of the previous state of affairs—and is therefore of paramount importance. “Through its military intervention in Yemen, Saudi Arabia has further fueled the conflict; it continues this course of action by committing documented massacres and atrocities, in addition to imposing a suffocating blockade.”
The Yemeni official further stated that the Saudi aggression has resulted in shedding the blood of tens of thousands of innocent Yemenis, while those who managed to survive the bombardment by Saudi warplanes have instead fallen victim to the blockade.”
He stressed that Saudi Arabia’s military intervention has neither achieved the country’s illegitimate objectives nor absolved it of the consequences of an aggression that it continues to persist in.
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