Yemen's Houthis pledge solidarity and support for Lebanon if Israel invades
By richardbrown // 2024-08-01
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The Houthis of Yemen have pledged their solidarity with Lebanon and Hezbollah in the face of a possible Israeli invasion. On July 29, Mohammed Abdulsalam, a spokesman for the Ansarallah Movement – the formal name of the Houthi movement – and the head of the rebel movement's delegation to the United Nations, affirmed Yemen's position against Israeli actions in a statement to media during a visit to Tehran. Abdulsalam was in Iran for the inauguration of the country's new president, the reformist Masoud Pezeshkian, and to discuss regional tensions and how to work toward peace. "Our stance is unequivocal against any Israeli aggression towards Palestine, Yemen and Lebanon," Abdulsalam said. "We stand with Lebanon in its defense against any Israeli actions." He described Israel as an occupier of Palestinian, Syrian and Lebanese lands, portraying it as the aggressor in the region. During a call with French President Emmanuel Macron, Pezeshkian warned of severe consequences for Israel if it escalates its actions against Lebanon. The statements come amid heightened Israeli threats following rocket strikes in the occupied Golan Heights town of Majdal Shams, which resulted in the deaths of 12 children. Israel has blamed Hezbollah for the attack, though eyewitnesses and reports suggest that the casualties were caused by an Israeli Iron Dome interceptor missile. Israel has also classified the victims as Israeli civilians despite their being Syrian residents of the occupied Golan Heights, where the majority of the population has refused Israeli citizenship since the area was occupied in 1967. Israeli officials told media that a response plan is being developed, aimed at avoiding a broader regional conflict. (Related: Israel's "long arm" can reach its aggressors anywhere, Netanyahu warns, following massive air raid against Yemen that left 6 dead.) "The expectation is that the response will not escalate into an all-out war," an Israeli official said. Meanwhile, other officials noted that the Israel Defense Forces are preparing for potential short-term conflict with Hezbollah. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, visiting Majdal Shams on July 29, was met with anger from local residents, who accused him of war crimes. His defense minister, Bezalel Smotrich, faced similar protests while attending the funeral for the victims a day earlier. A Hezbollah official stated on Al Jazeera that the group will determine the nature and scale of its response to any Israeli aggression. Although Hezbollah does not anticipate a ground invasion, it is reportedly prepared to retaliate if necessary.

Houthis vow to aid Iranian retaliation against Israeli assassination of Hamas leader

The Houthis have also pledged to support Tehran in an anticipated Iranian reprisal attack on Israel following the assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh. Tehran reported that Haniyeh was assassinated on Wednesday, July 31, after he attended Pezeshkian's inauguration ceremony. Iran is providing very limited information regarding the assassination, including how Haniyeh died. Israel has yet to claim responsibility for Haniyeh's assassination. "Iran, us and the rest of the Axis of Resistance will all respond with deadly force," said Hamed Asem, deputy governor of Houthi-controlled Sana'a Province, during an interview. This message of support was followed up by social media posts from Houthi leader Mohammed Al-Houthi, who condemned Haniyeh's killing as "a heinous terrorist crime and a flagrant violation of laws and ideal values." Watch this short clip of Israel's strike on an oil refinery in the Houthi-held port city of Hodeidah in Yemen. This video is from the Cynthia's Pursuit of Truth channel on Brighteon.com.

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