[News] What the West needs to know about Yemen's Ansar Allah

[Anti-Imperialist News]

english.almayadeen.net
<https://english.almayadeen.net/news/politics/what-the-west-needs-to-know-about-yemen-s-ansar-allah>
What the West needs to know about Yemen's Ansar Allah
Rasha Reslan
February 8, 2023
------------------------------

The West's failure to recognize Ansar Allah as a revolutionary movement may
escalate the risk of a full-blown war, with the West paying a high price,
ultimately leading to its defeat in West Asia.
[image: 0b963558-af6b-4321-9007-553e3fd0d422.jpg]

   - Sayyed Hussein Badr al-Din al-Houthi planted the foundations for the
   Ansar Allah movement in Yemen in 2004. (Al Mayadeen English; Illustrated by
   Arwa Makki)

The Ansar Allah movement has lately attracted international attention by boldly
defying major world powers
<https://english.almayadeen.net/news/politics/yemeni-missile-strikes-us-container-ship-near-yemen-coast>,
particularly the United States, through their military actions to support
Palestine amid the ongoing Israeli genocide in Gaza
<https://english.almayadeen.net/news/politics/day-121-in-gaza--27-365-palestinians-martyred--66-630-others>
.

This decision comes at a time when even larger Arab nations refrain from
such interventions, despite Yemen itself enduring a decade of US-backed
Saudi-led aggression
<https://english.almayadeen.net/news/politics/everything-is-destroyed:-remembering-saudi-uae-massacres-in>
and grappling with a severe humanitarian crisis due to a yearslong land,
sea, and air blockade. In an attempt to thwart Yemen's efforts and hinder
Sanaa from enforcing its solidarity with Gaza, Washington and the UK
launched a series of attacks on the country in recent weeks, with a
plethora of media outlets shining their spotlights on the Ansar Allah, whom
they call "Houthis", hosting Orientalist pundits attempting to 'crack their
puzzle'.

The US, UK, and "Israel" persistently describe Ansar Allah as an Iranian
proxy, disregarding the movement's autonomy and independence. This
misunderstanding of this revolutionary movement may escalate the risk of a
full-blown war in the region, with the West paying a high price, ultimately
leading to its defeat in West Asia.

So who are the Ansar Allah exactly, and what are they fighting for?
Who are the 'Houthis'?

The term "Houthis" refers to an indigenous tribal group in Yemen that
originates from the Arab Hamdani tribe residing in northern Yemen, and is a
subdivision of the larger Banu Hamdan tribe. Their main settlements are
concentrated in the regions of 'Amran and Saada.

Since the early 2000s, and after the group began explicitly voicing its
anti-imperialist ideology, Western countries and think tanks, trying to
demoralize them and alienate them from their population, labeled them as
"Iranian proxies" and "terrorists" who should be eradicated.

However, it is essential to recognize that the "Houthis" trace their roots
back to the eighth century to the arrival of Zayd ibn Ali ibn Hussein in
Yemen.

Zayd ibn Ali (695–740) was the son of Ali ibn al-Hussain Zain al-Abidin and
the grandson of Imam Hussain ibn Ali ibn Abi Talib. He initiated a
revolution against the Umayyad caliphate, leading to his martyrdom. Zayd
ibn Ali's revolution was meant to oppose injustice like his grandfather
Imam Hussein, who was martyred at Karbala in southern Iraq on 10 Muharram
61 AH (680 CE) by the army of Yazid Ibn Muawiya, the Umayyad ruler at the
time.

Zayd ibn Ali is recognized as a significant religious figure not only among
Shia Muslims but also by many Sunnis. Notably, Sunni jurist Abu Hanifa
issued a fatwa supporting Zayd against the Umayyads. Zayd remains a pivotal
revolutionary figure, with many Yemenis eventually becoming Zaydis
(believing that Zayd is the true imam after Hussein ibn Ali) and is
universally regarded as a martyr by both Sunni and Shia traditions, one who
planted the seeds of resisting oppression and of solidarity with the
oppressed.

Over the years, the "Houthis" developed their own historical narrative and
political movement known as Ansar Allah, which would grow to surpass the
"Houthi" element. Labeling all members of the tribal confederacy in
northern Yemen as "terrorists" or "Houthis" and advocating for their
indiscriminate elimination overlooks the complexity of their history and
political formation.
Contemporary history

   - [image: Sayyed Hussain Al-Houthi, the founder of the Ansar Allah]
   <https://alpha-en-media.almayadeen.net/archive/image/2024/2/8/85ee3c28-5981-4333-b11f-e42446aa31e4.png?width=1000>
   Sayyed Hussein Al-Houthi, the founder of the Ansar Allah

Sayyed Hussein Badr al-Din al-Houthi laid the foundation for the Ansar
Allah movement in Yemen in 2004. During that period, Sayyed al-Houthi
described the early members of the Ansar Allah movement, before it adopted
this name, as a community of believers guided by the principles of the Holy
Quran. He refrained from associating the movement with specific sectarian
labels, underscoring its Islamic affiliation and Quranic identity as
inclusive principles capable of encompassing all Muslims.

 The Ansar Allah movement stood out in its political aspect by advocating
opposition to American and Israeli meddling in West Asia, especially in
Yemen.

"Sayyed Hussein Badr al-Din al-Houthi, in several lessons given under the
title 'Lessons from the Guidance of the Holy Qur’an,' emphasized the US'
active posturing against our nation", Yemeni diplomat Yasser Mohesn
Almohallil told *Al Mayadeen English*.

"Ansar Allah faced persistent harassment from the authorities during the
rule of Ali Abdullah Saleh. The regime made multiple attempts to pressure
Sayyed Hussein Al-Houthi into changing his well-known slogan."

"Despite these efforts, when the authorities failed to deter him, they
declared war against Sayyed Hussein and his supporters. The initial
confrontation occurred in the Maran area in northern Saada after he [Saleh]
returned from Washington with a shipment of weapons and U.S. trainers," he
further affirmed.

After Sayyed Hussein's martyrdom, the leadership was transferred to his
father and then to his brother Sayyed Abdul-Malik al-Houthi,
<https://english.almayadeen.net/news/politics/yemeni-missiles-push--israel--to-camouflage-red-sea-vessels>
the current leader of Ansar Allah.
How Ansar Allah evolved into a formidable US foe

Ansar Allah, originating from Quranic principles laid down in 2001 by
Sayyed Hussein, faced six wars initiated by Ali Abdallah Saleh's authority,
with the sixth involving Saudi Arabia. At that time, Ansar Allah had
limited resources, armed only with AK rifles, while the government
possessed advanced weaponry, most notably F-16 aircraft, tanks, artillery,
and anti-aircraft weapons, Ansar Allah Resistance fighter Hammam Hassan
said in an exclusive interview with *Al Mayadeen English*.

"The war's cause was attributed to Ansar Allah's 'Death to America, Death
to Israel' slogan, and tensions escalated after a visit by Abdul-Malik to
Saada, prompting Saleh's declaration of war," he further added.

He went on to say that Ansar Allah, initially armed with simple
capabilities, progressed from manufacturing primitive bombs in juice boxes
to homemade landmines, later developing missiles like Zelzal and al-Sarkha,
as per Hassan.

During the war with Saleh, Ansar Allah acquired and developed weapons to
serve Yemen and other free Arab nations, he said.
Regular Yemeni fighters

Regarding the weaponry possessed by the regular Yemeni Resistance fighters,
Ansar Allah Resistance fighter Hammam Hassan detailed to* Al Mayadeen
English* that the fighters are armed, first and foremost, with their strong
faith in God and a commitment to the cause they are fighting for.

"I have deduced a principle from the wars in Yemen, including the war on
Gaza, and that is that when two armies meet – one with powerful weapons and
another with weaker weapons – the one who will win the battle is the one
with a strong cause, even if their equipment is inferior," he said proudly.

Regular Yemeni fighters have access to widely available weapons, such as
the Kalashnikov rifle and machine guns, including anti-aircraft guns. However,
these weapons need to be well-maintained as they are old*,* he explained.

He further stressed that a regular fighter typically carries a simple
machine gun, RPG launcher, or Kalashnikov, but because they are guided by
principles and a strong belief, God grants them victory.

"You've witnessed the Yemeni fighter who, barefoot, climbed an Abrams tank
– a U.S. industry icon – fearlessly captured it, and then set it ablaze
with firewood back in 2016. You might wonder how such an event could
unfold. It's because the Yemeni fighter is driven by a cause, a principle,
strong beliefs, and unwavering conviction, while the enemy lacks any
equivalent," he recalled.

Regarding the Americans' ability to respond to Yemen's attacks, he
sarcastically remarked, "Let them respond. The fighters of Ansar Allah have
over twenty-three years of experience and embody principles, strength, and
determination. They excel in camouflaging and concealing weapons in
warehouses unknown to anyone; even the fighter storing the weapons is
unaware of the precise location or the name of that area. We maintain a
high level of secrecy and confidentiality in such matters."
Ground and air military capabilities

As for the ground and air military capabilities, many advanced weapons
<https://english.almayadeen.net/news/politics/yemeni-armed-forces-unveil-latest-strategic-weapons-in-milit>
have been revealed by the Ansar Allah, particularly on the anniversary of
the September 21 Revolution in 2021 and 2023.

Regarding naval weapons, locally manufactured weapons include remotely
operated explosive-laden boats (Unmanned Surface Vehicles) and lethal naval
mines. These weapons have been also publicly revealed. However, Ansar Allah
also owns undisclosed weapons and missiles that could be deployed from
vessels or the coast, Hassan divulged to *Al Mayadeen English*.

   -
   <https://alpha-en-media.almayadeen.net/archive/image/2024/2/8/64cd4d1e-4cff-467f-b38a-a5926b4b7019.jpeg?width=1000>

"Each party in the war holds cards that should not be revealed until the
right moment. We could have closed the Bab al-Mandab Strait in 2017-2018
when we were besieged by countries worldwide, but with God's grace and the
wisdom of our leader, the decision to close the Red Sea passage was not
taken. If we had utilized the Red Sea option, we wouldn't have had the
current capability to launch even a single shot to support Gaza," he noted.

In the same context, Almohallil contended that Western media is trying to
portray a balance in capabilities between Ansar Allah and the United
States. Despite the US possessing superior capabilities, effectively
countering Yemen's tactics requires a precise military approach, an area
where Washington has so far been unsuccessful, as per Almohallil.

The confrontation over the past nine years of aggression has yielded
substantial benefits
<https://english.almayadeen.net/news/politics/yemen-declares-readiness-to-fight-aggression-on-wars-8th-ann>,
he noted.

"The United States' becoming deeply involved in the coalition led by Saudi
Arabia offered valuable field experience to Ansar Allah. This experience
involved dealing with an extensive, aggressive war where coalition forces
utilized a range of advanced American weapons. Ansar Allah also gained
insight into the strategy behind the aggression devised by Washington,
allowing them to adapt their operations accordingly. This adaptation, in
turn, led to a refinement in the course of operations based on an
understanding of the tactics employed by the aggressors," he added.
'The land fights with us'

The Yemeni terrain poses a formidable challenge for any invader, as it is
widely known to be one of the most rugged and demanding landscapes on the
planet. The topography of Yemen is characterized by steep mountains, deep
valleys, and arid plateaus, creating a complex and difficult environment to
navigate. The terrain's rough nature not only complicates military
operations but also hinders infrastructure development, making it a
significant factor that shapes the strategic considerations of any foreign
force operating in the region.

The Yemeni mountains present extreme challenges, making it difficult for US
missiles or drones to reach their peaks, rendering such attempts futile, as
per Hassan.

During the Saudi-led aggression, Yemen was closely monitored by satellites
and spy drones, to the extent that if there were a stone in a certain area,
a drone would come, capture an image of the stone, and if the stone moved,
the drone would strike the location, he said.

"This illustrates the extent of aerial surveillance in Yemen. However, we
successfully concealed weapons, tanks, and aircraft. We developed
long-range missiles with a reach of up to 200, 300, 500, 700 kilometers,
and even a thousand kilometers. We manufactured, stored, and launched these
missiles—all by the grace of God and the skills of Yemeni resistance
fighters, who possess high capabilities in concealing and camouflaging. The
Americans cannot reach [find] us*," *he further emphasized.
The US VS Ansar Allah

In response to Ansar Allah's operations in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden
in support of Gaza, the United States pursued a dual strategy. Initially,
the US attempted to entice the movement with financial incentives
<https://english.almayadeen.net/news/politics/sources--yemen-barred-from-wfp-aid-over-palestine-support>.
However, when this approach proved unsuccessful, the United States opted
for a more forceful response, resorting to bombing Yemen.

On this issue, a member of the Ansar Allah political bureau, Mohammad
Alfareh, described the American-British aggression on Yemen as "a blatant
and unjustified act that lacks legitimacy."

He further told *Al Mayadeen English* that the aggression is taking place
within the framework of the protection provided by the United States and
Britain to the Israeli enemy, allowing it to continue its killings,
atrocities, and brutal massacres in Gaza.

"In this regard, we urge all media outlets and activists on social media
not to align with the American narrative, which portrays this aggression as
self-defense and protection of global navigation, falsely claiming that it
is a response to the killing of their soldiers. The reality is that America
is an aggressor and an occupier that came from across the oceans to
dominate, plunder, and destroy. The war has been ongoing since 2001 and did
not start with the killing of their three soldiers," he clarified.

Alfareh reaffirmed that Yemen's stance towards Gaza remains unwavering,
regardless of challenges and threats.

"We consider it a humane and ethical position, seeking to achieve peace in
Palestine and security in our Arab region and the world," he said.

We also assert that our people have every right to confront the American
and British aggression that violates our sovereignty and independence. It
is a foreign intrusion in our region. The Muslim nations have the right to
support Gaza, which is witnessing the greatest massacre committed by the
Zionists with American, British, and Western support, he further added.

The official questioned, "Why does the US grant itself the right to commit
crimes and aggression, supporting the Israeli enemy, and then deny our
right to stand by our oppressed brothers, who are championing a just cause
connected to us by religion, blood, language, culture, and nationality,
more than what connects the American to the Zionist?"

On the US' attempt to lure Ansar Allah, Ansar Allah Resistance fighter
Hammam Hassan divulged to *Al Mayadeen English* that the movement had the
option to remain silent about what is happening in Gaza, as it was promised
that employees would receive salaries that had been confiscated in the
years past by the coalition. Salaries have been cut for ten years now, and
Yemeni citizens struggle to make ends meet. However, even the simplest
Yemeni citizens, including those opposing Ansar Allah, if asked whether
they'd prefer to receive ten-years' worth of salaries in exchange for the
movement's silence on the genocide in Gaza, or participate in a
demonstration condemning the genocide, they would say they do not want
salaries, he further stressed.

"Let me die of hunger; I would rather not stay silent about injustice. This
would be the answer. This is the Yemeni people—a proud, stubborn people,"
he affirmed.

"By Allah, even if our bodies are scattered in the air, we would not
abandon Palestine and Gaza."

Hassan went on to say that Yemen has nothing to lose, as essential
infrastructure like schools and hospitals has been decimated due to the
Saudi-led aggression. He asserts that the only thing Yemenis have in their
possession amid all this destruction is their dignity.

In response to US strikes, Hassan reiterated that Ansar Allah is ready to
face the United States directly, expressing weariness from engaging with
the US' proxies since 2002, accusing Ali Abdullah Saleh and Saudi Arabia of
being American puppets.

Ansar Allah underscores its resistance as a matter of pride and honor,
confidently stating that the US will not be able to harm them, he said.

As for the US' ability to achieve its objective
<https://english.almayadeen.net/news/politics/yemen-s-ansar-allah-educates-us-pentagon-militarily--nyt>
to stop Ansar Allah's operations, Yemeni Diplomat Yasser Mohesn Almohallil
commented by saying, "Drawing from this experience and considering the
substantial popular support that has become a significant factor in the
struggle, the United States currently seems to be struggling to develop new
strategies to handle a resilient and self-directed uprising force."

This force has proven its ability to stay steadfast, shift the balance of
the battle in its favor, and adapt military tactics to achieve its goals,
he further added.

"The US has found, among its diverse military options, only futile attempts
in imitating the tactics utilized by Ansar Allah. These attempts appear to
be aimed at creating a perception of parity to restore its strategic
equilibrium,"  Almohallil concluded by saying.

In short, the strength and endurance of Ansar Allah
<https://english.almayadeen.net/news/politics/yemen-s-ansar-allah--us-terror-designation-is--ironically-am>
as a unified movement from its entrenched ideological principles and
strategic goals adheres to an anti-imperialist and anti-Zionist agenda,
centering around the Palestinian cause. Presently, the Resistance movement
is united in its pursuit of two main objectives: compelling "Israel" to
agree to an unconditional ceasefire in Gaza, and ending the blockade on
Gaza.

In the pursuit of these goals, Ansar Allah operates based on its own
political convictions and strategic interests, rather than adhering to
external directives. This autonomy is a key factor in why Yemen is renowned
as the graveyard of its invaders.

*Read more: US-UK aggression against Yemen is an open war: Ansar Allah
<https://english.almayadeen.net/news/politics/us-uk-aggression-against-yemen-is-an-open-war--ansar-allah>*
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