Mourners gathered at public funerals in Sanaa remain steadfast in their stance on Israel’s war on Gaza. According to the Yemeni rebel group’s official media, seventeen Houthi fighters have been killed in attacks conducted by the United States and Britain. This comes following public funerals held in the capital Sanaa.
“The bodies of a number of martyrs of the nation and the armed and security forces who were martyred as a result of the bombing of the American-British aggression were carried through Sanaa today in a solemn funeral procession,” a Houthi official media said on Saturday, listing their names.
The US and United Kingdom have been targeting Houthi positions in Yemen since mid-January, in an effort to compel them to halt their attacks on ships in the Red Sea. The Iran-backed rebels, who control much of war-torn Yemen including the port of Hodeidah, have been targeting what they claim are vessels associated with Israel in response to the conflict in Gaza.
The US stated on Thursday that its military had carried out several strikes against missile launchers as Houthi fighters prepared to launch them against commercial shipping and US warships in the Red Sea.
Large numbers of supporters gathered at Sanaa’s Al-Shaab mosque, formerly Al-Saleh mosque, on Saturday for the funerals of the Houthis killed in the attacks.
One of the mourners, Abu Moataz Ghalib, stated to the AFP news agency that he and others present remained unwavering in their position on the war in Gaza.
On Wednesday, the Houthis’ news agency reported that the US and UK had targeted locations in Hodeidah province. The Houthis claimed they had targeted US and British ships in two Red Sea attacks on Tuesday, causing minor damage but no casualties.
These Red Sea attacks have resulted in increased insurance premiums for shipping companies, prompting many to avoid the vital route that typically handles about 12 percent of global maritime trade.
Steve Fagin, the US ambassador to Yemen, said on X via the US Embassy’s account on Friday that the US will designate the Houthis as a terrorist group at the end of next week if the group does not cease its attacks on ships in the Red Sea. The US initially announced this move in January, giving the Houthis 30 days to halt the attacks before it went into effect. White House National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan stated at the time, “In response to these continuing threats and attacks, the United States announced the designation of Ansarallah, also known as the Houthis, as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist.”
