A massive demonstration took place in Yemen, drawing a crowd of one million in solidarity with Gaza and Lebanon

On Friday, residents across Yemen, including in the capital Sana’a and the provinces of Sa’ada, Ta’izz, Ibb, al-Bayda, and Hajjah, staged demonstrations as they mobilized in significant numbers.

Protesters, displaying the flags of Yemen, Palestine, and Lebanon, reaffirmed their support for the residents of Gaza and individuals in Lebanon, emphasizing regional solidarity.

Protesters raised their voices with chants including, “Oh Gaza (Oh Lebanon), we stand with you. You are not alone,” and affirmed their resolve with declarations like, “By the blood of the martyrs, we vow not to fear the deceit of our adversaries.”

Critics have denounced the United States’ support for Israel, while commending the Yemeni counteractions directed at both Israel and the US.

The organizers of the protest released a statement lauding the “courageous and historic” actions taken by Abdul-Malik al-Houthi, the leader of Yemen’s Ansarullah resistance movement. Al-Houthi’s decision to launch an operation targeting an American aircraft carrier and several US warships in the Red Sea and Arabian Sea successfully prevented a purported US attack on Yemen, according to the statement.

The statement issued a strong condemnation of the Israeli military operations in Gaza, which have received support from Western countries, and highlighted the extension of these hostilities into the occupied West Bank and Lebanon.

Yemenis have been frequently organizing large-scale protests throughout the nation, voicing their condemnation of Israeli actions in Gaza and Lebanon. These demonstrations also serve to reaffirm their backing for Yemen’s countermeasures.

Since the beginning of Israel’s military offensive in the Gaza Strip in October 2023, Yemeni forces have conducted numerous operations in support of the affected people in Gaza. These actions have included strikes on various targets within the occupied Palestinian territories and have also involved targeting Israeli ships or vessels en route to ports in the occupied regions.

On October 7, 2023, Israel initiated a military offensive on the Gaza Strip in reaction to the unexpectedly launched Operation Al-Aqsa Storm by the Palestinian group Hamas. This operation was purportedly a response to what is described as the long-standing campaign of violence and destruction by Israel against the Palestinian population.

The ongoing military offensive on Gaza by the regime has resulted in the deaths of at least 43,736 Palestinians, with a significant number of the deceased being women and children. Additionally, thousands remain unaccounted for and are feared to be buried beneath debris.

Since October 2023, Israel has expanded its military operations to include Lebanon, coinciding with its aggressive campaign in Gaza. In recent weeks, particularly from late September, Israeli strikes on Lebanon have intensified, resulting in significant casualties and the deaths of hundreds.