Yemenis Mark Sept.26 Revolution, Reiterate Rejection of Houthi Agenda

Pro-government troops parade to mark the 55th anniversary of the September 1962 revolution in the war-torn southwestern city of Taiz, Anees Mahyoub / Reuters
Pro-government troops parade to mark the 55th anniversary of the September 1962 revolution in the war-torn southwestern city of Taiz, Anees Mahyoub / Reuters
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Yemenis Mark Sept.26 Revolution, Reiterate Rejection of Houthi Agenda

Pro-government troops parade to mark the 55th anniversary of the September 1962 revolution in the war-torn southwestern city of Taiz, Anees Mahyoub / Reuters
Pro-government troops parade to mark the 55th anniversary of the September 1962 revolution in the war-torn southwestern city of Taiz, Anees Mahyoub / Reuters

Millions of Yemenis, marking the 58th anniversary of the September 26 Revolution, voiced their rejection of the Houthi-staged coup by celebrating the event that marks the overthrow of the unjust and oppressive Imamate regime in 1962.

Before September 26, 1962, the northern part of Yemen was ruled by the reactionary imamate regime-- a theological system that limited the right to rule to self-proclaimed descendants of Prophet Mohammed.

The Iran-backed Houthi militia seeks to restore that system in Yemen.

Yemeni President Abdrabbuh Mansur Hadi, speaking on the occasion, said ending the Houthi militia’s coup was the main requirement to bring back peace and order in the country.

Hadi confirmed that it was up to the army and pro-government forces composed of popular resistance units and tribesmen to restore power to state institutions after the government had exhausted all efforts towards peace.

In a speech addressing all Yemenis, Hadi said that Yemen has been transformed into a “powder keg” controlled by Houthi coupists serving an Iranian agenda.

He called on the international community to shoulder its responsibility and pressure Houthis into ending the war they waged against the country.

“Following several hard-hitting years of the militia’s destruction it is very clear that our peoples have no other option but to remove the coup and restore the state that can ensure the interests of the people and bring security to everybody, this is imperative,” Hadi said.

Hadi also praised national revolutionists who stood up in the face of the oppressive monarchs and sacrificed a great deal to establish the republic during the September 26 Revolution.

The Yemeni president also accused Houthis of seeking only devastation and war, blaming them for the war-torn country’s economic woes and humanitarian crisis.

“We extended our hands for peace… extended significant concessions, in the hope of maintaining our country which has been exhausted by the war and disasters, we’ve continued to extend our hands for peace, but everyone knows the obstacles and the militia’s insistence on the war,” he said.



Series of Israeli Airstrikes Hit Central Beirut, At Least 11 Dead

Rescue workers and people search for victims at the site of an Israeli airstrike that hit central Beirut, Lebanon, Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024. (AP Photo/Hassan Ammar)
Rescue workers and people search for victims at the site of an Israeli airstrike that hit central Beirut, Lebanon, Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024. (AP Photo/Hassan Ammar)
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Series of Israeli Airstrikes Hit Central Beirut, At Least 11 Dead

Rescue workers and people search for victims at the site of an Israeli airstrike that hit central Beirut, Lebanon, Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024. (AP Photo/Hassan Ammar)
Rescue workers and people search for victims at the site of an Israeli airstrike that hit central Beirut, Lebanon, Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024. (AP Photo/Hassan Ammar)

Powerful Israeli airstrikes targeted central Beirut on Saturday, resulting in a large number of fatalities and injuries and destroying an eight-story building, Lebanon's National News Agency reported.

Footage broadcast by TV stations showed at least one destroyed building and several others badly damaged around it in the Basta neighborhood.

At least 11 people were killed and dozens injured. Lebanon's civil defense said the death toll was provisional as emergency responders were still digging through the rubble looking for survivors. 

Israel used bunker buster bombs in the strike, leaving a deep crater, said NNA. Beirut smelled strongly of explosives hours after the attack.
The blasts shook the capital around 4 a.m.

NNA said at least five bombs were dropped in the attack.
It marked the fourth Israeli airstrike this week targeting a central area of Beirut, where the bulk of Israel's attacks have targeted the Hezbollah-controlled southern suburbs.

On Sunday an Israeli airstrike killed Hezbollah's media relations chief Mohammad Afif in the Ras al-Nabaa district of central Beirut.

The Israeli military did not issue a warning for Basta's residents to evacuate prior to the strike and did not immediately issue a statement on it.

Israel has killed several Hezbollah leaders in airstrikes on Beirut's southern suburbs.

Meanwhile, heavy ground fighting between Israeli forces and Hezbollah militants was ongoing in southern Lebanon as Israeli troops have pushed farther from the border.