Yemenis living under the rule of Houthi militia have defied the Iran-backed group by marking the 59th anniversary of the September 26 Revolution with celebrations, fireworks, and chanting national anthems.
Houthis had previously banned marking the occasion, even in private and closed venues.
More so, Yemenis took to social media against the insurgency group and in celebration of the special day.
In the governorates of Sanaa, Ibb, and Dhamar, Yemenis commemorated the September 26 Revolution, which put an end to the Imamate regime in their country, and voiced their total rejection of the nationwide coup staged by Houthis and the destruction it had brought about in Yemen.
“We heard a lot of fireworks being launched in the capital tonight to mark the September 26 Revolution... It’s the greatest day in the history of Yemen,” Amjad, a local from the Houthi-run capital, Sanaa, told Asharq Al-Awsat.
“Despite the attempts to prevent, we gathered and celebrated and kindled the flame of the revolution,” Khaled, a local from Dhamar city, told Asharq Al-Awsat.
Shawqi, a resident of Houthi-controlled Ibb, confirmed citizens challenging coup authorities and marking the occasion on the rooftops of homes and denouncing the insurgency.
According to him, the September 26 Revolution celebrations were one of the largest social demonstrations against the Houthi militias.
Houthis had tried to cast a shadow over the day by forcing students and civil workers to attend a Houthi-styled celebration of the insurgency on September 16.
Yemenis in the US, Egypt, Jordan, Malaysia, and Turkey also celebrated the anniversary of toppling the Imamate regime and voiced their rejection of what Houthis were doing back home.
Additionally, Yemenis in liberated governorates and government-run areas witnessed celebrations as well.
Prominent government figures, including the governor of Marib, Sultan Al-Arada, and the chief of the General Staff, Lt. Gen. Saghir bin Aziz, participated in a torch-lighting ceremony to mark the day.
