The leader of the Iran-backed Houthi militias in Yemen, Abdul Malik Badreddine al-Houthi, on Friday, gave a hate-spurring speech at a rally to mark their adoption of the “Khomeini Cry”.
Making no mention of UN-sponsored efforts to reinstate peace and security in Yemen, al-Houthi’s speech focused on heightened sectarianism and promoting the culture of death and used Khomeini-inspired slogans.
At the demonstration in the Houthi-held city of Sanaa, thousands chanted anti-US slogans and ideological mottos dubbed the “Khomeini Cry.”
In his speech, Al-Houthi reiterated that the Iran-tailored Khomeini culture will remain a “cornerstone in the Houthi group’s fight against the world.”
Addressing regional issues, he boasted about Iran’s strong and sect-driven ties with its Lebanon-based proxy, the Hezbollah party.
The militia leader also claimed a monopoly over the Palestinian cause, saying that any approach to the decades-long struggle outside the Tehran agenda is invalid and goes against “Islam and Muslims.”
Despite the international efforts to bring peace to Yemen, end the coup, restore the transitional path and stop the war, Al-Houthi dodged talking about peace efforts.
His very long speech, instead, focused on making outrageous claims to downplay diplomatic efforts for peace as a psychological, intellectual and military war led by Jews and Christians against Yemenis.
Using hostile rhetoric, Yemeni observers questioned Al-Houthi’s choice to exploit the Palestinian cause to garner opposition against the US and Israel. They also voiced their surprise that he chose to ignore the corruption plaguing the militias with its officials authorizing the theft of public resources and humanitarian relief aid in Houthi-run areas.
The Houthis hold annual commemorations for the adoption of the “Khomeini Cry” that was first introduced by the militias’ spiritual founder, Hussein al-Houthi, in the Maran region west of Saada. He began to boast of the slogan on January 17, 2002.
On another note, local sources in the governorates of Hajjah, al-Mahweet, Rameh, Ibb and al-Hodeidah said that Houthis started implementing a new scheme to attract school students to one of the group’s summer boot camps that employs sectarian and tactical courses with the ultimate goal of drafting them into militia ranks.
