Mohammed Ali al-Houthi denies Iranian support, emphasizes that won’t give up Hodeidah port
SANAA, March 19 (YPA) -Mohammed Ali al-Houthi, head of the Supreme Revolutionary Committee, has disclosed the truth about Ansarullah’s relationship with Iran, as well as stressing that they shall never give up Hodeidah, and that the coalition and exiled Hadi’s government have been unable to take it by force.
“We once again repeat that we will welcome a just and comprehensive peace,” he said.
Mohammed Ali al-Houthi reiterated that the handover of al-Hodeidah to the coalition or its militants is impossible and unthinkable.
“We will not give up the city of Hodeidah,” he said in an interview with the Associated Press.
“There is a misunderstanding of Sweden’s agreement on Hodeidah,” al-Houthi said.
“The agreement was for a joint withdrawal of troops from the port of Hodeidah, Al-Salif and Ras Issa, in order to facilitate their work and the flow of goods and aid, not the surrender of civilians and their ports to the coalition, its forces and militants.”
Mohammed Ali al-Houthi stressed that the coalition and exiled Hadi government “have not been able to get the port of Hodeidah by force, and will not seize it with tricks.”
“We agree to redeployment in accordance with the mechanism put forward by the Chairman of the Coordinating and Redeployment Committee, Michael Lollisgaard, but withdrawal, as it is promoted, is impossible,” he said.
“This is a process that will take a lot of patience, so I don’t want to be too confident about this.”
“Any progress in the parties’ commitment to the agreement is welcome, and that is why today’s developments are welcome and a positive step,” al-Houthi said, commenting on a statement made by UN envoy to Yemen Martin Griffiths on Tuesday.
Mohammed Ali al-Houthi furthermore denied any support or military assistance from Iran to Yemen, whether for Ansrullah or the Yemeni army and Popular Committees.
“We just have common goals,” he said.
On the United Nations’ efforts to find a political settlement for peace in Yemen, al-Houthi stressed that there is still “a great opportunity for peace, but only if the other side is committed to it.”
“My message is that there is a great opportunity for peace despite the aggression we are facing. But if the coalition countries decide to go to war, you will find us, fierce warriors,” Mohammad Ali al-Houthi concluded.
E.M