Yemen's National Defense Council Approves General Mobilization, Warns Citizens on Houthi Military Sites

Yemen's National Defense Council has issued a stern warning to citizens in Houthi-controlled areas, urging them to stay clear of militia military camps, weapon depots, missile launch sites, command centers, troop concentrations, and supply lines. The council also approved executive measures for general mobilization.

During a meeting on Tuesday, the council finalized directives and executive procedures for general mobilization, emphasizing the need to transform it from a broad concept into a disciplined institutional mechanism in accordance with the constitution and prevailing laws. The council commended the Parliament's approval of the general mobilization declaration.

The meeting addressed procedures related to general mobilization, safe returns, the continuation of essential services, and humanitarian responses for displaced persons and those affected by military escalation, amidst intensifying confrontations on several fronts. The council praised the cohesion and operational effectiveness of the armed forces, military formations, and popular resistance, highlighting their deterrence capabilities and success in regaining initiative across various fronts, as well as the losses inflicted upon Houthi militia forces and equipment through coordinated military operations.

The National Defense Council reaffirmed that the armed forces will continue to fulfill their constitutional and legal responsibilities in protecting citizens and deterring threats, with the ultimate goal of restoring state institutions and asserting sovereignty over all Yemeni territories. The council reiterated its call for citizens in Houthi-controlled areas to avoid militia military sites and urged them to report any military movements or developments through official channels, while cautioning against the use of civilian areas and facilities for military purposes to safeguard civilian lives.

Furthermore, the council warned against the Houthi militia's use of advanced military technologies, including air defense systems and cruise missiles, deeming it an expansion of the threat to air navigation routes in Yemen and the region, and a danger to civilian aircraft and humanitarian flights. The council called for international action to prevent the group from acquiring weapons and military expertise. It stressed the state's and its armed forces' unwavering commitment to protecting civilians and directed the continuation of precautionary measures to safeguard the population and civilian infrastructure, enhancing coordination among military and security agencies, local authorities, civil defense, and humanitarian organizations.

The council underscored the ongoing support for the families of martyrs and the wounded, and the response to the needs of displaced persons and families affected by the war, appealing to international organizations and donors for increased humanitarian aid. The National Defense Council reiterated that pathways for safe return remain open and that the state is committed to protecting its citizens and restoring its institutions through legal procedures announced by the authorities in conjunction with the general mobilization efforts.