Yemen's foreign minister Afrah al-Zouba called for international support against the Houthis, describing the group as a "terrorist militia" and framing its defeat as a shared global interest.
Al-Zouba posted on X that Yemen's government has "exhausted all opportunities for de-escalation and peace" and now seeks backing from the international community to confront what it calls the Houthi threat. The foreign minister characterized the group's control of territory as a "treacherous coup" that seizes Yemeni will "by force of arms."
The statement linked stability in Yemen to broader regional and international security. Al-Zouba wrote that a stable Yemen would safeguard neighboring countries and protect international navigation, framing these outcomes as vital to global interests. The foreign minister also connected the Houthis to Iran, claiming they serve "the agenda of the Iranian regime."
According to al-Zouba's post, Yemen's government envisions a state that "monopolizes the use of arms, asserts its sovereignty over all its territory" and "respects international norms and obligations." The statement attributed this vision to President Rashad, describing it as the goal of what the government calls its "liberation battle."
The call for international support reflects Yemen's government's effort to build backing for its position in the country's ongoing conflict with the Houthis. Yemen has faced civil war since 2014, when Houthi forces took control of the capital Sanaa and other northern areas. The government is recognized internationally and is backed by a Saudi-led military coalition that has conducted airstrikes in Yemen since 2015.
The Houthis have not responded to al-Zouba's statement in the supplied material. The group has previously denied terrorism accusations and characterized itself as a resistance movement against foreign intervention in Yemen.