Reports indicate that thousands of Yemeni citizens protested in the capital, Sana'a, on Wednesday, February 11, against the Houthi Shiite rule. According to Reuters, cities like Sana'a and Taiz witnessed the presence of protesters. Houthi militants, who have established themselves in the city and set up checkpoints, warned opponents with gunfire into the air. In Taiz, which is not under Houthi control, opponents held placards opposing the Houthis' presence in power. The Houthi militia claimed their actions were a 'revolution' aimed at rescuing the country from corruption and economic crisis. However, Arab countries in the region have labeled the Houthis' actions as a 'coup.' Yemen, once a U.S. ally in the fight against al-Qaeda, has seen its relationship with Washington grow cold. During the protests in Sana'a on Wednesday, the U.S. embassy and several other countries, including France and Britain, were closed. The U.S. evacuated all its embassy staff and shut down the embassy. Germany's embassy also announced it had destroyed sensitive documents and would soon close its embassy. The Houthi militants officially took power last week and chanted 'Death to America' in the streets. A Houthi figure on Facebook reacted to the closure of some Western embassies, stating, 'Brotherly and friendly countries will soon realize that it is in their interest to treat the will of our people with due respect.' Anti-Houthi tribes in Yemen have stated they will not recognize the group's rule and will confront them. In this context, there is 'concern' among Gulf monarchies regarding developments in Yemen and the 'expansion of Iranian influence.' The U.S. will 'close' its embassy in the Yemeni capital on Wednesday.
Thousands Protest Against Houthi Rule in Yemen
Thousands of Yemenis protested against Houthi rule in Sana'a and Taiz, with the Houthis responding with warnings and gunfire. The protests reflect growing discontent with the Houthis, who have been accused of staging a coup, while regional tensions rise over Iranian influence. The U.S. has closed its embassy amid these developments.
👥 Key Players
📰 What Happened
Thousands of Yemenis protested against Houthi rule in Sana'a and Taiz. The protests were met with warnings and gunfire from Houthi militants.
- Protests occurred in Sana'a and Taiz against Houthi control.
- The U.S. and other Western countries closed their embassies in Yemen.
💡 Why It Matters
📚 Background
The Houthis, a Shiite group, have been in conflict with the Yemeni government and are accused of staging a coup. Yemen's instability has broader implications for regional security.
Translated from the original and edited for English readers. View original source →
Translation confidence: 85%