Speech by Al-Sayyid Abdul Malik Badruddin Al-Houthi on the Latest Developments
Thursday, 9 Shawwal 1445 A.H. (18 April 2024 A.D.)
I seek refuge in Allah from Shaytan, the outcast.
In the name of Allah, the Compassionate, the Merciful.
Praise is to Allah, Lord of the Worlds. I believe that there is no god but Allah, the Sovereign and the Manifest Truth, and that Muhammad, our master, is His servant, Messenger, and Last Prophet.
O Allah, confer Your salat and blessings upon Muhammad and the Family of Muhammad as You conferred Your salat and blessings upon Ibrahim and the Family of Ibrahim. You are Owner of Praise, Owner of Glory! And be pleased with Muhammad's good companions and all Your righteous servants and mujahidin.
Brothers and sisters, peace be upon you and the mercy of Allah and His blessings.
Allah (Glory be to Him) says in the Holy Quran, {'O you who have believed, be mindful of Allah and seek the means [of nearness] to Him and strive in His cause that you may succeed'}[Al-Maida 5:35].
The blessed month of Ramadan has passed, a month that holds its uniqueness and significance among Muslims worldwide. Ramadan is the month of fasting, one of the pillars of Islam. It is the month of the revelation of the Quran, the springtime of the Quran. It is a month where Muslims show increased devotion to reciting the Holy Quran more than any other time throughout the year. It is a great and distinguished school that encompasses educational, spiritual, ethical, and faith-related aspects. What it bestows upon the person is important and great. It is a school aimed at enhancing Taqwa: {'so that you may become muttaqin [mindful of Allah]'}[Al-Baqara 2:183], as Allah (Glory be to Him) says.
The Palestinian people and the dear mujahidin in Palestine fasted and observed the blessed month of Ramadan while struggling, persevering, and enduring oppression, siege, and starvation. And the Ummah from around them, Muslims in all their countries, including those living near Palestine, Muslims who are the ummah with whom lies the greatest responsibility for supporting the Palestinian people, standing with them, providing assistance, offering support, and confronting the enemy that attacks them, by all considerations, as the Palestinian people are part of this Ummah, both as a people and as a land, and their sanctities hold immense religious significance for the Islamic Ummah—it is the ummah that also bears, more than anyone else, the burden of negligence of responsibility and the burden of inaction and that bears the blame and disgrace for negligence. Muslims fasted the blessed month of Ramadan, but they were different according to their varying degrees of concern towards the Palestinian people, their oppression, and their sufferings.
This sorting within the Ummah is not new but rather part of Allah's way throughout history and with all nations. With every nation and every people of every prophet, the divine test comes to reveal the reality of people, in terms of how sincere they are in their affiliation to faith. This is part of Allah's way: In the course of Islam during the time of the Prophet (PBUH&F) and before him among the prophets and those who affiliated to the message of Allah and expressed their faith and affiliation to it, the divine test comes as part of the way of Allah to distinguish between the evil and the good, the truthful and those who are liars, as Allah (Glory be to Him) says in the Holy Quran, {'Alif, Lam, Meem. Do people think once they say, "We believe," that they will be left without being tested with fitnah [turmoil]? We certainly put to the test of fitnah those before them'}[Al-'Ankabut 29:1-3]. Thus, Allah clarifies that it is a divine way that was practiced even with the earlier nations, and it continues with the later nations—with both the earlier and the later nations—with all nations and generations that belong to the divine message, for all those who belong to faith: {'Do people think once they say, "We believe," that they will be left without being tested with fitnah [turmoil]? We certainly put those before them to the test of fitnah. And Allah will clearly distinguish between those who are truthful and those who are liars.'}
Allah )Glory be to Him( also says,{'Allah would not leave the believers in the state which you are in until He distinguishes the evil from the good'}[Ali 'Imran 3:179]. That is because, even within the framework of faith and faith-based affiliation, there are always still evil persons who have not been virtuous or pure, who have not moved towards righteousness, and who have not moved sincerely with Allah (Glory be to Him) within the framework of faith-based affiliation. Allah does not accept that state to remain unknown, where it does not become clear or manifest in reality. That is because it can result in great dangers for the Islamic Ummah in its reality, and because Allah (Glory be to Him) is the Mighty, the Wise, so He reveals people's reality and sifts them. In Prophetic narrations (hadiths), it is also called sifting. There must be sifting for people until their true reality and their truth are revealed. Allah says, {'Allah would not leave the believers in the state which you are in until He distinguishes the evil from the good. Nor would Allah reveal to you the unseen.'} Through the events and positions, Allah (Glory be to Him) reveals who is the evil person and the good one, and distinguishes the evil person from the good person, as He (Glory be to Him) says, {'Do you think that you will be left [as you are] while Allah has not yet made evident those among you who strive [for His cause] and do not take other than Allah, His Messenger, and the believers as intimates? And Allah is All-Aware of what you do'}[At-Tawbah 9:16]. Allah (Glory be to Him) also makes clear, reveals, clarifies, and distinguishes the one who will truly be sincere in his faith-based affiliation and sincerity with Allah through his struggle, position, and sincere loyalty: the one of no outsider involved in his position, nor in his loyalty, the one who did not take a direction [against the path] of Allah, his Messenger, and the believers, nor did his loyalty deviate from them, the one who did not direct his loyalty to further the interests of the enemies, to serve them, or to benefit them.
Allah (Glory be to Him) also says in the Holy Quran, {'And We will surely test you until We make evident those mujahidin [who strive for the cause of Allah] among you and those who are patient, and We will test your affairs'}[Muhammad 47:31]. This test—{'And We will surely test you'}—will be through events and positions a person takes, which make clear the state of the person: Will he strive in the cause of Allah? Will he move in the right position, for the just cause according to Allah's instructions and teachings? They make clear what principles, values, morals, and feelings a person has and show whether he has a living conscience, a human feeling, and a sincere feeling of faith—if so, what proves so? Was this evident in his position, actions, behaviour, sense of responsibility, practical response to Allah (Glory be to Him) or not? Where is his patience patience as he works, as he strives in the cause of Allah, as he sacrifices, as he contributes, as he moves; his patience as he continues on what he should continue on; his patience on suffering and the sacrifice required for the just cause, the right position, and the Jihad he performs? {'And We will test your affairs.'} Likewise, what is inside a person—what is in his depths, what is in his secrets, what is within his heart—is also revealed. Allah (Glory be to Him) says, {'[It was] so that Allah might test what is in your chests and purify what is in your hearts. And Allah is Knowing of that within the chests'}[Ali 'Imran 3:154]. So what is there in the hearts will be revealed, and the test will come to reveal and clarify it. {'And Allah is Knowing of that within the chests.'}
In the reality of the Islamic Ummah, we witness through whatthese current events have revealed—these are very major events. The Israeli aggression against Gaza is a terrible, heinous, and extreme aggression, and there are clearly major responsibilities on this Ummah, from which neither disavowal, evasion, nor any attempts to justify inaction absolve it. These events reveal what the Ummah's reality is, what its position is towards the oppression committed against the Palestinian people, and towards the Israeli crime and tyranny practiced by the Israeli enemy against the Palestinian people.
There are movements within this Ummah, such as the takfiri movement, which is a large turmoil-spreading movement, possessing huge capabilities and enjoying the affiliation of tens of thousands of fighters. That movement was moving under the title of Jihad. It was originally pushed to move under this specific title because this title (the title of Jihad) is a title targeted by the enemies of Islam. Indeed, it is targeted through defamation, distortion, and exploitation in the wrong direction. They moved under this title: performing Jihad for the sake of Allah. However, why did they move? What they were active in? They moved to spread sectarian and denominational strife among Muslims, to kill the people of the Ummah, young and old. They killed so many people of the Ummah, whether through the battles and military operations that they carry out or through suicide and other operations targeting the people of the Ummah in markets, in mosques, and on religious and social occasions.
They tried to appear under the title of Jihad as if they were tough mujahidin, committing thousands of suicide operations. There were more than four thousand suicide operations in Iraq. Many were killed by them in Iraqi markets in various Iraqi cities, as well as in other countries, in the various countries they targeted. This does not require details, as this is well-known to everyone. Even so, they were presenting themselves as valiant and tough mujahidin, ready to sacrifice, ready to kill, ready for anything. They also showed toughness in their operations, and even more than that, they carried out criminal operations in every sense of the word, from killing people in a hideous and criminal manner, slaughtering with knives, blowing up civilians, mutilating corpses, cutting off heads, etc. They carry banners and write on them, 'There is no god but Allah, and Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah.' However, they contradict in their direction and actions what the two testimonies mean and what they require in terms of adhering to divine principles, Islamic values, Quranic ethics, etc. But this is how they appeared. They tried to appear in this way, and the enemies of the Ummah wanted them to appear in this way, so they moved under the title of Jihad and killed hundreds of thousands of Muslims in many countries. They moved with huge financial support, in the amount of billions of dollars, from Arab regimes and countries. They supported them generously because they were directed to do so, providing political support, media support, and material support. They moved with great momentum.
Where are they now?! They remained silent about the Israeli enemy and did nothing, even though they seemed to have the potentials and capabilities to penetrate any country they want to engage in a battle with, to create turmoil, or to initiate specific activities and conspiracies. In some countries, they can directly move to target the Israeli enemy. Yet, they neither moved militarily, as they were once fierce fighters and suicide bombers, numbering thousands, nor did they even direct significant media activity to mobilize the Ummah against the Israeli enemy or speak about the Israeli enemy as much as they used to speak against the sons of this Ummah with severe enmity and intense incitement so as to push people to kill each other. Where are they? This is how Allah distinguished evil from good through major events that reveal and clarify the truths to people.
Also, regimes, governments, and leaders supported them. In addition to that, they initiated bloody wars that destroyed the Islamic Ummah and devastated the Yemeni people and other peoples. These were very exhausting wars in which they spent hundreds of billions of dollars, just as the Saudi regime did, along with the Emirati regime. They presented themselves to the world as the leaders of the entire Islamic Ummah and who, under this title, have the right to interfere in any Arab country here or there. Arab countries come first on their list; however, they do so even in other Islamic countries. They even introduced the concept of the Arab embrace, Arab national security, and various titles, presenting themselves to be at the forefront to protect the sanctuaries, carry the flags, lead the Ummah, and be concerned with all issues and positions. However, they then diminished and had no role in any genuine, honest effort to support the Palestinian people and their mujahidin. Instead, they took on a passive role, contributing to what serves the Israeli enemy. They serve it very clearly in the media to the extent that you note that statements by Netanyahu, some Israelis, and some criminals among the Israelis, as well as some statements by the Americans, are as if they were media directives for their media outlets! They adopt the same tone and the same discourse to launch organized propaganda campaigns. Where are they now?! This is how truths are revealed.
Also, entities and individuals, whether in our country in Yemen or elsewhere, were engaged and moved in hostile, negative, and intense activities, whether under humanitarian, moral, or national interest titles or allegedly driven by justice and truth. Where are they now?! Where are their voices, activities, writings, articles, comments, tweets, and efforts?! Where has that intensity in their words and statements gone?! Where is that audacity with which they brazenly expressed everything that helped incite turmoil and internal conflicts?! Where are they now?! Where is the role they used to play through writings, articles, tweets, slogans, and more?! Where is that mental state that was filled with hatred and ire?! We see them remaining calm towards the Israeli enemy, and everything we used to hear from them has vanished. They were active in insults, bad articles and writings, and incitement. If they showed any activity, it was in a negative frame, against the Ummah and against any position supporting the Palestinian people.
During the time of the Prophet (PBUH&F), this distinction occurred, and it was revealed in Surah Ali 'Imran—read the verses therein—in Surah An-Nisa, in Surah Al-Ma'idah, in Surah Al-Anfal, and in Surah At-Tawbah. It occurred in many verses in Surah At-Tawbah, in most of it, to the extent that it became known among Muslims as 'The Exposer' because it exposed many of those types (individuals with various motives, in various forms, using various methods, and at various levels of positions) who belong to Islam but whose position favours the enemies of Islam. [It aslo occurred] in Surah Muhammad and in Surah Al-Ahzab, too. In Surah Muhammad (PBUH&F), you can find that there were those who were hesitant, hindered, waited in ambush, acted maliciously, doubted, and avoided the true position and those who remained firm and steadfast and responded to Allah and His Messenger.
That is why Allah (Glory be to Him) says in the Holy Quran, {'Those who remained behind rejoiced in their staying [at home] after [the departure of] the Messenger of Allah and disliked to strive with their wealth and their lives in the cause of Allah'}[At-Tawbah 9:81]: a position of inaction and passivity, followed by joy and satisfaction with their situation. They perceived that what they were doing was the right thing. In fact, they considered the Prophet (PBUH&F) and those who responded to Allah and His Messenger and moved with His Prophet as the ones who are mistaken in their position. {'… and disliked to strive with their wealth and their lives in the cause of Allah'}[At-Tawbah 9:81], so their reluctance was accompanied with showing hatred towards Jihad and the mujahidin and then turned to discouraging others. {'And they said, "Do not go forth in the heat"'}[At-Tawbah 9:81]—they even exploit environmental conditions, such as heat, to engage in discouragement, hindrance, and dissuasion. {'And they said, "Do not go forth in the heat." Say, "The fire of Jahannam is more intense in heat," only if they could understand. So let them laugh a little'}[At-Tawbah 9:81-82]. That is because they laugh while in their situation, like the entertainment some focus on to find amusement in the midst of the tragedy, suffering, pain, and oppression experienced by the Ummah. They laugh at it instead of taking a stance, even at an emotional or psychological level. They do not feel the pain of the Ummah's suffering, nor do they grieve over it. {'… and [then] weep much as recompense for what they used to earn'}[At-Tawbah 9:82]: their mockery, their ridicule, and their habit of finding comfort in the tragedy and suffering of the Ummah. {'If Allah should return you to a faction of them [after the expedition] and then they ask your permission to go out [to battle], say, "You will not go out with me, ever, and you will never fight with me an enemy. Indeed, you were satisfied with sitting [at home] the first time, so sit [now] with those who stay behind"}—not only that—{And do not ever pray over any of them who has died, nor stand over his grave. Indeed, they disbelieved in Allah and His Messenger and died while they were defiantly disobedient'}[At-Tawbah 9:83-84]. Behind the state of being ok with passivity, the aversion towards Jihad, and the satisfaction with the tragedy, suffering, and pains of the Ummah lies a hidden state of disbelief in the hearts; a horrible state of rejecting divine principles, values, and ethics; and an explicit rejection of divine teachings and instructions. This is the state Allah expressed in His saying, {'Indeed, they disbelieved in Allah and His Messenger.'} It is a state of having no trust in Allah and His promise to grant victory to believers if they take action.
Then He says, {'And let not their wealth and their children impress you'}[At-Tawbah 9:85]. That is because they [wealth and children] are not a source of hope for the Ummah. They do not mobilize their wealth to uphold justice or support the oppressed. Instead, they always direct their wealth in the wrong direction and withhold from spending it in the right path. The same applies to their children and their human resources. {'Allah only intends to punish them through them in this world and that their souls should perish while they are disbelievers'}[At-Tawbah 9:85].
In the oppression the Palestinian people are facing, there is no confusion regarding the justice of their cause. The Palestinian cause is a just cause with utmost clarity, and there is no confusion about who is in the right regarding the Palestinian cause. The matter is very clear, in addition to the magnitude of their oppression and suffering. It is a just cause with significant foundations for the Ummah. It encompasses sanctities and the Al-Aqsa Mosque; hence, it is a cause that is connected to the Ummah in its religion based on this aspect. It imposes responsibility (Islamic, religious, moral, principled, faith-based responsibility in every sense of the word) towards the Palestinian people, who are part of this Ummah, and towards the Palestinian land, which is part of Muslims' land and the Islamic world.
Furthermore, the Israeli enemy, as we always reiterate, is an enemy of the entire Ummah. If it were not for the Jihad of the Palestinian people and the sacrifices, steadfastness, and resilience of its mujahidin, as well as the Jihad, sacrifices, and patience of the mujahidin in Lebanon, the Israeli enemy's battle and its evil at all levels would have extended to other countries. Would agreements, diplomatic options, customs, and international law have deterred it from directing to Egypt, Jordan, or any other Arab country? Its ambitions, animosity, and hostile orientation are well-known. Its actions in Palestine prove that it pay no attention to any laws, customs, international organizations and foundations, or any other human considerations. It operates based on its animosity, tyranny, and criminality, sparing no effort and paying no attention to any of that. Moreover, the West supports it in its criminality and aggression, squandering everything. Could the Arabs have relied on the Americans while they directly participate with the Israelis? In fact, they gift the Israelis any country or region they occupy. Trump announced his gift of the Syrian Golan to the Israeli enemy! The Americans would not hesitate to gift any Arab country to the Israeli enemy. They have no problem with that.
The grievance is immense and extremely significant. The Israeli tyranny, which enjoys the participation of America and the support of Western countries, including major European countries, is very evident. The tragedy is tremendously significant. We are in the seventh month, in the twenty-eighth week, and on the one hundred and ninety-fifth day. Every day since the beginning of the Israeli aggression against Gaza, the Israeli enemy commits acts of genocide and massacres in order to kill as many Palestinians as possible, including children and women. The number of massacres has exceeded three thousand and fifty. The number of martyrs and missing persons has exceeded forty-two thousand, and the number of the wounded individuals is over seventy-seven thousand. The martyrs and wounded in these numbers are civilians, and most of them are children and women. United Nations reports have acknowledged the martyrdom of over ten thousand women in Gaza, including six thousand mothers who left behind nineteen thousand orphans. This is a very limited statistic that United Nations reports have acknowledged, but the actual numbers are much higher. All the titles that the West boasts about, such as women's rights, children's rights, orphans' rights, and human rights, have disappeared. All rights have disappeared.
On the day of Eid Al-Fitr, the Israeli enemy deliberately intensified its airstrikes, killing civilians and escalating the scale of its massacres and crimes. In addition to the airstrikes, it increased shelling on civilians using tanks and artillery. It carried out a treacherous and criminal assassination operation, targeting the sons and grandsons of the Head of the Hamas Political Bureau, our dear mujahid brother Ismail Haniyeh (May Allah protect him), leading to the martyrdom of Seven of his sons and grandsons. As we send our condolences and compliments to our dear mujahid brother Ismail Haniyeh and commend his position of faith and Jihad, we also commend the unity and solidarity demonstrated by the Palestinian leadership with their people and mujahidin.
As for the Israeli enemy, it cannot achieve a victorious image for itself by committing such crimes. Instead, it only adds to its record of criminality. Moreover, it cannot succeed in weakening the Palestinian leadership, the mujahidin within the Palestinian people, or this great mujahid.
The Israeli enemy continues its criminal practices by executing civilians, and it excels in doing so. It employs all dirty, aggressive, heinous methods in various forms, even during the efforts of the residents to obtain food. It also intensifies its attacks in the West Bank and seeks to displace the residents of many villages in the West Bank. It continues the crimes of murder, kidnapping, and home invasions on a daily basis, and in some villages in the West Bank, the herds of Israeli settlers, accompanied by Israeli soldiers, invade and burn the villages, kill the residents, seek to displace them, loot their properties, and commit other crimes. Crimes of kidnapping, kidnapping the residents, are intensified in the West Bank, and the same applies to all kinds of crimes the Israeli enemy practices.
The steadfastness of the mujahidin brothers in the Gaza Strip, from various factions, is worthy of praise and appreciation. It serves as a school in terms of patience, reliance on Allah, and devotion in His cause. In their unity, effectiveness, and patience, they follow in the footsteps of the followers of prophets and their supporters, whose patience Allah spoke about and whom He praised and made a model for believers in every era and generation. Allah (the Almighty) says in the blessed Quranic verse, {'And how many a prophet has had numerous ribiyon combating alongside him, and they did not waver regardless of that which afflicted them in the way of Allah, nor did they weaken, nor did they give in. And Allah loves the patient ones'}[Ali 'Imran 3:146]. This is how we find the reality of the mujahidin brothers in the Gaza Strip: patience, steadfastness, heroism, effectiveness, and continuity, despite the immense suffering they endure. {'And they did not waver regardless of that which afflicted them in the way of Allah, nor did they weaken, nor did they give in.'} Therefore, they possess great patience that deserves praise. Their unity, steadfastness, continuity, and effectiveness—despite the magnitude of aggression, the circumstances they live in, and the severe siege—is a victory in itself. Indeed, it is a clear victory! As for the magnitude of events and circumstances, it is extremely enormous. Even so, they continue to fight the enemy using all available weapons: sniper rifles, mortar artillery, explosive devices, and even missile attacks. We have watched several videos of missile attacks carried out by the Al-Quds Brigades and Palestinian factions towards the Israeli enemy in what is known as the Gaza envelope.
This resilience, effectiveness, and steadfastness are truly remarkable and bring great hope. They serve as a clear indication and good news, Allah willing, of a new stage in the future of the Palestinian people. The resilience and unity of the Palestinian people surpassed even the expectations of the enemies, who relied on such heinous brutality to break the willpower of the Palestinian people and hoped to succeed in completely displacing them from the Gaza Strip. However, they failed in their endeavours and were astonished by the magnitude of resilience and unity displayed by the Palestinian people.
With regards to support and advocacy for the Palestinian people, at the forefront of developments is the Iranian retaliation in Operation True Promise. Regarding this operation, there are several key points that we will briefly mention.
First, prior to the Iranian retaliation, there were concerted efforts and intense attempts to hinder or contain that retaliation. Rather, there were attempts to prevent any retaliation whatsoever. The Iranians even received offers and temptations aimed at dissuading them from responding because the enemies are concerned at this stage about any move that benefits the Palestinian people and contributes to supporting them. They worry about anything that goes against the Israeli enemy at this stage, as they want the Israeli enemy to remain free, calm, and safe from any concerns or threats so that it can have exclusive control over the Palestinian people and continue its crimes on a daily basis, pursuing its failed, futile, ill-fated objectives, while feeling safe from any action from here or there. Unfortunately, even some Arab countries were seeking this. Everyone is operating under the banner of 'seeking to prevent escalation in the region', claiming to seek to avoid widening the conflict and escalation in the region. The escalation, danger, and conflict lie in what the Israeli enemy is doing in the Gaza Strip. There can be no proper solution that contributes to stability in the region without ending the aggression and siege on Gaza and ceasing the aggression against the Palestinian people. There cannot be stability when the Israeli enemy is occupying Palestine and committing acts of genocide in Gaza.
Prior to the retaliation, there was an attempt by America and those aligned with it to contain the retaliation. Temptations and numerous offers were used in an attempt either to dissuade the Iranian brothers from responding or, at the very least, to weaken the level of the retaliation. They aimed for a limited retaliation, one that did not originate from Iranian territory, or one that was restricted to locations outside of Palestine. These attempts were made with the intention of either dissuading the retaliation altogether or weakening the level of retaliation in terms of its target and source.
Afterwards, there were extensive arrangements to counter the Iranian retaliation, with active involvement from America; it led the operations in countering the Iranian retaliation. It took the lead and was joined by European countries, a group of European countries, some of which acknowledged their participation, as well as some Arab countries, and this is very unfortunate! It is very unfortunate that Arab countries dare protect and seek to defend the Israeli enemy. This is truly unfortunate and, at the same time, a crime against the Palestinian people. The Americans implemented a series of arrangements and measures that aimed at preventing or countering the Iranian retaliation: They established seven defensive lines in their defence against the Iranian retaliation, intercepting missiles and drones targeting the Israeli enemy.
In spite of that, the retaliation was strong both in terms of momentum, quantity, quality, and the use of ballistic missiles, winged missiles, and advanced drones, with the vast and distinct military capabilities possessed by the Islamic Republic of Iran. The retaliation was powerful and originated from Iranian territory, and this also alarmed the enemy. The enemy sought to divert the Islamic Republic from employing this method of retaliation—that is, it should not come from Iranian soil, it should lack such momentum and quantity, and it should not target any targets in occupied Palestine. The Israeli enemy desired to remain secure in Palestine and avoid being targeted there. It preferred, instead, to be targeted at a consulate in an Arab country or elsewhere, with no military bases being targeted. However, the targeting originated from Iranian territory, involving a massive number of missiles, drones, significant military weapons, and capabilities, directed towards one of the most important military bases held by the enemy in occupied Palestine. The retaliation in such a manner and towards other targets was important and strong, and the targets were significant.
The Axis of Resistance also participated in the retaliation on various supporting fronts, for that really served as an important opportunity to target the Israeli enemy, taking into consideration the capabilities of interception and retaliation of the American and Israeli enemies and those who cooperate with them. It was an opportunity for the operation to be extensive and on multiple fronts.
The significance of this operation is in establishing the equation of retaliating against the Israeli enemy, opposing the endeavours of the enemy and its allies to impose a reality based on violating our entire Islamic Ummah, in the Arab world and beyond. For decades, the Israeli enemy has been accustomed to striking Arab and Muslim countries, without facing any response to its attacks. This has happened in Iraq, Sudan, and multiple Arab countries, where the Israeli enemy has been targeting them for decades without anyone daring to respond militarily. In most cases, there were only complaints, sometimes presented to the United Nations or the Security Council. Therefore, firmly establishing the equation of military retaliation is a very important matter, considering the enemy's endeavours to maintain a violation-based equation—that is, to make sure that the Islamic Ummah (in the Arab world and beyond) remainsviolated by the Israeli enemy, where it can act as it wants without facing any retaliation. It is also important to establish the rules of engagement, so that if the enemy attacks, a strong and decisive response is delivered, and its attacks will not pass without response. This is a very important matter.
After the enemies failed to contain the retaliation or discourage the brothers in the Islamic Republic from responding, and after the failure of their efforts against the Iranian retaliation to prevent the missiles from reaching and hitting military targets, they resorted to distortion and downplaying the retaliation. They attempted to diminish and distort the retaliation. In the context of their effort to downplay the retaliation, they tried to portray it as insignificant and that they managed to successfully deal with it. However, as we mentioned regarding establishing very important equations, such as the equation of retaliation, and establishing the rules of engagement, this holds strategic importance and is a clear matter.
Furthermore, this is not a fleeting incident, one of a kind. This has become a rule in dealing with the Israeli enemy, and it is an important matter. It even admitted that through some of its experts and media outlets, even thoughit attempted, at the level of media, to undermine the incident and downplay its significance.
The Israeli rhetoric initially aimed to downplay the incident, for the Israeli enemy, along with its American and European partners and some Arab countries, attempted to prevent such a retaliation. However, it failed, so it thereafter tried to downplay the significance and impact of that retaliation. Even so, the importance of that retaliation remains clear. The Palestinian people witnessed a wonderful scene for the first time: a large number of rockets raining down on the Israeli enemy, targeting its bases on Palestinian land. The scenes that show the joy and rejoice of the Palestinian people while seeing these incredibly wonderful sights were shared on social media. The happiness of the Palestinian people was evident as they saw someone daring to target the Israeli enemy with such a level of targeting and capability. The Islamic Republic of Iran possesses immense military capabilities and capacities. Whether in the West Bank or even in Al-Quds, it was a delightful scene that gladdened the hearts of believers and infuriated disbelievers and munafiqin.
Unfortunately, some Arab media outlets have opposed this retaliatory operation adopting the same rhetoric adopted by the Israelis, the same rhetoric adopted by Netanyahu. This is a regrettable thing, that Netanyahu's rhetoric has become a guiding principle for some Arab media outlets, which are now speaking based on what Netanyahu said, with the same commentary, and the same position. And the commentators and media policy come to adopt it as a guide. This is a regrettable thing: to adopt the same American and Israeli rhetoric!
Furthermore, they also attempted to separate the Iranian retaliation from the Palestinian position, the Palestinian cause, and the support for the Palestinian people while denying well-known and clear truths. One of the main reasons why those who oppose the Islamic Republic of Iran do so and the most prominent issue with it—whether the position of the Americans, the Israelis, some Western countries, or even some Arab countries against Iran—is primarily due to its support with capabilities, including military capabilities for the Palestinian people, specifically the mujahidin in Palestine. This is a major point of disagreement between the Americans, Israelis, and Europeans on one hand and the Islamic Republic of Iran on the other hand. The Islamic Republic's support for the Palestinian people, including military, political, and media support in all its forms, represents a fundamental issue and problem for the Americans, Israelis, and their allies with the Islamic Republic. This is a clear reality.
The level of support and advocacy of the Islamic Republic of Iran for the Palestinian people is such that enemies have attempted to portray the Palestinian cause as an Iranian cause. This is because of the Islamic Republic's distinguished level of support for the Palestinian people compared to other countries, including Arab and non-Arab countries. They have attempted to depict the Palestinian cause as an Iranian cause, and this is evident in their media discourse. They have attempted to portray the Palestinian cause as an Iranian cause that has nothing to do with Arabs due to the magnitude of the Iranian adaption and support of the Palestinian cause. That is why they got involved in problems with the Islamic Republic, resulting in operations and counter-operations.
It is also clear that this operation represents direct and beneficial support for the Palestinian people and the mujahidin in the Gaza Strip. This is an obvious matter. If any country were to create a problem with the Israeli enemy at this time, it would be considered beneficial support for the Palestinian people, and it would have a positive impact that serves the Palestinian people and would be in the interest of the mujahidin in Gaza. As the saying goes, 'The enemy of your enemy is your friend.' So imagine if this comes from your friend, brother, supporter, ally, helper, and advocate for your cause. Imagine if he takes action against your enemy in a direct way, and he himself is the one who keeps standing by your side, supporting you, and backing your position politically and in the media. In this stage, any action against the Israeli enemy would be beneficial for the Palestinian cause, the mujahidin, and those brothers and families in Gaza.
This is at the level of the Iranian retaliation. The joy of the Palestinian people was great. The fear and panic of the Zionists were evident, as well as the outcry and screams from their masses. Now, if the Israeli enemy retaliates, the Islamic Republic of Iran has declared that it will respond even more forcefully. And if that happens, it will also be in the best interests of the Palestinian people.
At the level of Hezbollah's front, it has also witnessed clear escalation in these past two weeks, and its impact on the enemy continues and grows, affecting their military and economic situation in northern Palestine and more. The front in Iraq remains active and has also contributed to Operation True Promise.
As for our front in Yemen (the blessed Yemen of faith, Jihad, and conquest, the Yemen of courage, loyalty, and honour), support operations have reached fourteen operations over the course of two weeks in the Red Sea, the Arabian Sea, the Gulf of Aden, the Bab Al-Mandeb Strait, and reaching the Indian Ocean, which has become a scene for some operations. The operations have also been carried out in southern occupied Palestine against Israeli targets. These fourteen operations were carried out with 36 ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, and unmanned drones, targeting eight enemy-associated ships. The total number of targeted vessels amounts to ninety-eight, approaching one hundred. By the will of Allah, the work continues, and the operations persist.
The impact of the operations, thanks to Allah, has been significant and successful. In these weeks, several naval units have withdrawn from the Red Sea, which is beneficial and important. All those who have withdrawn speak of the effectiveness, impact, and intensity of these operations, indicating their strength and effectiveness. This is good, and we affirm to everyone (whether America, Britain, or anyone the Americans want to get involved) that it is impossible for anyone to succeed in stopping these operations carried out by our country to support the Palestinian people in Gaza and exert pressure for ending the siege on the Palestinian people in Gaza, ensuring the entry of food and medicine to them, and halting the aggression against them. No one can achieve this, not through counter-operations by bombing our country, as America and Britain are doing. We are in the fourth month since the start of their aggression against our country in support of the Israeli enemy so that it can continue its crimes in Gaza and continue starving the Palestinian people in Gaza. This cannot also be achieved through deploying frigates, warships, and military equipment to the sea, as a gesture of favour to the Americans and as an effort to please them. It is in the interest of no one to do that. Our position has been clear from the beginning, and we have reiterated this many times.
There is no threat to the navigation of European countries whose ships are not heading towards the Israeli enemy. There is no threat to them whatsoever. They can move safely and peacefully, as long as they do not move towards the Israeli enemy or participate in the aggression against our country. We emphasize this and say: It is in your interest to withdraw your units that cost you a lot and involve you in confrontations that serve that interests of the Americans. Because of that, you bear financial burdens and risks without any need or justification. Through the coordination of any European country or any other country in the East or the West with our country, they can pass without being targeted by our country. The only impact of the congestion of military naval units in the Red Sea is on the security and safety of navigation and the passage of ships. Therefore, the enemy acknowledges its failure, as well as its economic losses due to the costs incurred at sea. Its economic losses are significant because the Americans and Britain have entangled themselves. The losses of Israel are escalating due to the prevention of its ships and affiliated vessels from crossing, resulting in economic losses that have reached a significant level, thanks to Allah. The losses of the America, Britain, and the countries that have involved themselves in these burdens are also escalating. Their losses in transportation and maritime shipping insurance, and the associated costs, are increasing, leading to rising prices. Likewise, those who resort to alternative and expensive routes and bear significant financial costs for insurance in favour of maritime transport companies—their costs are substantial, and this reflects on prices in their countries.
The solution for the benefit of everyone is to end the siege on the Palestinian people in Gaza and allow the delivery of food and medicine to them. This is within their right. It is their fundamental and recognized right to have access to food and medicine and not to be deprived of food. That extremely horrific state of starvation for the Palestinian people must come to an end. It is a disgrace to human society as a whole. Our operations are ongoing, and there is no choice for others but to cease the aggression on Gaza and lift the siege. Our operations are effective.
Regarding other activities, thanks to Allah, our dear people continued to weekly take to the street in millions during the blessed month of Ramadan. In the last week, the turnout was very large and remarkable. We have stated that after the blessed month of Ramadan, we will continue our journey, by the will of Allah. After the blessed month of Ramadan, it is very important—rather, the desired outcome of Ramadan (considering fasting, the nights of worship, and the educational, spiritual, and faith-based impact of the month, including the impact of Taqwa) is for us to be more aware of our responsibility towards the suffering of the Palestinian people. Their suffering, pain, agony, sacrifices, and hunger increase with time. Our sense of responsibility should also increase with time, and we should strive to do more. This is what we seek at the military level, and it must be accompanied with popular participation in the weekly demonstrations. That is because as one reads the Holy Quran in the blessed month of Ramadan, he becomes more aware of his responsibility and realizes the importance of Jihad for the sake of Allah, what it means to him in his religion, and the significance of his position even for his future in the Hereafter. One reads in the Quran, the words of Allah, {'But the Messenger and those who believed with him strived with their wealth and their lives. Those will have [all that is] good and it is those who are the successful. Allah has prepared for them gardens beneath which rivers flow, wherein they will abide eternally. That is the supreme triumph'}[At-Tawbah 9:88-89]. This is the path to Jannah, the path to success in this world and the Hereafter. Our role model and guide is the Messenger of Allah (PBUH&F). He is our guide and role model. {'But the Messenger and those who believed with him strived with their wealth and their lives.'} The path to Jannah, the path to great triumph, the path to prosperity, success, might, strength, and victory, and the path to freedom in its true sense—it requires unwavering persistence in carrying the banner of Jihad and active engagement, without laziness, idleness, or shying away from responsibility. This is not the trait of any believer who is endowed with Taqwa and increased in faith, awareness, and insight through his relationship with the Holy Quran, the revelations of Allah, through the blessings and the impact of good deeds, such as fasting, spending nights in worship, and giving alms, among other good deeds. Therefore, what is required is to pay attention to all activities, to continue intensifying mobilization efforts, which is one of the most important matters, and to participate in the weekly million-person marches, which is crucial in this battle. It is also facilitated and accessible; it is not a complicated matter. Taking part in this battle by taking to the streets on Fridays is an easy thing and within one's reach. It is a great and important thing in a significant battle.
Therefore, I call upon our dear people (the Yemen of faith) to embody tomorrow, Friday, by the will of Allah, what the Messenger of Allah (PBUH&F) said about their ancestors, the Ansar: 'You are abundant in times of fear and scarce in times of greed.' Let them increase their banners and attend the rally points in various governorates and in Sana'a, in a very wide million-person demonstration so that they translate their loyalty, steadfastness, continuity, liveliness, effectiveness, and the strength of their faith. Also, this is to always make it clear to the Palestinian people that they will never abandon their position in supporting them, standing with them, and remaining steadfast in this position, regardless of the length of time, the level of pressure, or the magnitude of events. They are a resilient and steadfast people, aiming to have their position befitting their faith, awareness, insight, courage, values, and morals.
I call upon everyone to attend, Allah willing, in large numbers in the rally points according to the approved arrangements.
I ask Allah to be a rewarder to you, grant you success, and bless you. I also ask Him to grant a mighty victory to the Palestinian people and their mujahidin.
O Allah, grant us victory, have mercy on our virtuous martyrs, heal the wounded among us, set free our captives, and grant us victory. You are All-Hearing!
Peace be upon you and the mercy of Allah and His blessings.
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