News - Yemen: Abdel Bari Atwan, editor-in-chief of the Rai al-Youm news site, stated that the Yemeni Armed Forces' targeting of the Zionist entity’s depths is an extension of support for Gaza and a powerful reaction that no Arab state has dared to take—or even consider—for decades.

In an interview with Al-Masirah TV on Thursday evening, Atwan said Yemen's swift response came directly after the attack on Sana’a International Airport, which destroyed the only plane belonging to Yemenia Airways, as well as in reaction to the ongoing genocide and siege against the people of Gaza.

Atwan linked Yemen’s continued support to the negotiations being led by the Palestinian resistance, emphasizing that it strengthens the Palestinians' position at the negotiating table—particularly after their rejection of a ceasefire offer that solely met Zionist demands, while disregarding the legitimate rights of Palestinians.

In another context, Atwan highlighted the stark contrast between the silence and complicity of Arab and Islamic regimes in the face of genocide and starvation in Gaza, and the support Yemen has offered for operations targeting the occupying entity via the Mediterranean Sea, as referenced in the latest speech by Sayyed Abdulmalik al-Houthi.

He stressed that the warnings issued by the Yemeni leader—about "effective, powerful, and devastating" responses—indicate that more ballistic and hypersonic missiles will strike deep within the Zionist entity. This, he argued, enhances the resistance’s chances and increases the momentum of the “Unity of Fronts” strategy, which is now manifesting in unprecedented ways.

Atwan also pointed to the growing internal inquiries within the Zionist entity about the impact of Yemen’s strikes, noting that the cost of a Yemeni missile is minimal compared to the vast sums the entity spends on its air raids. This, he said, reveals the failure of war criminal Netanyahu to halt Yemen’s attacks and confirms that self-defense and striking at the heart of the Zionist state has never before reached such a level of intensity.

Regarding the Zionist entity’s assaults on Islamic holy sites—such as the storming of Al-Aqsa Mosque, insults directed at the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him and his family), and the burning of the Qur’an—Atwan expressed dismay at the Arab and Islamic regimes' neglect of these violations. He questioned the fate of the “2 billion Muslims” worldwide if they fail to defend their sacred places, stressing that the Al-Aqsa incursions are an insult and a disgrace, reflecting these regimes’ submission to Zionist-American dominance.

He also warned of a Zionist scheme aimed at expanding control and displacing Palestinians, pointing to the entity’s intent to expel over 4 million Palestinians from the West Bank to Jordan, and 2.5 million from Gaza to the city of Rafah, and then push them into Egypt’s Sinai to establish an alternative homeland. He lamented the absence of awareness and dignity among some Arabs, stressing that those standing idly by as this forced displacement unfolds will eventually face the same fate.

Atwan concluded by expressing deep appreciation for Yemen, affirming that its heroes alone have proven capable of shouldering this responsibility. They demonstrate high levels of morality, patriotism, and dignity, offering support to their brothers in Gaza while armies, peoples, and states elsewhere have abandoned the oppressed.

Since the escalation of Israel’s war on Gaza in late 2023, Yemen has taken a leading role in supporting the Palestinian resistance, launching missile and drone attacks toward Israel. This marks a rare direct confrontation from an Arab country. As much of the Arab world remains largely silent, Yemen’s actions have drawn regional and international attention, with analysts seeing it as a shift in the rules of engagement and a challenge to decades of inaction.