News - Yemen: Senior tribal leader Sheikh Dhaifallah Rassam used a speech during the central celebration of the 58th anniversary of independence from Britain to pledge allegiance to the Yemeni leadership and vow resistance against the "new colonizers."

Addressing a gathering in Sana'a, Rassam, who holds the title of Head of the Tribal Cohesion Council and Vice President of the Shura Council, stated that the anniversary represents a moment to "renew the covenant with God, the homeland, and the struggling leader of the revolution, Sayyed Abdulmalik al-Houthi." He framed the current conflict as a direct continuation of the historical struggle against British imperialism.

"The people of Yemen who brought down the old colonialism are capable today of bringing down the new colonizer represented by the Saudi-Emirati aggression and behind them America and the Zionist entity," Rassam declared.

Positioning the Yemeni people as "oppressed" resistors facing "tyrants," he expressed unwavering readiness for sacrifice "under the banner of our leader." He directly addressed Sayyed Abdulmalik, saying, "Choose the appropriate decision... we are with you, and we will not retreat until God judges between us and our enemy, America and the Zionist entity."

Rassam extended a call for reconciliation to those collaborating with the opposing Saudi-UAE coalition, urging them in the "name of Yemen, tribe, and human brotherhood" to "return from their misguidance." He offered a message of forgiveness, stating, "Our wise leadership will not abandon those who return to their senses."

The speech concluded with a message to Arab tribes, suggesting it was a "disgrace" for foreign armies to operate on Arab land without a "honorable stance from its people," and held up the Yemeni people as the "truest model" of confronting occupation militarily, culturally, and spiritually. The event underscored the Sana'a authorities' strategy of leveraging historical narratives to bolster domestic legitimacy and frame their ongoing war effort as a national liberation struggle.

November 30 marks the anniversary of South Yemen's independence from British colonial rule in 1967. This historical event is often commemorated by drawing parallels between the past anti-colonial struggle and the current occupation by Saudi-UAE coalition support from Western nations.