News - Yemen: The governorate of Hodeidah on Tuesday hosted a broad assembly of religious scholars to discuss current developments in Yemen and the region and to outline the religious position toward emerging challenges.

In a comprehensive statement, participating scholars issued recommendations emphasizing unity, collective responsibility, and the importance of strengthening the internal front. They warned against any calls for division, describing societal cohesion as the first line of defense against “enemy schemes” targeting Yemen.

The statement urged preparedness for what may lie ahead and cautioned against complacency in light of temporary calm. Scholars praised the steadfastness of Yemenis, particularly in territories under foreign occupation, and commended their rejection of the “new occupier.”

Participants warned of the UAE’s recruitment of Yemenis into an international force linked to Gaza, considering such actions a service to the Israeli enemy. They reiterated the religious prohibition on cooperation with the United States, the Zionist entity, Saudi Arabia, or the UAE in line with the wording of the statement.

The scholars also condemned repeated Zionist attacks on Al-Aqsa Mosque and ongoing aggression in Gaza, the West Bank, Lebanon, and Syria, criticizing Arab regimes that facilitate or support the Zionist entity through their airspace or security services.

The statement called on the Axis of Resistance—particularly Hezbollah and Hamas—to maintain their arms and withstand “external pressure,” while urging Yemen’s Government of Change and Construction to intensify efforts to alleviate hardship amid the ongoing blockade.

For his part, the Yemeni Grand Mufti, Shams al-Din Sharaf al-Din, stated that “awareness and insight have been the source of Yemeni resilience throughout history,” linking this awareness to the role of “righteous scholars” in guiding society. 

He warned that what the enemy failed to achieve militarily in Gaza and Lebanon, it now seeks through negotiations, cautioning against the “dangerous role of imposed clients” in the region. The Mufti stressed that scholars must not remain silent in the face of such risks.

The meeting in Hodeidah comes at a time when Yemen is witnessing heightened political and security tensions, particularly amid growing concerns over foreign interference and attempts to reshape the internal landscape in favor of external powers. In recent months, the United States, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE have intensified political pressure and military activities in several occupied provinces, while the Zionist entity continues its escalation across the region — from Gaza and the West Bank to Lebanon and Syria.

These developments have fueled fears among Yemeni scholars and community leaders that new efforts are underway to fragment national unity, recruit local collaborators, and create openings for hostile agendas. The continued blockade, the fragile regional ceasefires, and Israel’s widening assaults on the region have all contributed to a sense that Yemen must remain vigilant, especially as foreign powers seek to exploit economic hardship and internal divisions.