PLC VP Al-Aradah: Defending the Republic Is a Decisive Battle, Calls for Heightened Military Readiness

Yemen’s Presidential Leadership Council (PLC) Vice President Lt. Gen. Sultan Al-Aradah has underscored the need to raise combat readiness and strengthen the defensive and operational capabilities of military and security forces, describing the defense of the Republic as a decisive national battle.

Al-Aradah made the remarks during a meeting on Saturday with Minister of Defense Lt. Gen. Taher Al-Aqili and Chief of the General Staff and Commander of the Joint Operations Lt. Gen. Sagheer bin Aziz, attended by Brig. Gen. Fares Al-Shammari, Commander of the Arab Coalition Forces in Marib. The meeting reviewed the latest military and battlefield developments, assessed force readiness, and discussed the implementation of operational plans across multiple frontlines.

Al-Aradah said the battle fought by the Yemeni people and their armed forces over the past years is a decisive struggle to defend the Republic and safeguard the country’s constitutional principles and national achievements.

He stressed that national responsibility requires continued determination to confront ongoing challenges, strengthen military discipline and commitment, and further enhance combat and operational capabilities to ensure the effective execution of military missions. He added that these efforts are essential to restoring state institutions, ending the Houthi coup, and bringing an end to the humanitarian suffering caused by the Iranian regime-backed Houthi terrorist militia.

The PLC VP reaffirmed the political leadership’s commitment to protecting all Yemenis, emphasizing that civilians should not become victims of what he described as the Houthis’ reckless military adventures and Iran’s regional agenda.

He urged residents in Houthi-controlled areas to reject the recruitment of their children by the militia and not allow them to be used as cannon fodder in what he described as futile wars that do not serve Yemen’s interests. He also called on tribal leaders and families to protect young people from Houthi recruitment campaigns and prevent them from being drawn into what he characterized as a sectarian project that has brought Yemen only destruction and suffering.

Al-Aradah said the Houthis’ continued rejection of regional and international peace initiatives demonstrates their commitment to a military solution and their willingness to prolong the suffering of people living under their control in pursuit of external agendas.

He also called for greater national unity, closer coordination among the armed forces, security services, the Popular Resistance, political and social forces, and tribal leaders, as well as the adoption of an inclusive national discourse that prioritizes Yemen’s national interest and strengthens the internal front against the Iranian-backed Houthi project.

Al-Aradah praised the continued support provided to Yemen by the Saudi-led Arab Coalition to Restore Legitimacy, describing it as a reflection of the deep fraternal ties and shared destiny between the two countries.

For their part, Defense Minister Al-Aqili and Chief of the General Staff Bin Aziz said the armed forces continue to carry out their national duties with professionalism and responsibility. They added that the military is steadily strengthening its capabilities and improving coordination among its various branches and units to protect the country, defend the Republic, and thwart the plans of the Iranian-backed Houthi terrorist organization.