Yemen at the heart of the Palestinian struggle
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Asmaa Rassy
- 9 Mar 2024 00:59
- 6 Shares
4 Min Read
After overcoming the damaging effects of imperialism and colonialism that its neighboring country imposed on it with the assistance of Western powers, Yemen has grown resilient and strong.
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Yemen emerging as an important player in West Asian political dynamics
The Axis of Resistance is an Iranian-led initiative to support armed struggle against the US and "Israel". The member states are Yemen, Iran, and Syria, while non-state actors are represented by the Lebanese Islamic Resistance (Hezbollah); the Iraqi Resistance (PMF); the Palestinian Resistance factions (Hamas and the Islamic Jihad in the front line); and the Marxist-Leninist Popular Front for Liberation, Democratic Front for Liberation, and other non-partisan factions.
After the start of the US-backed aggression on Gaza, the Axis joined in to support the Palestinian struggle to ward off the Gaza invasion and to put pressure on the US by attacking its bases in the region.
Yemen initially joined by striking the military positions of the Israeli army in "Eilat" (a settlement near the Red Sea), then the Yemeni Armed Forces started a blockade on Israeli ships to choke their economy, a decision that was indirectly vindicated by the latest International Court of Justice ruling. The Axis of Resistance has been officially acknowledged as an important player in West Asia, hence the attacks by the US and the UK against Iraq, Syria, and Yemen on the same night allegedly to deter them and the US justifying the attacks as being against Iran, which stands as the same misleading point mentioned before to justify any attack on the region.
According to Duaa, a Yemeni resident in Sanaa, the September 21 revolution in Yemen aimed to achieve independence from foreign powers and make autonomous choices, which was unattainable under previous governments under Saudi Arabia's direct influence. The revolution succeeded in breaking free from this domination, with the administration of Sanaa prioritizing people's interests and desires. Establishing a robust military force to safeguard Yemen's sovereignty against foreign meddling has been accomplished, and the army is seeing rapid growth. The aggression caused extensive damage to Yemen's infrastructure, including sewage plants, airports, educational institutions, markets, and agricultural fields. The relocation of the central bank by Saudi Arabia has caused financial hardship for many Yemenis, leading to increased unemployment rates. However, the revolutionaries have overcome these obstacles by increasing agricultural productivity, reducing reliance on humanitarian programs like the World Food Programme (WFP), rebuilding and establishing new schools in impoverished villages, and dismantling nepotism.
On the revolutionary leaders and their role in reshaping the war-torn country, Duaa mentioned their innovative strategies to adjust to the ongoing circumstances impeded by the obstructive alliance. After overcoming the damaging effects of imperialism and colonialism that its neighboring country imposed on it with the assistance of Western powers, Yemen has grown resilient and strong. It has effectively fought against the state of death imposed on it and emerged as a very influential force in the global arena.
The West's engagement in Yemen, Palestine, and the Gulf States is sometimes disregarded as just a consequence of "Iran-supported insurgents" disrupting global maritime trade. The geopolitical significance of Yemen, its connection to the Palestinian Resistance, and its extensive history of anti-imperialist and socialist resistance are often disregarded. The continuous military engagement by the United States and the United Kingdom in Yemen worsens the humanitarian situation in West Asia, as they see these activities as a threat to freedom of passage and commerce.
The history of Yemen is characterized by both inspiration and tragedy, as its population has been split as a result of empire and colonialism. The Biden administration claimed its action to be in the course of safeguarding international maritime transportation and upholding the global capitalist exchange of goods. Brigadier General Abdullah bin Amer of Yemen has explicitly said that the United States and the United Kingdom are entirely accountable for initiating the military war in the Red Sea.
Despite facing numerous challenges, Duaa is hopeful that the core of the Yemeni revolution remains strong, with its influence extending to various regions, such as the highlands of Ibb, the mountains of Saada, the coast of al-Hodeidah, and the squares of Sanaa. Despite still being subject to bombings and sanctions, Yemen appears to emerge as an important player in West Asian political dynamics moving forward, despite the participants in the aggressions against Yemen’s denial.
The Axis of Resistance is emerging as a pan-Middle Eastern regional group, effectively extending military support in the members’ quests to fight the colonial entities. Will the Axis’ increasing importance affect the Arab League?
