Millions of Yemenis rallied on Sunday in Midan al-Sabeen in Sana'a and other provinces to commemorate the 58th anniversary of Yemen's independence from British colonial rule on November 30.

Held under the slogan "Liberation is our choice... and the occupier shall vanish," the demonstrations underscored a continued commitment to resisting all forms of occupation. Participants drew connections between Yemen's anti-colonial history and present-day liberation struggles in West Asia.

A statement released during the rallies reaffirmed Yemen's high readiness for future confrontations, declaring preparedness "militarily, in terms of security, and through both official and popular mobilization."

Sayyed Abdul-Malik al-Houthi: Yemen will not abandon Palestine or Lebanon

Ansar Allah leader Sayyed Abdul-Malik al-Houthi, in a statement the day prior, urged a massive turnout in Sana'a for Independence Day, commemorating the expulsion of the last British soldier from Aden after 128 years of occupation.

He said the million-man march would send a clear message that Yemen "will not abandon its nation, nor the Palestinian and Lebanese peoples, nor leave the Ummah to be prey to the Zionist enemy."

"Our dear people remain steadfast and principled, never retreating from their struggle or relinquishing the truth," al-Houthi affirmed.

He condemned ongoing Israeli aggression in Palestine and Lebanon, framing it as an extension of Western-backed colonial oppression. He called for vigilance and preparedness in facing future threats.

Readiness for upcoming confrontations

The rally's statement echoed Sayyed al-Houthi’s stance, emphasizing Yemen's readiness to confront its enemies. It highlighted not only military and security capabilities but also the importance of widespread public mobilization and resistance.

The message extended encouragement to oppressed nations, declaring: "Peoples can achieve great victories when will and determination are present."

British occupation of Yemen

Britain occupied Aden and much of what became South Yemen for over 128 years. The occupation began in January 1839 when British forces seized the port city under the East India Company, later formalizing control through Crown colony status and protectorates across South Yemen. This control was strategically motivated, as Aden became a vital coaling and shipping hub on the imperial route to India and Europe.

The British occupation lasted until 29 November 1967, when the last troops withdrew following intense resistance. From 1963 onward, nationalist groups, primarily the National Liberation Front (NLF) and the Front for the Liberation of Occupied South Yemen (FLOSY), launched armed insurgencies in what became known as the Aden Emergency. Their campaigns, combined with widespread local mutiny and political collapse, forced an early and disorderly British exit.

Britain’s economic policies in Yemen prioritized imperial interests, leaving the region impoverished at independence through the extraction of revenues, land, and labor.