Yemen: Pro-Houthi army unveils new weapons at parade marking revolution’s 8th anniversary

Yemen’s Houthi-aligned armed forces have taken part in a military parade marking the eighth anniversary of the 21 September Revolution, which saw the allied forces takeover the capital Sanaa.

The procession was described by Yemen’s Saba News Agency as the largest military and security parade in the region. “Around 35,000 from various military formations participated in the military parade, from the war and naval colleges, the aviation college, the air force, land and navy, air and coastal defence, special forces, military police, and Al-Fath brigades,” the agency reported.

During the parade, the Yemeni armed forces displayed “dozens of advanced missile systems, naval weapons, and air defences manufactured by the Military Industrialisation Authority,” it added.

According to the Yemen Press Agency, the forces of the Houthi-led National Salvation Government (NSG) showcased new domestically-manufactured long-range missiles, which include: the Hutam, Falaq, Haidar, Red Sea, Meraj and Quds-3. The Yemeni naval forces also unveiled a new high-speed vessel entering service, the Asif boat.

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Mass rallies were also held across the country’s north, including the Houthi heartland in Saadah, in praise of the revolution, while condemning the aggression against Yemen.

Commemorating the revolution’s anniversary, the head of the Supreme Political Council, President Mahdi Al-Mashat said it is “a glorious and blessed revolution that is necessary for our people socially and politically”.

He added that “our people have the right to be proud of their victories after eight years of aggression,” in reference to the Saudi-led coalition’s on-going war against the country, in a bid to re-instate the exiled, internationally-recognised Yemeni government.

On Tuesday, the leader of the Houthi movement, Sayyed Abdul-Malik Al-Houthi, said in a speech that: “There is tireless work in building the army on sound foundations in the service of the people, defending the homeland and not being dependent on the outside.”

He further explained that the advancement of Yemen’s military industrialisation took place in light of the on-going war and siege on the country.

“Our country manufactures everything from infantry weapons to medium weapons, even advanced and long-range weapons.”

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