Our colleague Hassan Haidar Diab, a journalist with Croatia's Večernji list, conducted an EXCLUSIVE interview for FACE TV with Nasr al-Din Amir, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Yemen's Saba News Agency, Deputy Head of the Houthi Media Office (the Ansar Allah movement), and a member of its Political Council. Amir spoke about the current situation in Yemen, the conflict with Saudi Arabia, accusations of attacks targeting Mecca and Medina, and increasingly complex relations across the Middle East.
Amir claims that Saudi Arabia is responsible for the latest escalation of the conflict, arguing that attacks on Sana'a International Airport and the continued blockade of Yemen brought an end to a period of reduced tensions. He identified the complete lifting of the blockade, addressing the consequences of the war, and ending foreign interference in Yemen's internal affairs as the Houthis’ key demands.
Nasr al-Din Amir: “We are determined to break the blockade, liberate our country from Saudi domination, and put an end to all forms of Saudi interference.”
Speaking about relations with Washington, Amir said that the United States currently has no interest in reopening direct hostilities with Yemeni forces, but warned that the possibility of new American attacks cannot be ruled out. Nasr al-Din Amir: “We are demanding the immediate lifting of the blockade on Yemen, compensation for damages, and measures to address the consequences the war has left in our country.”
Hassan Haidar Diab: “Saudi Arabia and certain media outlets accuse the Houthis and the Ansar Allah movement of attacking Mecca and Medina. This claim has spread widely, and many are repeating it as though it were a confirmed event. Did you actually target Islam's two holiest cities?”
Nasr al-Din Amir: “We would never target holy sites towards which we ourselves turn in prayer! We are ready to defend Mecca and Medina with our lives. Mecca and Medina are not merely Saudi cities; they belong to all Muslims around the world. The accusation that we targeted Mecca and Medina is an insult to our history, identity, and religious beliefs. We believe this accusation is intended to portray us as people who have renounced their own faith, as unbelievers who attack Islam's holy sites. We did not target Mecca or Medina, and we never will!”
Hassan Haidar Diab: “You claim that the accusations against the Houthis could put Mecca and Medina at risk. What do you base these claims on?”
Nasr al-Din Amir: “Such statements and accusations could serve as a pretext for future attacks on Mecca and Medina. There is a possibility that the Israeli side could attempt to attack these holy sites and then shift the blame onto us. We warn that the spread of such accusations could create the conditions for a serious security incident. We repeat: if anyone attacks Mecca or Medina, we will not remain silent; we will respond with military force. We do not intend to simply deny these accusations with words. If they continue to be repeated, we will consider it necessary to respond with military operations as well. This is an extremely serious matter for us because we see it as an attack on our relationship with God, our faith, our holy sites, and the Prophet Muhammad.”
Amir stated that his movement fears neither the United States nor Israel and is prepared to respond to any potential further escalation.
Nasr al-Din Amir: “We have complete control over the Bab el-Mandeb Strait! We are not afraid of American or Israeli weapons; we have the means to respond. We rely on God and believe He will help us. This is not merely a religious message we deliver to the public, but a conviction that influences our decisions.”
Hassan Haidar Diab: “Mr. Nasr al-Din, why is the United States not attacking you, despite Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman's request to Donald Trump to do so? Is Washington afraid of a direct confrontation with you, or is there some kind of non-aggression agreement between you and the United States?”
Nasr al-Din Amir: “There is no agreement, but there is an understanding between the United States and the Houthis. America does not want to enter the same war again, especially since it is not in its interests at the moment. That is why they are not attacking us. Iran has dealt heavy blows to America. Although there is currently an understanding, we are aware that America could attack us again, and we are preparing for war.”
During the interview, Nasr al-Din Amir also addressed the possibility of Pakistan, Egypt, and Turkey becoming involved in the conflict, saying that these countries should act as mediators rather than become militarily engaged. At the same time, he stressed that the Houthis (the Ansar Allah movement) have never closed the door to political dialogue, provided that it delivers on the demands of the Yemeni people.
At the end of the interview, he addressed Muslims in Bosnia and Herzegovina, urging them to verify information about Yemen and the Ansar Allah movement (the Houthis) through different sources and not to fall victim to what he described as media smear campaigns.
Watch the full interview at the LINK.