Arab Newspaper: Sana’a Raises Its Demands and Presents Saudi Arabia with Two Options: Full Compliance or Facing Escalation
Mediation efforts stall as expectations rise of an escalating confrontation if Sana'a's demands regarding lifting the blockade and addressing humanitarian and economic issues are not met.
NYN | Reports and Analyses
The Lebanese newspaper Al-Akhbar predicted that the coming period will witness a major escalation in the Yemeni crisis if Saudi Arabia fails to respond to the demands put forward by Sana’a, coinciding with the expiration of the deadline announced by the Ansar Allah leadership regarding lifting the blockade.
The newspaper stated that the capital, Sana’a, and several governorates witnessed widespread public demonstrations in support of the demand to “break the blockade.” This coincided with the end of the 48-hour deadline given to Riyadh to take practical steps, amid warnings of enforcing the principle of “reciprocity” if the status quo persists.
Sana’a Leadership: Returning to Pre-2022 Truce Era Is Imminent
The newspaper highlighted statements by the Chairman of the Supreme Political Council, Mahdi Al-Mashat, who called on Saudi Arabia to “set its clock to Sana’a time,” considering that a return to the pre-2022 truce period has become a distinct possibility, given Sana’a’s adherence to what he described as the principle of “rights for all or rights for none.”
It also quoted the Minister of Defense in the Sana’a government, Major General Mohamed Al-Atifi, emphasizing the readiness of Sana’a-aligned forces to engage in what he described as the “decisive battle” to end the air and sea blockade. He noted that all military options are on the table under the equation of “blockade for blockade, airport for airport, and port for port.”
Al-Akhbar: Stalled Mediations and Forecasts of Expanding Escalation
According to the newspaper, observers believe recent developments reflect the failure of mediation efforts led by the Sultanate of Oman and Qatar to contain the tension. They suggest that any new escalation could transcend traditional military strikes to target economic and strategic assets inside Saudi Arabia—including oil facilities and ports—if the crisis remains unresolved.
Sana’a’s Conditions to Halt Escalation
The newspaper added, citing sources described as close to the Ansar Allah movement, that Sana’a continues to reject Saudi proposals conveyed via Omani mediation. The sources emphasized that its conditions for halting escalation include:
• Fully lifting the blockade.
• Allocating oil and gas revenues to pay public sector salaries.
• Implementing an all-for-all prisoner exchange deal.
• Ending the military presence in the southern governorates.
• Paying reparations and funding reconstruction.
According to the newspaper, the sources indicated that Sana’a possesses an extensive target bank comprising vital facilities that could be hit should political endeavors collapse.
Counter-Moves by the Internationally Recognized Government
On the other hand, the newspaper noted that the Saudi-backed Presidential Leadership Council responded to these statements. Council Chairman Rashad Al-Alimi issued statements accusing the Ansar Allah group of being responsible for the suffering of Yemenis and the continuation of the blockade, coinciding with a media campaign launched by activists supporting the internationally recognized government across social media platforms.
These developments come at a time when the Yemeni crisis is witnessing a sharp escalation in political and military rhetoric, amid anticipation of the outcomes of regional mediation efforts and whether tensions can be contained or will slip into a new phase of escalation.
