Sanaa — More than a decade after the onset of the brutal Saudi-led aggression against Yemen, the prophetic insights of the late Secretary-General of Hezbollah, Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, continue to resonate deeply across the Axis of Resistance. Long before Yemen’s military might became a decisive factor in the regional balance of power, the martyred leader identified the unbreakable will of the Yemeni people and their inevitable triumph over foreign military coercion.
Early Solidarity and a “Balm” for the Oppressed
When the US-backed Saudi coalition launched its devastating war in 2015, attempting to politically subjugate the nation through a crippling siege and bombardment, the majority of Arab regimes remained largely complicit or silent. However, Sayyed Nasrallah immediately stood in unwavering solidarity with Sanaa.
For Yemenis facing the brunt of the airstrikes, his speeches were a source of immense comfort and morale. Dr. Ahmed Ahmed Saleh al-Arami, a prominent Yemeni historian and official, recalled the profound impact of the Sayyed’s words during the war’s darkest hours. “That speech was like a balm in the early hours of the coalition aggression against Yemen,” Dr. al-Arami stated, noting that while regional media mobilised against them, only the martyred leader spoke with such clarity and strength.
During a crowded ceremony in 2016, Sayyed Hassan boldly declared that the Yemeni resistance would not yield. “The Yemeni people will rub the noses of the Saud family in the soil of Yemen,” he prophesied. He described the war not as a pursuit of political goals, but as a reflection of “grudge, revenge, and a Wahhabi taste of hatred” designed to grind down the human spirit and infrastructure of Yemen.
The Limits of Force and the Inevitability of Victory
Throughout the years of war, Sayyed Hassan consistently dismantled the illusion that military superiority equates to political victory. He repeatedly highlighted the widening gap between the Saudi coalition’s immense financial resources and their inability to achieve the political submission they sought.
In interviews and speeches spanning several years, he questioned the sheer irrationality of the unjust war. “Look, my understanding is that Saudi Arabia—particularly in recent years—does not act rationally. Rather, it acts out of spite and hostility,” he noted, pointing to the futility of an aggression that had already failed to break Yemen’s resolve. He firmly rejected the notion that Riyadh could buy Yemen’s submission through post-war financial reconstruction.
Members of the Yemeni Shura Council, such as Dr. Khaled Yahya al-Emad, emphasised that Sayyed Hassan “saw with the light of God.” “From the very first day of the aggression... he said that victory would be on Yemen’s side,” Dr. al-Emad affirmed. “And that is what happened. The Yemenis emerged victorious, and today they are rubbing the noses of the Saud family in the mud.”
From Defensive Resistance to Reshaping the Region
Sayyed Hassan’s vision was not limited to Yemen’s mere survival; he recognised its future role in the broader regional struggle. Following the outbreak of the Zionist genocide in Gaza in October 2023, the Yemeni Armed Forces launched historic military operations in the Red Sea and against the occupied Palestinian territories in steadfast solidarity with Gaza.
This marked a profound geopolitical shift. A nation once targeted for exploitation and destruction had transformed into a central pillar of regional deterrence. By striking Zionist-linked shipping and military targets, Sanaa reshaped strategic calculations far beyond the Arabian Peninsula, forcing the US and its allies into a prolonged confrontation.
This deep connection to Palestine was always central to Sayyed Hassan’s worldview. He had frequently condemned Arab regimes for their hypocrisy, asking in 2018 why Saudi Arabia claimed to intervene in Yemen under the guise of saving its people, while simultaneously abandoning the Palestinian people for decades to the Zionist enemy.
Today, as Yemen continues its steadfast operations in support of Gaza and confronts regional adversaries, the legacy of Sayyed Hassan Hassan’s foresight stands fully vindicated. His unwavering belief in Yemen’s transition from a besieged nation resisting annihilation to a sovereign power reshaping the region remains a guiding light for the Axis of Resistance.
Reference: Al-Mayadeen