Yemen's Houthis on Friday organized massive rallies in Sanaa and over 400 other locations to show solidarity with Iran and Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, denouncing the recent Israeli strikes on Iran.
Carrying the slogan "Steadfast with Gaza and Iran against Israeli and American crimes," the demonstrators expressed support for Gaza and Tehran amid the escalating regional tensions.
"Our participation in today's march, 'Steadfast with Gaza and Iran against the Zionist-American aggression,' is an expression of support, solidarity, and cooperation with the Islamic Republic of Iran in the face of the brutal and unjust aggression. It is subjected to an aggression that contradicts all laws, charters, and international norms," said Adnan Ghaithan, a protester.
"We are here in Al-Sabeen Square, in the land of faith and wisdom --Yemen-- standing firm and steadfast with Gaza and with Iran against Zionist-American crimes. We support the Iranian strikes and salute the Iranian armed forces for carrying them out. We stand with them and by their side," said Khaled Al-Mutairi, another protester.
Participants raised Palestinian and Iranian flags while chanting slogans condemning Israeli airstrikes on civilian areas and infrastructure in Iran.
They called for international actions to stop what they described as violations and to end U.S. military assistance for Israel.
"This aggression poses a serious threat to international peace and security, as the attacks on the Islamic Republic of Iran endanger maritime routes, global economic projects," said Mohammed Muftah, first deputy prime minister of Houthis, also known as Ansar Allah.
The marches came just hours after a televised speech by Abdul-Malik al-Houthi, leader of the Ansar Allah group.
In his speech, Abdul-Malik al-Houthi declared full solidarity for Iran's actions, noting that Yemen's position will remain aligned with Tehran and Gaza, and against what he called "American and Israeli aggression."
The rallies were the first since the direct military confrontation broke out between Israel and Iran.
On June 13, Israeli airstrikes inside Iran killed several senior military commanders, nuclear scientists, and civilians. Iran retaliated with missile and drone attacks on Israeli targets, causing casualties and significant damage. Israel and Iran are trading air attacks as the conflict enters second week.
Houthis organizes massive rallies across Yemen to show solidarity with Iran
Houthis organizes massive rallies across Yemen to show solidarity with Iran
Houthis organizes massive rallies across Yemen to show solidarity with Iran
China will take further steps to expand high-standard opening-up and create a new landscape of win-win cooperation in 2026, which marks the start of the 15th Five-Year Plan period (2026-2030), Commerce Minister Wang Wentao said in a recent interview with China Media Group.
Wang said opening up and cooperation for mutual benefit are integral to Chinese modernization. This year, China will actively expand voluntary opening up.
The country will steadily open up such areas as value-added telecommunications, biotechnology and wholly foreign-owned hospitals, while accelerating comprehensive pilot and demonstration programs for expanded opening-up in the services sector, he noted.
"We will expand the scope and regions of unilateral opening-up and ensure the implementation of zero-tariff treatment on 100 percent of tariff lines for all African countries that have diplomatic relations with China. We will vigorously promote the effective implementation of policies for special customs operations of the Hainan Free Trade Port, further enhance the level of trade and investment liberalization and facilitation, optimize the regional layout and coverage of pilot free trade zones, and support these zones in carrying out more robust institutional opening-up trials in areas such as market access, environmental standards and government procurement, so as to better leverage their role as comprehensive pilot platforms for reform and opening-up," said Wang.
Wang said China will promote the orderly planning of cross-border industrial and supply chains.
Efforts will be made to deepen economic and trade cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative, enhance integration and connectivity across production and supply chains, and encourage cooperation in areas including green development, the digital economy, green minerals, new infrastructure and new energy so as to help build global production and supply chain partnerships that are equal, inclusive and constructive, he noted.
"We will give play to the platform role of overseas economic and trade cooperation zones, expand overseas marketing networks and explore international markets through outward investment, achieve mutual promotion between investment and trade, and advance the integrated development of trade and investment. We will also improve the overseas comprehensive service system and the national-level overseas comprehensive service platform," said the minister.
In addition, China will participate constructively in global economic governance, according to the minister.
In 2026, Wang said, China will pursue flexible and pragmatic approaches to negotiate trade and investment agreements with more willing countries and regions, while strengthening economic and trade cooperation under multilateral frameworks such as BRICS, G20 and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, to further promote mutual benefit and win-win outcomes.
China to expand high-standard opening-up to foster win-win cooperation: minister
