Houthis organizes massive rallies across Yemen to show solidarity with Iran

China

Houthis organizes massive rallies across Yemen to show solidarity with Iran

2025-06-21 16:11 Last Updated At：21:27

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.

China's 2026 box office revenues hit 29 billion yuan

China's box office revenues, including ticket pre-sales, have surpassed 29 billion yuan (4.2 billion U.S. dollars) for 2026, with 737 million admissions and 106 million screenings recorded so far this year.

A dazzling lineup of summer hits have broken multiple records and drawn audiences back to theaters, with the three-month summer movie season from June to August recording an all-time high revenue of 12.498 billion yuan, up 4.45 percent from the 11.96 billion yuan in the previous summer.

Among this year's top performers is "Once Upon a Time in the Middle East." Set in a war-torn Middle Eastern city, the film follows a Chinese cook who travels abroad in search of a better life, weaving anti-war themes into a culinary story with a cross-cultural commentary.

Hong Kong director Stephen Chow's sports comedy Kung Fu Soccer about a team of female footballers has so far grossed over 2.33 billion yuan at the box office.

"Dear You," a Chaoshan (Teochew)-dialect film, tells a moving story of homesickness and family ties among overseas Chinese in Southeast Asia. Its global box office has now surpassed 2.1 billion yuan.

"All Wishes Come True," which draws inspiration from the classic Chinese folk tale "The Eight Immortals Crossing the Sea", has been released across North America, Southeast Asia, Australia, and Europe, and has topped the charts among Chinese-language films in several countries.

In addition to its box office success, the film has also driven tourists to the real-world landscapes that inspired it.

Penglai in Yantai City, east China's Shandong Province has long been associated with the "Eight Immortals" legend.

At the heart of the destination is Penglai Pavilion, a historic complex overlooking the Yellow Sea.

Visitors can explore "Eight Immortals"-themed products, ride a panoramic cable car or take a speedboat across the sea.

Nearly 20 scenic spots and commercial areas are offering special deals to moviegoers, with some promotions running through September 30.

"Penglai is a very famous place. After watching 'All Wishes Come True,' I wanted to bring my child here. It really feels like stepping into the story," said one visitor.