Houthis DENY Mecca Drone Attack In Exclusive Piers Morgan Interview

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0:15If, as you say, it was not Houthis who fired the drone towards Mecca, then who did? Maybe it could be Israel. There is a tense relationship and they are desperate to incite against Muslims. Your slogan, death to America, death to Israel, a curse upon Jews, victory to Islam. We say death to America because America kills us and launches attacks also against the Palestinians. It was comical to watch. I don't blame him. Nobody wants to be someone else's puppet. If providing assistance to allies makes them proxies, then all of the countries that are associated with the United States are proxies by definition.

0:55He said, I'm going to annihilate a civilization. So your guess is utterly dishonest and by definition appropriate. People can watch and see you're genocidal. This is something we haven't done since we tried to do it to Nazi Germany. The amount of lash back. I don't want to be on a civilian airliner if this happens. The Houthis of Yemen are increasingly the subject of global concern. They've ramped up attacks on ships passing the Bab al-Mandab Strait, a vital supplement to the Strait of Hormuz, which remains throttled by Iran. This continues. The global cost of oil and commodities could soar yet further.

1:33There will be grave political consequences too, not to mention the financial cost to millions of people around the world. But the highest price is still being paid by the Yemeni people. Thousands have fled as refugees this week, a staggering 400 ,000 have died through combat or famine in 11 bloody years of civil war. Officially, this is a war between the Houthis and Yemen's government. In reality, they are engaged in a major regional conflict with Saudi Arabia, backed by the United States, the UK and likely Israel too. The Saudis asked the US to launch a major new campaign after the apparent Houthi attack on Mecca.

2:05The world is awaiting President Trump's next move. And in a rare and exclusive interview, the senior Houthi official, Nasser al-Din Amr, joins me now on Uncensored, and we're using a translator for this interview. Well, welcome to you, Mr Amr. I appreciate you doing this interview. Let me first of all ask you, is it true that the Houthis launched this drone attack at Mecca in Saudi Arabia, something that Saudi Arabia's King Salman has described as a heinous crime and has said that Houthis were responsible and are a terrorist militia? In the name of Allah, I thank you, Perse, Amiglant, to be your guest today.

2:58These allegations are incorrect and it has no basis at all. And we have no interest to target holy places because they are Muslims. and these holy places are our holy places. And you know clearly that we entered this battle with Israel and also with Israel to defend the Al-Aqsa Mosque in Palestine, which is the same status. So these allegations try the Saudi government to incite against the Houthis in order to avoid fighting us. So we have no interest and we totally reject these allegations. And Muslims around the world, they did not believe these allegations. We cannot. We pray towards the Kaaba.

3:48So this is a very dangerous accusation. And the Yemeni people are Muslim people. We totally reject these allegations. We have preserved the right to retaliate against this allegation. And we also preparing to launch an attack back, because we are Muslims. And they are accusing us that we are non-believers. And they only provoke against us that we affect the Ababa al-Manda strait. And also they are trying to incite Muslims against us. Saudi Arabia, they are drowning. They have been imposing a siege on the Yemeni people. And over one million Yemeni people, according to Red Nations, died as a result of the siege.

4:38And now they are trying to escape their responsibilities by saying that the Yemeni Houthis are targeting Mecca or they are a threat to the maritime. This is baseless. Saudi Arabia committed the crimes, and they continue to commit the crimes. A short while ago, they committed massacres against civilians in Hodeidah. Saudi Arabia killed children, women, and also they killed prisoners. It killed prisoners. Okay, but let me, I need to ask you a question. Yeah, if, as you say, it was not Houthis who fired the drone towards Mecca, then who did? Because it was intercepted by Saudi Arabian forces. If it wasn't you, and the Saudis absolutely believe it was you, then who was it?

5:33First, we don't believe that there was a drone on the skies of Mecca. If a drone targeted Mecca, really, could be Israel. So they are trying to politicize holy places. Maybe a third party could launch that drone. Maybe it could be Israel. There is a tense relationship, and they are desperate to incite against Muslims. So politicizing religious places, this could actually trigger Israel. So we suspect this is a baseless accusation. We have no role in this. And also we are against any attacks against Hali places and Saudi Arabia. We blame them. and also we also point our fingers against Israel for launching the drone.

6:35The Houthis obviously launched attacks this week, which you said were preemptive against an unproven Saudi ground operation. What evidence do you have that Saudi Arabia was preparing a ground invasion?

7:00Saudi Arabia on the 13th of July they attacked San 'at Airport, International Airport, a civilian aircraft. I was on board that plane. We were returning from Ali al-Khamenei after returning back from Iran. We had also patients. We had women on board that plane and Saudi Arabia targeted the airport. So therefore, they violated, they destroyed the calm. And then they imposed the siege. And then we imposed the siege on them in retaliation. And based on the understanding, there was a road map between us. The US envoy stated that there must be implementation for the roadmap. They shouldn't target airports or civilian infrastructure.

8:02So because we have been supporting Gaza, the US envoy, he said that we should be punished. So we requested that they should abide by the understanding and we imposed a siege on Saudi Arabia. Then Saudi forces and their alliances, they said that they are targeting Yemen in retaliation. So San 'a hosts millions of civilians also in Hodeidah and Hawaii. There are tens of millions of Yemeni people. Seventy percent of Yemen, they are living in areas under the government. So they have been intending to attack. We also, it's publicly, publicly they announced that they will attack us. So therefore we attacked them by launching rockets.

8:55So they insisted to attack us. Then we identified their forces that were intending to launch an attack. Then we defused the tension by targeting them and also we imposed a siege on the Red Sea. Also, the local people, they have been urging us to intervene. There are some images, some people have been calling upon us that they have been mistreated by the Saudi forces who were present in those areas. And they have been controlling those areas and they have been targeting locals? There is a belief, as you know, that Iran is funding you, helping you, encouraging you. You have an official political slogan and rallying cry, the Houthis, called the Saka, meaning the scream or outcry in Arabic.

9:50It explicitly states Death to America, Death to Israel, A Curse Upon the Jews, Victory to Islam. You're categorised as a terrorist organisation in the United States and many other countries, not in the UK, although there are sanctions against you by our government. But given your slogan is Wedded to Death to America, Death to Israel, a curse upon Jews, victory to Islam. How do you dispute the belief that you are, as King Salman called you, a terrorist militia?

10:33First of all, first part of the question, I would like to answer the allegations that Iran is supporting us. This is a repeated question. We have been accused, even Hamas was accused, the Palestinian movement of being a terrorist organization and working for Iran interests. Although Hamas has been resisting Israel's occupation, even before the establishment of the Islamic State, they say that Hamas works for Iran's interests, and Hamas has been resisting Israel. So this is an attempt. They have been targeting us, and they say that we belong to Iran. So we resist oppression. We resist injustice.

11:30when we say death to America because America kills us. America kills us and launches attacks also against the Palestinians. So we use this slogan rejecting its stance. The U.S. administration, the U.S. has been attacking us, the siege on us, the sanctions, confiscating our resources, the Saudi criminal regime also supported by Israel. So we use this slogan because we are in pain. We are rejecting the oppression. And our religion is a peaceful religion, and we reject injustice. So we use this slogan. We do not practice any terrorist organizations. This is rejected. We don't explode people. So we reject this terminology.

12:26We move on a systematic way. We are known. We walk freely from our belief. We defend Palestine, we defend Mecca, and we give our support. And also the whole government of Salah was martyred. The whole team was martyred. So we are doing a legitimate resistance. Also, freedom of living people around the world. Nelson Mandela was accused of being a terrorist figure. This is always those who are resisting injustice that are described as terrorists. Well, actually, if I could jump in there, if I could jump in there, you know, sometimes terrorist organisations are branded terrorists because they're actually terrorists.

13:15So not all terrorists turn out to be Nelson Mandela, and I think that's pretty disingenuous to suggest they do. You know, let me talk to you specifically, if I may, about the Bab al-Mandab Strait, because there are huge concerns, not just by Saudi Arabia, which uses that strait to distribute a lot of its energy, but the rest of the world and the global energy market already reeling from what's happening at the Strait of Hormuz for six, seven months now, now facing the prospect of the Bab al-Mandab Strait being effectively controlled by you, the Houthis. Is your plan to control that strait for a period of time?

13:54and if so, how long do you want to control it for? And what is your purpose in controlling that strait?

14:04This is a very important question. So I want everybody to hear the answer. You clearly know, and the United Nations states that Yemen has been suffering from a man-made humanitarian crisis. Who caused that man-made crisis? It's Yemen. It's Saudi Arabia, sorry. So we are working to remove the siege on our people. There is suffering. The United Nations said millions of Yemenis are in need of help. Also, the US administration, they have stopped the humanitarian aid because we have been supporting Gaza. So we need to remove this oppression. And we told Saudi Arabia, your ships cannot go through unless you remove your siege.

14:50We know the world has been affected, but we need the world to pressure Saudi Arabia to remove the siege imposed on Yemen. And if they dealt with the economic crisis, which were caused by Saudi Arabia, if Saudi Arabia fulfilled its commitment, then we will remove the siege. And the whole world knows that if these operations are for Iran's interests or not. Why the world only put pressure on us? What is requested from us? Our people are dying. So we need to take action. Your people are dying and 400 ,000 or more have died in the 11 years of this civil war. You blame Saudi Arabia for absolutely everything.

15:35You say you have no connection with the Iranians. They're not helping you, funding you, arming you. I don't believe that. There's plenty of evidence that they do. But when you blame Saudi Arabia specifically for the humanitarian crisis in Yemen, it should be noted the UN has also documented Houthi forces diverting aid, taxing shipments and recruiting child soldiers. You know, many people will listen to you talking to me and thinking, you're trying to portray yourself as a bunch of angels sent down to, you know, save everybody in this region, when in fact, many people view the Houthis in the same way they view Hamas and Hezbollah as Iranian-backed terror groups who have waged systematic terror all over the region for a sustained period of time and caused enormous hardship to their own people?

16:31First of all, we do not consider our relationship as an accusation. Iran is an Islamic respected country in the region and it has its weight and we totally respect it and the whole Muslim world they respected and the US attacks it is totally rejected we reject this accusation and it's not actually a bad accusation but they have been exaggerating we do not work under the directions of Iran We defend ourselves. Palestine is an Arabic country. Iran is a Pharisee country, but we have a responsibility towards Palestine more than our responsibility towards Iran. So when we say that the siege imposed by Saudi Arabia on Yemen and the United Nations said the siege has led to the death of 1.5 million people, this is as a result of the siege only.

17:31Can you imagine? So Saudi Arabia is imposing the siege. So also when Saudi Arabia launched more than 270 ,000 air strikes, we hold them responsible. We don't have airplanes to kill our own people. We cannot kill ourselves. So Saudi Arabia is totally responsible for our suffering. Saudi Arabia started this aggression, and they started the aggression from Washington. The Saudi ambassador and the Yemeni people have been defending themselves. And the U.S. envoy, Jamal bin Omar, he stated that Yemeni people were about to reach a settlement, but Saudi Arabia started the aggression. So we hold Saudi Arabia responsible for this.

18:18Iran did not launch one single strike in Yemen. Iran did not intervene in Yemen. All these accusations are basis of being terrorist. the terrorist we are. These are... Things are being politicised. We did not attack anybody. We are defending ourselves. OK, it's been reported that President Trump paused a planned military offensive against the Houthis in Yemen amid division among military leaders about whether to join Saudi Arabia's attacks. It's believed the Saudis wanted the Americans to launch a big offensive against you. Is your understanding that the Americans were planning to do this? And if that is the case, why do you think President Trump called it off?

19:11We need Trump to explain why he did that. But as for us, we assured the world that we do not attack Saudi Arabia or against the US, the United States. As long as they are not launching attacks against us, then we have no interest to target them. So if they attack us, then this will be considered a hostile attack. And it's not, it's an interest to attack us. The US administration is not interested to enlarge or expand its attacks. I think he works for his own interest. He wants to save his face. And he doesn't want to dig deep or drown in the region. If he is still considering military attacks against the Houthis, what is your message to President Trump?

20:15Our message to President Trump, we did not start this war. We are not targeting you. Our attack is against Saudi Arabia that besieges Yemen. Anybody attacks us, then we will defend ourselves and they will cause more miseries. We want stability in the region and we want a total lifting of the siege. and he should stop waging wars in the region. Even his war against Iran is an Israeli-American war and Israel dragged his feet. It's not in his interest to continue this war. So he is contributing to the prices skyrocketing. So we need to lift the siege. We have been, And we are actually the world's largest humanitarian crisis in the world.

21:08This is what we want. Ultimately, what is the Houthi's endgame here? What do you actually want to achieve as a group?

21:23At this stage, we need the lifting of the siege. and we need to protect our country from foreign interventions. We don't want Saudi Arabia to control us. We want the region to live in peace and security. As Muslims, our Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, we have sent you a mercy to mankind and we want to be part of the message of mercy. We don't want to insult the world. But they have been planting Israel in the region and Israel has been attacking us. They have been inciting us. They have been growing sedition against us. There is oppression and also they have been attacking nations. They have been denying people their freedoms.

22:14And they have been accusing us of being terrorists in order to deprive us of our freedom. They are serving Israel. This is our goal. So we want stability and peace, and also we want to contribute to be the source of security and peace, and also to support those who have been suffering from oppression. Our role is clear.

22:40We need to be merciful. We need to defend mankind. We need to defend anybody who has been suffering from injustice. This is our role. So we feel how oppressed people feel. Nasser al-Din Amr, I appreciate you coming on Uncensored. Thank you very much.

23:22OK. What if there's a blizzard and everyone has to sleep over? Ready to go with extra bedding and towels. From guest-ready essentials to holiday decor you can trust. Wayfair delivers. That was Professor at Tehran University, Mohamed Morandi, the Chief Strategist at the Middle East Forum, Jim Hansen, and Military Analyst and Political Scientist, Robert Papp. Well, welcome to all of you. Robert, let me start with you. What's your reaction to that interview with the gentleman from the Houthis? I think it was quite helpful on a number of counts. So, number one, you see that there's no quick deal, there's no quick end to this, Piers.

24:00What we have to expect is an ongoing problem. The issues here with the Houthis have been local with other groups in Yemen for years, with the Saudis for years. This is not about to change. The second thing that I think is really quite important here is that you can see that he's really not, when he's asked, you ask the direct question, the ultimate goal. The Houthis are not about to surrender power in Yemen anytime soon. That's really the core basis of the relationship between Iran and the Houthis. It's not the case that Iran is a puppet master of the Houthis. It's also not true the Houthis are ignoring Iran.

24:45They're working together in an alliance. And that is based on the fact there's a common interest from Iran and the Houthis of having the government, certainly in the southwest corner of Yemen there, that part of Yemen, controlled by the Houthis. And that is going to continue. And I think you saw that in this interview. Yeah. Yeah. Jim Hansen, welcome back to Uncensored. You know, he went to great pains to say we're not sort of puppets of the Iranian regime, we're our own people and blah, blah, blah, blah, blah. But I think there's plenty of well-documented evidence out there that the Houthis, Hezbollah and Hamas have all been funded and helped and armed by the Iranians.

25:32You know, why... I'm just curious, really. I don't know the answer to this question, but why would he go out of his way to deny what appears to be the bleeding obvious? It was comical to watch him tap dance around that. As you said, the IRGC has lived in Yemen. They've built factories there. They've created drone manufacturing capabilities. They've sent them so many boatloads of weapons, the advanced ones they've used to attack shipping. So there's no question about that. I don't blame him. Nobody wants to be someone else's puppet. But the axis of resistance that Iran has is all funded and controlled in many ways by that.

26:12And I think the interesting thing in the Iran war has been the Houthis have been the dog that didn't bark. You know, we've all been waiting to see, OK, we got all the problems in the Strait of Hormuz. What about Babo Mondev? And there was nothing happening there for the bulk of this. And I think the word went out from Tehran that, hey, we are we are in deep, serious trouble here. We have no revenue. We're not getting our oil out. Nothing good is happening. And the Americans aren't giving up. We need you guys to cause some trouble. And I think the timing of this is pretty indicative that Tehran told them now is the time to do this.

26:45And the problem they have is that President Trump, if he's not going to join the Saudis war and potentially the Emiratis as well, he's going to tell them to have at it. And he's going to tell them, do your best to shut down the Houthis and keep them from causing trouble. I mean, the other way of looking at that is that the Houthis have looked, and Iran has looked, at this second strait. They've realized the power of controlling a strait of water through which energy flows, and they want to expand that power as leverage to this secondary strait, and that it's more of a sign of they understand that, never mind the debate about nuclear weapons, if you control these two straits, you control 25 % of the world's energy flow, which is an enormously powerful thing.

27:30Many think more powerful than having a nuclear weapon, frankly. Let me bring in Professor Miranda. Welcome back to Uncensored, Professor. You know, I was struck by a number of things in that interview. But again, I ask you the question, why the reluctance of the Houthis to just say, yeah, you know what? The Iranians have been very helpful with us, Hezbollah, Hamas. We're all in this together. were wedded by an ideology, which is part of their SACA, their official slogan, death to America, death to Israel, curse upon Jews, victory to Islam. Sounds pretty similar to the kind of stuff I hear from your regime.

28:10Well, first of all, I think you and the previous guests are making something very simple, very complicated, because it runs against your narrative. He said we're not proxies. He doesn't say that we are not friends. And if providing assistance to allies makes them proxies, then all of the countries that are associated with the United States are proxies by definition. And all groups that are funded by the United States are proxies by definition. So you can't have a definition devised for Iran so that you can call it a regime and it's proxies, and then you use a different definition for the United States and the empire.

28:56But also, I don't think any ideology has anything to do with death to America or death to Israel. The ideology is of resistance against oppression. And the Saudis have been oppressive against the Yemeni people. The starvation siege on Yemen has killed hundreds of thousands of people, at least. And the West, the collective West, and much of the region, the family dictatorships across the region, have been assisting in the genocidal aspirations of Saudi Arabia and Yemen. And Ansarullah and its allies say no. And by the way, Pierce, proxies don't say, don't fight well. Proxies do fight pretty poorly.