The leader of Yemen’s Houthi movement has publicly described Saudi Arabia as Yemen’s “historic enemy,” intensifying political rhetoric at a moment when regional diplomacy and fragile de-escalation efforts remain under strain.

In a televised address, Abdul-Malik al-Houthi accused Riyadh of decades of interference in Yemen’s internal affairs and framed the kingdom as the principal adversary behind the country’s prolonged instability.

Al-Houthi said Saudi Arabia’s military intervention and political influence had, in his view, shaped Yemen’s conflict and suffering, portraying the war as part of a broader struggle against foreign domination.

His remarks come despite periods of reduced cross-border violence following talks aimed at easing tensions between the Houthis and Saudi Arabia, which have raised cautious hopes for a longer-term settlement.

Saudi Arabia has consistently stated that its involvement in Yemen was driven by security concerns and the need to counter threats from armed groups aligned with Iran, particularly missile and drone attacks launched across the border.

Riyadh has also supported United Nations-backed efforts to reach a political resolution and reduce humanitarian suffering, while engaging in direct dialogue with Houthi representatives over the past year.

The renewed rhetoric underscores the deep mistrust that continues to define relations between the Houthis and Saudi Arabia, even as diplomatic channels remain open.

Analysts say such statements reflect internal messaging by the Houthi leadership as much as external positioning, highlighting the challenge of translating reduced fighting into a comprehensive peace.

The conflict’s trajectory now depends on whether negotiations can withstand periodic escalations in language and competing narratives about responsibility for Yemen’s long war.