Yemenis long for end to brutal war, harsh blockade

Millions of displaced Yemenis are longing for a lasting and workable peace agreement to end the brutal war between pro-government forces and Houthis and harsh blockade as soon as possible.

Fleeing the horrors of war, Fateeni Ali and his family settled in a small shop in the Yemeni capital, Sana'a. He left the Red Sea port city of Hodeidah with his wife and children seven years ago, never expecting their life of displacement to last this long.

Their longing for home continues, just as it does for millions of other Yemenis who hope for a swift end to the war.

"We were displaced from Hodeidah to Sana'a. I have a family of eight, and we hope to return to our homes and check on our relatives, but the situation is still difficult. My children and I work on the streets to earn a living, and as you can see, our situation is tough," said Fateeni.

Yemen entered a state of "no war, no peace" with the halt of ground fighting and a UN-brokered humanitarian truce in April 2022. Yemenis now watch in frustration as their living conditions continue to worsen, still waiting for the day when permanent peace is declared and a nearly decade-long chapter of war and suffering is finally closed.

"Nearly 10 years of war, blockade, and the closure of the airport have affected the Yemeni people. As Yemeni citizens, we hope for an end to the war, the reopening of the airport, and to live like other nations, traveling freely to other countries," said Ahmed Balsa, another citizen hoping for life to return to normal.

Echoing the hopes of many other Yemenis, Ahed Al-Humaidi also expressed his desire for an end to the conflict.

"The war in Yemen has dragged on, and we hope it will end so that the voice of peace can return to the country, the suffering can stop, and Yemeni wisdom can prevail to bring an end to the war," he said.

The United Nations has described the situation in Yemen as the most devastating conflict since the end of the Cold War.

The war has caused the deaths of nearly a quarter of a million people, either from the fighting or from a lack of food, healthcare, and infrastructure.

UN aid agencies report that over 17 million Yemenis suffer from malnutrition, and 4.5 million children are out of school due to the war.

Yemenis long for end to brutal war, harsh blockade

Iran on Saturday unveiled its latest homegrown precision strike long-range ballistic missile and kamikaze drone at a grand parade staged by the country's armed forces, the semi-official Fars news agency reported.

The ballistic missile, dubbed Jahad, and the drone, named Shahed-136B, were displayed for the first time during the parade at the mausoleum of Imam Khomeini, the late founder of the Islamic Republic, in southern Tehran. The event marked the beginning of Sacred Defense Week, commemorating the eight-year Iran-Iraq war in the 1980s, according to the report.

The one-stage Jahad ballistic missile, powered by solid fuel, can strike targets up to 1,000 km away with pinpoint accuracy. It has been designed and developed by the Aerospace Force of Iran's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC), according to Fars.

The Shahed 136B drone, powered by a turbojet engine, can destroy targets over 2,500 km away, Fars said, adding the unmanned aerial vehicle has also been designed and manufactured by the IRGC's Aerospace Force.

In a speech at the parade, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian stressed that Iran has the capabilities to ''force the Israeli regime stop its crimes".

"Today we can declare to the world that in addition to defending our own country, Iran is capable of maintaining peace and stability with regional countries through solidarity and cohesion. And by uniting regional countries, Iran can force the Israeli regime, which is killing and committing genocide against women, children and the elderly, to stop its crimes," he said.

Iran unveils homegrown missile, drone at military parade marking Iran-Iraq war