Ansarullah leaders: US is trying to occupy Yemen and plunder its oil wealth

Sanaa - The leader of Yemen's Ansarullah movement has denounced the United States' malicious plans for his country and said Washington is trying to control Yemen's oil resources.

Abdul-Malik al-Houthi made the remarks while delivering a speech on Saturday to mark the eighth anniversary of a US-backed, Saudi Arabia-led war against his country, Yemen's al-Masirah TV channel reported.

"Americans and their mercenaries are trying to occupy our country and control its oil resources and wealth and its strategic locations to use as military bases," Houthi said.

The Saudi-led coalition launched the war in March 2015 to reinstate Yemen's former Washington- and Riyadh-friendly government. Since then, the United States and its allies have provided the coalition with weapons of all kinds, as well as logistical and political support.

"The war began with the aim of occupying the country and gaining control of the nation in order to deprive it of its freedom and independence," Houthi said.

"Most of the guns that killed our children during the war were US-made and fired from American warplanes and with the help of American training and supervision," the Ansarullah leader said.

However, Houthi stated that the invading coalition had suffered a "clear defeat" and this had prompted its Western and Zionist supporters to seek other options and alternative tactics.

"The goal pursued by America, Britain and the Zionist regime is to involve Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates in the war in Yemen," Houthi said.

He also advised Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates to stop the attacks on Yemen, which are in line with the interests of the United States, and to think about their own interests by promoting the exchange of prisoners of war and lifting the blockade of Yemen .

Houthi warned the invaders against the continuation of aggression, war and the blockade of Yemen, urging them not to consider the "neither war nor peace" option, which would be unacceptable to Yemenis.

The Ansarullah leader added that the only way to peace in Yemen is to stop the attacks by the Saudi-led coalition, lift the blockade on the country, end the occupation of Yemen, start rebuilding the country to pay war indemnities and complete the process of prisoner exchanges between the warring factions.