Yemen’s attendance at Bright Star 2025 in the form of Yemeni Special Operations Forces is more than just participation in a traditional military exercise. Rather, it represents a homecoming for Yemen as it reengages with regional and international partners after years of isolation imposed by war and internal conflict resulting from the coup by terrorist Houthi militias.
This participation after a long absence confirms that Yemen is regaining its natural position alongside more than 44 countries, including Egypt, the United States and Saudi Arabia, in the strongest joint military exercise in the region.
I extend my thanks to our brothers in the Arab Republic of Egypt for their generous hospitality, warm welcome and the attention they have shown us. We also extend our thanks to our counterparts in U.S. Central Command for hosting us and giving us the opportunity, after years of absence, to participate in this important international exercise, and for the support they have provided throughout our journey from Yemen to our arrival in Egypt.
Yemen’s return to Bright Star has profound political and security dimensions: It reflects Yemen’s commitment to its pivotal role in securing international shipping lanes and protecting global trade from terrorist threats, including aggressive acts carried out by the Houthi terrorists supported by Iran.
Yemen’s presence within the framework of regional and international cooperation is a safety valve for the stability of the region. The engagement of our forces has added value through joint training with allies, particularly in the areas of counterterrorism, combat in urban and desert environments, cyber defense, intelligence and unmanned systems.
This engagement not only enhances the capabilities of the Yemeni Armed Forces but also sends a message of confidence to the Yemeni people that their country is capable of rising again and confronting terrorism side by side with its partners.
The Yemeni people receive the good news that we are striving to eliminate the terrorist Houthi militias that weigh on them and occupy a swath of the territory of the Republic of Yemen. God willing, and with the cooperation of our brothers and international partners, we will eradicate this terrorist hotbed.
We are partners in the region; our enemy is the same, and we all share a desire to stabilize the region so that it can enjoy prosperity and progress. Of course, we look forward, along with our partners in the United States, to expanding the horizons and areas of military cooperation beyond training and exercises. We hope to resume cooperation in all aspects of military support.
Bright Star is a great step forward in that regard. During the exercise, we were able to absorb the experiences and expertise of friendly countries headed by the U.S. We also witnessed the performance of our brothers from Egypt and other countries, which benefited us greatly.
We keep abreast of the latest technologies and tactics to enhance the readiness of our forces, as well as allowing our troops to make rapid decisions in various environments — land, sea and air.
Cyberwarfare has become one of the most important elements of fifth-generation warfare. It’s one of the first weapons used in modern battles. Throughout Bright Star, we learned advanced technology and training in this field.
There is undoubtedly much information that we can benefit from, especially since our enemy uses advanced cyber techniques and technologies from Iran and other countries that aim to undermine security in the region. We must possess these technologies to confront this threat.
We hope that Yemen will participate from the initial stages of future exercises, including planning, logistics and equipment procurement. We also hope that we will participate with greater strength and specialization and in more than one field.
Most of the countries participating in Bright Star are from the Middle East and share common security challenges. Therefore, this exercise provides an opportunity for joint action, whether in counterterrorism, maritime security or air operations. The exercise, which simulates real-world scenarios, is a great opportunity to enhance work in a joint operational environment for regional security.
Yemen’s return to Bright Star and other international military exercises after more than a decade is not merely a return to training programs but represents a strategic repositioning that places the country once again within regional and international partnerships working to protect regional stability, confronting the terrorism and chaos that threaten international navigation.