Several thousand supporters of the Iran-backed Houthi rebels took to the streets of the Yemeni capital Sanaa on 21 September, dancing, cheering, and chanting pro-Houthi slogans in celebration of the one-year anniversary of the Shi'ite militia's takeover of the capital last year.

"This is a historic day for Yemen, as a year ago today we got rid of the conventional forces that controlled this land for more than three decades - the tribal, religious and military forces that burdened the people and led to corruption," said Houthi supporter Hassan Sharaf Iddine.

Some brandished weapons, others waved Yemeni flags. Pictures of the Houthi leader, Abdul-Malek al-Houthi were held by supporters as they chanted pro-Houthi slogans and denounced the Saudi-led coalition offensive on the war-torn country.

"This is a glorious day in the history of Yemenis. We got rid of the disbelievers and the terrorists and we rebelled against the thieves of public money who perpetuated corruption, social injustice and the impoverishment of the Yemeni people," said Houthi supporter Abdel Hamid al Ghurbani.

The protesters celebrated the passing of one year since the government of exiled President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi was forced to flee the capital Sanaa to the southern port city of Aden after the Houthis took over. Soon after that, Hadi and his government were forced to flee Aden as well, and have been living in exile in Saudi Arabia since.

In July, after nearly four months of airstrikes across the country by a Saudi-led coalition of Sunni-Arab nations, the Houthis were defeated in Aden and forced to retreat. The coalition intervened in Yemen in March to restore Hadi after he fled to Saudi Arabia when the Houthis, backed by supporters of former president Ali Abdullah Saleh, overran his southern stronghold of Aden.

The UAE pledged to push ahead with the coalition offensive to dislodge the Houthis - seen by US-allied Gulf Sunni Muslims as a proxy for would-be Iranian expansion in the Arabian Peninsula- from Sanaa. The Houthis deny such links and say they are waging war against corruption and misrule in Yemen.

More than 4,500 people have been killed since the Saudi-led intervention, according to United Nations figures.

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