Saleh Al-Sammad… The Leader Who Confronted the Aggression and Built the State
Yemen entered a critical historical phase following the outbreak of the aggression on March 26, 2015 — one of the most difficult periods in the country’s history. Amid these exceptional circumstances, Martyr President Saleh Ali Al-Sammad assumed leadership of the state as Head of the Supreme Political Council, embodying the model of a leader who places الوطن before himself and shoulders responsibility with all its sacrifices.
Early Life and Formation
Martyr Saleh Al-Sammad was born on January 1, 1979, in Bani Mu’adh, Sahar District, Saada Governorate. He graduated from Sana’a University and worked as a teacher before deepening his studies in religious sciences under several prominent scholars, including the eminent scholar Sayyid (may God be pleased with him). This foundation shaped his national awareness, intellectual depth, and future leadership path.
On September 24, 2014, he was appointed Advisor to the President of the Republic. He later emerged prominently in the field during the unjust Saada wars, particularly the third war, where he opened a resistance front in Bani Mu’adh to relieve military pressure on Maran, Nashour, and Dhahyan, and led direct confrontations near the city of Saada.
Early Signs of Sacrifice
Al-Sammad’s leadership was never theoretical. His home and farms were bombed and destroyed, two of his brothers were martyred during the war, and he survived repeated assassination attempts. These events revealed early the nature of a leader who never abandoned the battlefield and never sought personal protection, placing national duty above all else.
Leadership of the State and the Battle
Following national consensus, he was appointed President of the Supreme Political Council in 2016, leading Yemen’s defense under extremely unequal conditions against a coalition with overwhelming superiority in wealth, weapons, and media, with full international backing.
He maintained a direct presence in the most sensitive fronts and made citizen welfare and institutional continuity central to his national strategy. In cooperation with the Leader of the Revolution, Sayyid Abdul-Malik Badr Al-Din Al-Houthi, he contributed to developing Yemen’s military industries, including drones and ballistic missiles, establishing a strategic deterrence equation against the aggression.
The “One Hand Protects… One Hand Builds” Project
On March 26, 2018, President Al-Sammad launched his national project “One Hand Protects… One Hand Builds,” affirming that defending Yemen is inseparable from building the state.
The project was based on three core principles:
Full independence: no subordination, no guardianship, no submission.
National reconciliation: unifying ranks and ending internal conflicts.
Self-reliance: building a strong economy and strengthening state institutions.
It was a genuine roadmap for building an independent state — not a political slogan.
Enduring Legacy
President Al-Sammad left a lasting national legacy of political, military, and social achievements, including:
Developing local defense industries to strengthen military capabilities and impose strategic deterrence.
Efficient management of battlefronts with discipline and precise planning.
Direct engagement with citizens, addressing their concerns and supporting state institutions.
Adopting a comprehensive project for building an independent state based on sovereignty, reconciliation, and self-reliance.
He embodied the model of a principled leader who placed the nation’s interest above all else, believing in honorable peace and legitimate defense, becoming a symbol for future generations in national leadership and responsibility.
Assassination and the Attempt to Destroy the Project
On April 19, 2018, Martyr President Saleh Al-Sammad was assassinated during a field visit in Hodeidah Governorate after being targeted by airstrikes carried out by the American-Saudi-Emirati coalition. The operation revealed the magnitude of the direct threat he posed due to his central role in leading the state and confronting the aggression.
Following his assassination, Zionist media outlets expressed open satisfaction, with some newspapers describing him as “the man who disturbed the coalition,” reflecting the significant impact he had on the course of confrontation and defense.
A Lasting Symbol
Despite his assassination, his project “One Hand Protects… One Hand Builds” continued as a guiding reference in state-building, and his image became a symbol of leadership under siege and fire.
Political and analytical testimonies confirm that his martyrdom strengthened the Yemeni people’s steadfastness and sacrifice, and that his leadership legacy remains alive within military and civilian institutions.
An Exceptional Personality and a Role Model
Al-Sammad combined Quranic culture with political and mili