Ankara: Yemen's Houthi group announced that six ships had turned back within the past 24 hours following the group's newly declared ban on maritime navigation to Saudi Arabia. The internationally recognized Yemeni government is now calling for stronger global action against the Houthis.
According to Anadolu Agency, a Houthi military source, quoted by the group's Saba news agency, stated that the vessels reversed their course after receiving warnings from Houthi forces. This followed Monday's proclamation of a maritime blockade on Saudi Arabia. The source did not provide details about the identity of the ships or their specific turnaround points.
Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree announced the navigation ban on Monday, citing it as a response to what the group perceives as a Saudi blockade. This move has been met with condemnation from Saudi Arabia and several other Arab nations. Furthermore, it prompted Yemen's government to seek international support and led to warnings from the UN against further escalation.
In a related development, Rashad al-Alimi, Chairman of Yemen's Presidential Leadership Council, urged the international community to perceive the Houthis as part of a broader regional threat. During discussions with Indian Ambassador Suhel Ajaz Khan, Al-Alimi claimed that the Houthis are attempting to drag Yemen into a wider regional conflict, allegedly serving Iran's interests, as reported by the government-run Saba news agency. He emphasized that the repercussions of these actions extend beyond Yemen, posing threats to the security of the Red Sea and Asian countries reliant on the crucial maritime route.
Al-Alimi further accused the Houthis of collaborating with terrorist organizations and armed factions in the Horn of Africa, engaging in weapon smuggling, supporting piracy and transnational crime, and endangering international shipping and global supply chains.
Saudi Arabia also issued a strong condemnation of the Houthis' "false allegations," accusing the group of exacerbating the suffering of the Yemeni populace while undermining regional security and stability. In a statement post-Cabinet meeting chaired by King Salman bin Abdulaziz, the kingdom reaffirmed its backing for Yemen's internationally recognized government and pledged to implement "firm measures" to safeguard its security and vessels, in line with international law and the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea.
The situation in Yemen intensified last week following an airstrike by government forces on the Houthi-controlled Sanaa airport, aimed at preventing an Iranian aircraft from landing. The Houthis attributed the attack to Saudi Arabia and retaliated by launching missiles toward Saudi territory, ending a prolonged period of relative calm.