Sanaa: Yemen's army announced that it intercepted four explosive-laden Houthi boats attempting to approach the Hanish and Zuqar islands in the Red Sea. The incident, reported on Monday, highlights rising military tensions in the region.

According to Anadolu Agency, the Yemeni Armed Forces Media Center released a statement on the US social media platform X, detailing the engagement of naval and coastal defense units with four Houthi 'suicide boats.' These boats were detected near the islands, which are strategically controlled by government forces and overlook crucial international shipping routes.

The naval forces successfully intercepted the boats before they could reach the islands. The army reported significant Houthi boat activity throughout the day, signaling an attempt to approach the government-held territories. Earlier statements from the government-aligned National Resistance Forces indicated similar Houthi movements on Sunday and Monday, though details remained sparse.

The Houthis have yet to comment on either of the statements regarding these incidents. This escalation occurs amidst ongoing tensions between Yemen's government forces and the Houthis, adding strain to a nation already grappling with severe humanitarian and economic challenges.

Since 2022, Yemen has experienced relative calm after prolonged conflict between the government forces and the Houthis, who have held Sanaa and other regions since 2014. The Saudi-led coalition backs Yemen's internationally recognized government, while Iran is accused of supporting the Houthis, who declared a maritime blockade of Saudi Arabia in July.