YEMEN / ISTANBUL: Yemen’s Houthi movement claimed that six commercial vessels reversed course within 24 hours of its newly announced maritime ban targeting Saudi Arabia, while Yemen’s internationally recognized government called on the global community to take stronger action against the group.
According to Houthi-run Saba News Agency, a military official said the ships changed course after receiving warnings from Houthi forces following the group’s declaration of a navigation ban on Saudi Arabia. The official did not disclose the identities of the vessels or specify where they diverted.
The maritime restrictions were announced on Monday by Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree, who said the measure took immediate effect and was intended as a response to what the group described as a Saudi-imposed blockade.
The move has drawn widespread criticism from Saudi Arabia and several Arab states, while the United Nations has warned that further escalation could threaten regional stability and international shipping.
Meanwhile, Rashad al-Alimi, chairman of Yemen’s Presidential Leadership Council, urged the international community to view the Houthis as part of a broader regional security threat rather than an isolated domestic movement.
During talks with Indian Ambassador Suhel Ajaz Khan, Al-Alimi accused the Houthis of attempting to draw Yemen deeper into regional conflict in support of Iran’s strategic objectives. He warned that the group’s actions endanger not only Yemen but also maritime security in the Red Sea, a vital trade corridor relied upon by many Asian economies.
Al-Alimi further alleged that the Houthis cooperate with armed groups and terrorist organizations in the Horn of Africa, facilitate weapons smuggling, support piracy, and contribute to transnational criminal networks that threaten international shipping and global supply chains.
Saudi Arabia also rejected what it described as the Houthis’ “false allegations” and accused the group of worsening Yemen’s humanitarian crisis while undermining regional peace and security.
Following a Cabinet meeting chaired by King Salman bin Abdulaziz, the kingdom reaffirmed its support for Yemen’s internationally recognized government and pledged to take all necessary measures, consistent with international law and the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, to safeguard its territorial security and maritime interests.
The latest tensions follow an escalation last week when Yemeni government forces struck Sanaa International Airport to prevent an Iranian aircraft from landing. The Houthis blamed Saudi Arabia for the attack and responded by launching missiles toward Saudi territory, ending a prolonged period of relative calm between the two sides.
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