The Saudi-led coalition's spokesman, Rear Admiral Turki al-Maliki, said late Monday that the coalition has begun implementing measures to protect its ships in the Bab el-Mandeb strait and will respond with force to any Houthi threats to passing vessels. The warning follows Houthi accusations that the kingdom is imposing a blockade on Yemeni ports. Al-Maliki described the Houthi threats as a violation of international law and an act of piracy.
Late Monday night, the Saudi-led coalition issued a direct warning to the Houthi movement, vowing to respond with force to any threat to its ships in the Bab el-Mandeb strait. The coalition's spokesman, Rear Admiral Turki al-Maliki, said operational measures are already underway to protect coalition vessels, and described the Houthi threats as a violation of international law and an act of piracy.
The warning comes hours after the Houthi movement accused Saudi Arabia of imposing a naval blockade on Yemeni ports and announced a blockade on Saudi ports. As The Zioneer reported earlier Monday, the Saudi Foreign Ministry condemned the Houthi declaration, and a separate analysis noted the Houthi claim of a full siege on Saudi ports. The coalition's statement marks a shift from diplomatic condemnation to an explicit military posture in the strategic waterway, through which a significant share of global oil trade transits.
3 developments
- DevelopingYemen's Saudi-backed legitimate government forces prepare to resume fighting Houthis
- DevelopingUnverified report: Pro-Saudi Yemeni forces moving toward Houthi territory ahead of attack
- DevelopingHouthis declare readiness for 'any scenario' amid tensions
- StrongSenior Saudi Official: Historic Opportunity for Cooperation with Israel Against Houthis
Source and signal
- Internal intake