TOKYO: G7 foreign ministers on Wednesday called upon Houthis to stop threatening the international shipping and release a vessel they seized earlier this month.
A statement released by G7 head Japan, stressed the importance of maritime security. It called on all parties not to threaten or interfere with navigational rights and freedoms by all ships.
It especially called on Houthis to immediately stop attacks on civilians and threats to international shipping lines and commercial ships. It asked Houthis to release the M/V Galaxy Leader and its crew, that they illegally seized from international waters on November 19.
The Houthis have started a series of drone and missile strikes targeting Israel since war between Israel and Hamas started.
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On November 17, Houthis seized Israeli-linked cargo ship along with its 25-international crew at the entrance to the Red Sea.
The Pentagon said that on Sunday, two ballistic missiles were launched by Houthi, landing around 10 miles from US destroyer the USS Mason.
The USS Mason and other ships were responding to the boarding of a tanker near the Yemeni port city of Aden seized by five-armed people — believed to be Somalis.
