AL-MUKALLA: Yemen’s Houthis have called for all ships planning to cross the Red Sea to inform them in advance about their destinations and declare no connections to Israel to avoid being attacked.
The Houthi leader, Mohammed Ali Al-Houthi, in a post on social media platform X, formerly Twitter said every ship that goes through the Red Sea, Bab El-Mandeb should broadcast the words, ‘we have no relationship with Israel.’
He added this is a simple and low-cost solution that will have no financial expenditures for any business. He went on to say the measure does not need the militarization of the Red Sea and will not jeopardize international navigation.
According to reports since November 19, the Houthis have seized a commercial ship called Galaxy Leader and carried out more than 20 missile and drone assaults on commercial and navy vessels ships in the Red Sea.
The Houthis say their actions are intended to force Israel to stop bombing in Gaza.
The US Central Command (CENTCOM) on Saturday reported that the USS Laboon (DDG 59) naval destroyer shot down a drone sent by the Houthis near commercial ships in Red Sea international waters.
Earlier, Yemen’s internationally recognized Presidential Leadership Council (PLC) had warned the Houthis against driving Yemen into a war with global powers over their Red Sea strikes.
Meanwhile the UN, the UK, Canada, and other countries had warned the Houthis to stop attacking ships in the Red Sea or face consequences.
The US has sent an aircraft carrier, to the region and earlier announced a coalition of nations to protect movement in the Red Sea, through which around 12 percent of international trade passes.
