SANAA: Yemen’s Houthi group has rejected a joint statement issued by 12 countries condemning their attacks on commercial ships in the Red Sea. The group vowed to continue targeting “Israel-linked commercial ships” and accused the condemning nations of attempting to cover up alleged crimes by Israel.
Houthi spokesman Dhaifallah al-Shami stated that the armed group would persist with these attacks until Israel ends the conflict and the siege on the Gaza Strip.
On Wednesday, Australia, Bahrain, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Germany, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Britain, and the United States issued a joint statement condemning Houthi attacks on commercial vessels in the Red Sea. The statement called for an immediate halt to the attacks and the release of unlawfully detained vessels and crews.
The condemning nations warned that the Houthis would bear responsibility for any consequences resulting from their actions, emphasizing the threat to lives, the global economy, and the free flow of commerce in critical waterways.
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Since the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas conflict on October 7, 2023, Houthi militia has increased attacks on Israel-linked ships, demanding the entry of food and medical aid into the Gaza Strip. The Houthis control significant parts of northern Yemen, including Sanaa and the strategic Red Sea port city of Hodeidah, where they have detained the Galaxy Leader, a Japanese-operated cargo ship linked to an Israeli company, and its crew since November 19, 2023.
Responding to the escalating situation, the United States, along with other Western countries, formed a multinational maritime coalition last week to secure ships transiting the Red Sea from Houthi attacks. In a recent incident, U.S. naval forces sank three Houthi boats, responding to a distress call from a merchant boat under Houthi attack in the Red Sea, resulting in the death of 10 fighters.
As a consequence of these attacks, several companies are rerouting their ships around South Africa to reduce risks, impacting international trade and freight costs, according to Arsenio Dominguez, Secretary-General of the International Maritime Organization.
