Yemeni officials warn against Saudi-led naval coalition
Tehran - BORNA - Rashad al-Alimi, head of Yemen’s Presidential Leadership Council, welcomed the coalition during a meeting, calling it a vital step to bolster maritime security and protect navigation in the Red Sea, the Gulf of Aden, and the Bab al-Mandab Strait.
Citing Al-Masa Press, al-Alimi added that the initiative reflects growing international consensus that securing maritime corridors is a shared responsibility.
However, Abdulaziz Saleh bin Habtoor, a member of the Ansarallah Supreme Political Council, accused Saudi Arabia of attempting to "militarize the Red Sea," warning that the coalition would not protect Saudi vessels and would only escalate regional tensions.
"The coalition is nothing more than a cover for continued aggression, blockade, and systematic militarization under false pretexts," Bin Habtoor said, describing the move as a failed attempt to alter equations by force.
Bin Habtoor emphasized that the Bab al-Mandab Strait remains open to international shipping, explaining that actions strictly target Saudi maritime traffic in response to a blockade affecting over 30 million people. "Any country participating in this coalition will be the primary loser if the confrontation expands," he warned.
Ansarallah Political Bureau member Hussein al-Ezzi also reacted on X, asserting that Sanaa remains committed to maritime safety but warning against provocation. Meanwhile, senior Ansarallah official Mohammad al-Farah noted that coalition members are the same nations that previously backed aggressive campaigns against Yemen.
The responses follow a Saudi Ministry of Defense meeting with over 40 nations, resulting in a joint statement from 14 countries—including Egypt, Turkey, Qatar, Pakistan, Kuwait, Jordan, and the Aden-based government—announcing a naval coalition aimed at protecting commercial routes and energy shipments in the region.
The Saudi initiative comes after Ansarallah launched targeted attacks against Saudi oil tankers and infrastructure in response to ongoing strikes and naval blockades.
End Article