Coalition says Houthi attacks on Red Sea shipping threaten maritime security
- Coalition response followed efforts to protect Yemen’s capabilities and focused on military sites linked to threats against commercial shipping in the Red Sea
- Operation was carried out in accordance with international humanitarian law and the principle of proportionality
- Operation achieved its intended objectives while limiting its scope to legitimate military targets.
- Coalition’s Joint Forces Command will continue taking necessary measures to protect maritime routes, safeguard ships, and defend Saudi interests and national assets
- Further hostile actions by the Houthi militia will prompt a response
Major General Turki Al-Maliki, spokesperson for the Coalition to Support Legitimacy in Yemen, said the Houthi militia’s targeting of commercial vessels in the Red Sea represented a serious escalation and added to concerns over maritime security in one of the world’s key shipping routes.
Al-Maliki said Saudi Arabia remains committed to supporting the Yemeni people and the internationally recognized Yemeni government, adding that the Kingdom would continue its efforts to assist Yemen amid ongoing challenges.
He stressed that the port of Hodeidah was not targeted and that Yemeni ports, including Hodeidah, Ras Issa and Salif, remain operational and open for maritime traffic.
According to Al-Maliki, the ports continue to receive commercial vessels carrying food, goods, fuel and construction materials, while flights to Yemeni airports also remain available.
He also said the Houthi movement continues to prevent the resumption of flights from Sana’a International Airport, which he said contributes to difficulties faced by civilians in areas under its control.
Al-Maliki said the coalition’s response followed efforts to protect Yemen’s capabilities and focused on military sites linked to threats against commercial shipping in the Red Sea.
He added that the operation was carried out in accordance with international humanitarian law and the principle of proportionality.
The coalition spokesperson said the operation achieved its intended objectives while limiting its scope to what he described as legitimate military targets.
He added that the Coalition’s Joint Forces Command would continue taking necessary measures to protect maritime routes, safeguard ships, and defend Saudi interests and national assets.
He warned that further hostile actions by the Houthi militia would prompt a response.
