Yemen denies participating in any alliances… and the Houthi escalation affects a fuel tanker
In light of the Houthi group’s continued escalation against international tankers in the southern Red Sea, and its threat of more attacks, a military source in the Yemeni government denied participation in any new international coalition against the group, stressing that these decisions are a sovereign matter for the higher authorities. In reference to the Presidential Leadership Council.
The day after the Houthi group claimed the bombing of a Norwegian tanker off the shores of the port of Mocha in the southern Red Sea, causing damage, American sources reported, on Wednesday, that another commercial ship carrying a shipment of fuel survived two missiles near Bab al-Mandab.
The Norwegian tanker “Strinda” was targeted by the Houthis with a missile late on Monday and was damaged (AFP)
The Houthi group did not claim responsibility for the attack, which the American media said coincided with the launch of a drone that was shot down by the destroyer USS Mason in the Red Sea.
The Houthi group claims that it is carrying out its attacks in support of the Palestinians in Gaza, and has vowed to target all ships heading to Israeli ports, regardless of their nationality, while the Yemeni government says that the group is implementing Iran’s instructions and its attacks have nothing to do with the Palestinian issue.
Amid fears that the militarization of the Red Sea would obstruct the peace process in Yemen led by the United Nations with Saudi and Omani mediation, the French Navy confirmed the downing of a Houthi drone, on Tuesday, which is the second operation in which Paris is responsible for confronting Houthi attacks.
In light of the United States’ threats not to rule out military intervention in Yemen, the Yemeni government is dealing with the escalating situation with caution, and holds the international community responsible for what happened in the Red Sea, where the major powers prevented the liberation of Hodeidah and its ports and pressed to conclude the “Stockholm” agreement, from which the group benefited. The Houthis to enhance their military capabilities and increase their threat to navigation in the Red Sea.
No participation in an international coalition
An official source in the Yemeni Ministry of Defense was quick to deny what he described as “circulating news that spoke of the Yemeni government’s participation in a new international coalition to protect maritime shipping lines that are subject to terrorist attacks by the Houthi militias with the support of the Iranian regime.”
Member of the Yemeni Presidential Leadership Council, Tariq Saleh, inspected naval formations in Mokha (Sheba)
The source explained in a statement carried by the official “Saba” agency that studying sovereign decisions of this type is one of the exclusive tasks and competencies of the highest institutions and authorities of the state. He stressed “the importance of supporting the capabilities of the Yemeni government and its agencies concerned with protecting territorial waters to deter the threats of the Houthi militias and contain their disastrous repercussions on freedom of international navigation, the humanitarian situation in Yemen, and international peace and security.”
The Yemeni source renewed the Houthis’ warning “against the consequences of their reckless adventures against national interests, and the dangers of militarizing Yemeni territorial waters and turning them into a theater for a broader international conflict.”
The last two days witnessed a Yemeni movement on the western coast of the country led by a member of the Presidential Command Council, Tariq Saleh, where he inspected the readiness of the naval forces and the coast guard in the city of Mokha, and also inspected military formations on the lines of contact with the Houthi group south of Hodeidah.
A Yemeni military source denied participating in an international coalition against the Houthis (Saba)
The group, which the Yemeni government describes as an “Iranian arm,” vowed to continue targeting all ships in the Red and Arab Bahrain that intend to dock in Israeli ports, and Muhammad Ali al-Houthi, the cousin of its leader, stated that the American threat to create an alliance against the group is “worthless.”
Yemeni Foreign Minister Ahmed Awad bin Mubarak told Asharq Al-Awsat earlier that he discussed with US envoy Tim Lenderking “coordinating efforts with all countries that believe in the principle of freedom of navigation and safe passage of global shipping.” To ensure the flow of goods and international trade in the Red Sea.
The Yemeni government confirms that the Houthis’ escalation and their threat to international security and maritime navigation are the result of international complacency towards the group and intervention to hinder the Yemeni forces from liberating Hodeidah.
The United Nations is racing against time with the regional and international communities in the hope of concluding a Yemeni agreement that will pave the way for an end to the ongoing conflict since the Houthi coup in late 2014, despite a large sector of Yemenis questioning the feasibility of any agreement with the Iran-backed Houthi group.
The Secretary-General of the United Nations, António Guterres, announced the appointment of the Iraqi diplomat, Sarhad Sardar Fattah, as his deputy envoy to Yemen, Hans Grundberg, succeeding Maeen Shuraim, who he said has more than 18 years of experience in political and diplomatic activity, as he has served since 2019 as Deputy Permanent Representative of Iraq to The United Nations in New York.
An escalating Houthi threat
The Houthi group has not only adopted the launch of missiles and marches towards Israel since the outbreak of the war in Gaza, but it has escalated to target ships that have ties to Israel, before it escalated further to include the threat to all commercial ships directed to Israeli ports, regardless of their nationality.
The Houthi group described the American threat to form an international coalition against it as “worthless” (Houthi media)
Two American officials told the Associated Press: Two missiles fired from territory controlled by the Houthi rebels in Yemen missed a commercial tanker loaded with Indian-made aviation fuel near the main Bab al-Mandab Strait on Wednesday. This is the first time they have targeted an energy shipment heading to the Suez Canal.
The two officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said that the US warship USS Mason also shot down a suspected Houthi drone that was flying in their direction during the incident. Officials said no one was hurt in the attack.
According to the US agency, the attack on the Ardmore Encounter tanker leads to an escalation of the Iranian-backed rebel campaign targeting ships near the Bab al-Mandab Strait, and it also expands the international impact of the war between Israel and Hamas raging in the Gaza Strip.
Satellite tracking data analyzed by the Associated Press showed that the Marshall Islands-flagged tanker was heading north toward the Suez Canal in the Red Sea. The ship was on its way from Mangalore, India, and had an armed security crew on board, according to data transmitted by the ship. The private intelligence company Ambrey said that these guards apparently opened fire to drive away boats loaded with men who were trying to board the ship.
The American destroyer USS Mason responds to ship distress in the Red Sea (AFP)
Ardmore Shipping Corp, which owns and operates the ship, issued a statement to the Associated Press acknowledging the attack. The statement read: “No one boarded the ship and all crew members are safe and accounted for.” The ship remains fully operational without loss of any cargo or damage on board.”
Earlier, the British Army’s UK Maritime Trade Operations reported a separate incident off the coast of Oman. She added that small boats carrying machine guns and men wearing gray uniforms followed a ship before it escaped unharmed.
The group, which the Yemeni government says is an Iranian tool, was able to pirate the “Galaxy Leader” ship last month, an international cargo tanker operated by a Japanese company, claiming that it was an Israeli ship, and took it to the coast of Hodeidah, and turned it into a shrine for its followers.
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2023-12-14 07:38:36
