2023-12-12 15:29:43
Yemeni forces are preparing at sea to secure navigation in the Red Sea
Amid the escalation of Houthi attacks once morest international shipping ships in the Red Sea, Yemeni government forces are preparing to carry out tasks to secure navigation in territorial waters, in conjunction with international movements to respond to the threats of the pro-Iranian group.
This came the day following a missile attack by the Houthi group targeted a Norwegian shipping tanker off the Yemeni coast near the port of Mocha, which caused damage to the ship. This coincided with the announcement by the French Armed Forces of intercepting and destroying a Houthi march, in the second interception operation by the French Navy in the Red Sea.
Member of the Presidential Command Council, Tariq Saleh, reviews the units of the Naval Forces (Saba)
In the context of what is likely to be a practical move by the Yemeni forces to contribute navally to securing navigation in the Red Sea, a member of the Presidential Command Council, Brigadier General Tariq Saleh, on Tuesday, reviewed a display of symbolic naval formations from the Coast Guard and the First Marine Brigade in the city of Mokha in Taiz Governorate.
The official Yemeni media stated that the parade embodied the high readiness to carry out the tasks of the forces in protecting peace and security within the maritime borders of the Republic of Yemen in the western coast sector.
Member of the Yemeni Governing Council, Tariq Saleh, who leads the National Resistance Forces on the Yemeni western coast, stressed “the importance of adhering to high vigilance and remaining constantly alert to confront any aggressive dangers threatening the ports, coasts, liberated islands and territorial waters,” according to what was reported by the official “Saba” agency.
Tariq Saleh stressed that the stability of his country “is the desired goal of building any military force, and that the hostile activities of Iran’s arm in Yemen are intended to kill Yemenis and tamper with their country and territorial waters to protect Iran’s interests and its project that seeks to control international waters in the Straits of Hormuz and Bab al-Mandab.”
Yemeni-Saudi discussions in Mocha regarding securing navigation in Yemeni waters (Saba)
In the context of seeking to confront the Houthi threats, Tariq Saleh received, in the city of Mokha, west of Taiz Governorate, on Monday, a Saudi military delegation from the coalition leadership in Aden, led by Brigadier General Hussein Awad Al-Harbi.
The official media reported that during the meeting, “the efforts and readiness of the Yemeni naval forces and coast guard were discussed, and ways to support and develop them to enhance their role in securing Yemen’s maritime borders and protecting them from terrorist threats, as part of the region’s efforts on both banks of the Red Sea, to preserve the security and peace of the region, and to spare it conflicts and tensions.” ».
According to what was reported by the “Saba” agency, the two sides stressed their keenness to continue coordination and cooperation between the two countries, and to work jointly to protect international shipping lines in the Red Sea and maintain the security and safety of the region.
Houthi challenge
The Iranian-backed Houthi group apparently understood the international keenness to bring peace to Yemen as a message condoning the continued threat to international navigation in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, as a result of claims of supporting the Palestinian cause, and in an attempt to evade the demands of peace.
The group claimed responsibility for targeting the Norwegian ship “Strinda” with a winged missile, and claimed that it was loaded with oil and headed to Israel. Its military spokesman also claimed in a statement that his group “succeeded during the past two days in preventing the passage of several ships that responded to the warnings,” and that it “did not resort to targeting the Norwegian ship loaded with oil except following its crew rejected all warning calls.”
The Houthis claim that their attacks on ships are in support of the Palestinians in Gaza (EPA)
While the group, which the Yemeni government describes as an “Iranian arm,” vowed to continue targeting all ships in the Red and Arabian Seas that intend to dock in Israeli ports, Muhammad Ali al-Houthi, a cousin of the group’s leader, had stated that the American threat to create an alliance once morest it was “worthless.” ».
The Houthi group’s threat was not limited to targeting commercial ships, but it expanded to target government forces with drones. The Yemeni military media reported on Tuesday that air defense units in the Al-Razzamat axis (1st Harb Brigade in Saada Governorate) shot down two Houthi drones within 24 hours.
International concern
The Houthis’ escalation in the Red Sea once morest cargo ships has reminded the international community of the group’s danger in one of the most important global trade corridors, and America has threatened to use force to deter these threats amid moves to form an international coalition to carry out this mission.
In statements to the official Yemeni media, the British Ambassador to Yemen, Abda Sharif, confirmed that the Houthis’ recent attacks on international shipping and their illegal seizure of the “Galaxy Leader” ship undermine Yemen’s security, especially food security in Yemen, as 80 percent of food is imported via Red Sea ports.
“Saba” news agency quoted the British ambassador as saying: “The continuing threats to international commercial shipping will ultimately lead to restricting the availability of food, because commercial shipping will not risk its ships and crews, and shipping insurance costs have begun to rise, and will lead to higher food prices, and an increase in food prices.” Humanitarian needs.
Sharif renewed the United Kingdom’s commitment to protecting the safety of shipping in the region, and demanded the immediate and unconditional release of the ship Galaxy Leader and its crew, which the Houthis had pirated last month.
The US missile destroyer USS Mason provides support to ships in the Red Sea (AFP)
Earlier, Yemeni Foreign Minister Ahmed Awad bin Mubarak told Asharq Al-Awsat 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.
CENTCOM Statement on missile attack in the Bab-el-MandebAt around 4 p.m. EST on December 11, the Motor Tanker STRINDA was attacked by what is assessed to have been an Anti-Ship Cruise Missile (ASCM) launched from a Houthi controlled area of Yemen while passing through the… pic.twitter.com/OJDoubAU2D
— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) December 12, 2023
The US Central Command (Centcom) announced that a missile fired by the Houthis hit, on Monday, the oil tanker “Strinda” flying the Norwegian flag while it was sailing off Yemen.
She indicated that the ship reported “damage that caused a fire on board,” and confirmed that a US Navy destroyer responded to a distress call made by the ship and extended a helping hand.
Winkel Chemical Tankers, the company that owns the Norwegian chemical tanker that was hit by a missile off the coast of Yemen, told Archyde.com that the tanker was heading to a safe port, and that its crew, consisting of 22 people from India, was unharmed.
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