Yemen Affirms Commitment to Securing Sea Lanes with Saudi Coalition

The Yemeni government has affirmed its commitment to cooperating with the Saudi-led coalition and international partners to counter threats and protect vital waterways amid rising tensions with the Houthi group. In a statement on social media platform X on Saturday, Chairman of Yemen’s Presidential Leadership Council Rashad al-Alimi said the cooperation also focuses on tackling terrorism, smuggling and organised crime. “This is a national responsibility and an unwavering commitment to the security of Yemen, the region and global peace,” Al-Alimi said. Al-Alimi accused the Houthi group and its backers of undermining de-escalation opportunities. He assessed that such actions deliberately drag the country into successive crises to serve the Iranian regime’s agenda. He stressed that the Yemeni people’s aspirations to build a dignified and stable state would never be a bargaining chip. According to him, the Houthi group has no choice but to comply with the will of the people. “The continued escalation only wastes time and drains Yemen’s resources without in any way weakening the public’s resolve to end the coup and restore state authority,” Al-Alimi asserted. The statement came following confirmation that the Saudi-led coalition had launched proportional military strikes against Houthi targets in Al-Hudayda province as a form of protection for transiting vessels. The move was taken after the Houthis threatened to ban Saudi-affiliated shipping in the Red Sea and the Bab el-Mandeb Strait.