Yemeni Prime Minister Shaya Zindani has condemned the Houthi militia's continued attacks on commercial shipping in the Red Sea, describing them as part of an Iranian agenda to destabilise regional and international maritime safety. In a statement released by his office on Sunday, Zindani called on the international community to adopt a more robust stance to protect critical maritime corridors and counter the Houthi threat.
Prime Minister's strong condemnation and call for international action
Zindani emphasised that the Houthi attacks on international shipping lanes demonstrate that the group is carrying out Iran's agenda. He stressed that these actions go beyond Yemen by threatening global supply chains, freedom of navigation, and international peace efforts. "We affirm that protecting freedom of navigation and the security of maritime corridors is a collective responsibility," Zindani said. "The international community is now required to adopt a firmer and more deterrent stance toward the Houthi terrorist behavior, dry up its sources of support, and prevent its continued threats to regional and international interests."
Yemen's Defence Minister echoes concerns and outlines strategy
Yemen's Defence Minister Lieutenant General Taher al-Aqili echoed similar concerns earlier in the day. He stated that the armed forces, in coordination with the Saudi-led coalition and international partners, remain committed to confronting "the terrorism perpetrated by the Iranian-backed Houthi militia" until its threat is neutralised and state authority is restored nationwide. According to Al Jazeera, al-Aqili noted that for over a decade, the Houthis have demonstrated they "thrive only on cycles of violence, terrorism, piracy, and chaos," exploiting Yemen's strategic geography to imperil international shipping "in service of the agenda of its financiers and operators in Tehran." He emphasised that broader regional and international peace "will not prevail, except by severing the arm of the Revolutionary Guard" and re-establishing full government authority across all national territory.
Government meeting addresses economic and field developments
The Prime Minister also held a government meeting to assess the service and economic situation and the field developments following the Houthi escalation of attacks on maritime navigation and assaults on army forces across several fronts. The meeting aimed to coordinate responses and reinforce state stability.
UKMTO reports recent maritime incident in southern Red Sea
The statements come after a security report from the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) regarding an incident in the southern Red Sea, a high-risk corridor leading toward the Bab el-Mandeb Strait. UKMTO reported that a commercial tanker witnessed a splash from an unknown projectile in close proximity to the vessel. The vessel and crew are safe, while environmental impacts remain unconfirmed. Maritime authorities have advised vessels transiting the area to exercise caution and report any suspicious activity while investigations continue.
Houthi claims of downing Saudi drone and targeting oil tankers
On the other hand, Iranian state media (IRIB) reported that a spokesperson for Yemen's Houthi forces claimed that their forces successfully shot down a Turkish-made armed reconnaissance drone identified as a Bayraktar AKINCI, belonging to Saudi Arabia. According to the spokesperson, the aircraft was carrying out hostile operations over Yemen's Al-Jawf province before being brought down with specialised air defence weaponry. Additionally, IRIB reported that Houthi rebels have targeted three Saudi oil tankers over the past 48 hours, marking a further escalation in regional maritime conflicts.
The developments underscore the ongoing volatility in the region and the international community's challenge in securing key maritime routes amid the Houthi-Iran nexus.
