Watan-The official spokesperson for the Houthi group, Mohammed Abdul Salam, confirmed that the operations of the Yemeni group in the Red Sea against ships associated with Israel continue and will not cease unless the blockade on Gaza is lifted.
These statements from the Houthi spokesperson came in response to the announcement by the United States on Monday about the formation of a multinational military force to secure the movement of ships in the Red Sea against Houthi attacks.
المتحدث باسم أنصار الله الحوثيين للجزيرة: لن تتوقف عملياتنا في البحر الأحمر حتى فك الحصار عن #غزة وإدخال المساعدات الإنسانية، وموقف اليمن هو نصرةً لإخواننا المظلومين في #غزة وهذا أقل واجب يمكن أن نقدمه لفلسطين#حرب_غزة #الأخبار pic.twitter.com/Jh7lHLPl0J
— قناة الجزيرة (@AJArabic) December 19, 2023
The Houthis respond to the threat from America
He continued, stating that the stance of the Houthi group comes “in support of our oppressed brothers in Gaza, and this is the least duty we can offer to Palestine,” according to his words.
Regarding the international force that the United States announced forming, claiming to secure navigation in the Red Sea, Mohammed Abdul Salam said, “This is an attempt by the United States and some Western countries to pressure Arab countries overlooking the Red Sea to participate in this alliance, which is intended to protect Israel, not international navigation,” as he described it.
The Houthi spokesperson explained, “That’s why we commend some companies that have announced the suspension of navigation to Israeli ports, which is the sound and correct option, considering that our operations target only those heading towards Israel.”
He added, “Evidence of this is that hundreds of ships pass through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait daily without any harm coming to them.”
The Houthi group: Our operations are not a show of force
In a post on its official “X” account, Mohammed Abdul Salam, the spokesperson for the Houthis, stated that Yemen’s naval operations aim to support the Palestinian people in the face of aggression and the blockade on Gaza. He emphasized that these operations are not a show of force or a challenge to anyone.
He added, ‘Those seeking to escalate the conflict must bear the consequences of their actions. The alliance formed by the United States aims to protect Israel and militarize the sea without justification. Yemen will not stop its legitimate operations in support of Gaza.’
The Houthi spokesperson clarified that ‘just as America allowed itself to support Israel with or without an alliance, the peoples of the region have full legitimacy to support the Palestinian people. Yemen has taken it upon itself to stand alongside the Palestinian right and the great injustice of Gaza.