Yemen’s Ambassador to Kuwait ‘warns’ of Red Sea flashpoint

KUWAIT CITY, July 23: Yemeni Ambassador to Kuwait Dr. Ali bin Safaa said the fire that engulfed a commercial vessel belonging to a Saudi company in the Red Sea on Thursday morning is a dangerous escalation threatening international maritime security. In a statement to the newspaper, Bin Safaa asserted that the attacks carried out by the Houthi militia are no longer isolated incidents, as they have become part of an Iranian agenda targeting regional security and global trade. He stressed that targeting commercial vessels is a blatant violation of international laws and norms, and threatens the security of the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, which are among the most important maritime routes for the global economy. He stated that the Houthi militia employs political and religious slogans and claims to be confronting Israel and the United States to gain public sympathy, but in reality, it is implementing an Iranian agenda to destabilize the region.

He revealed that the Houthi militia exploits military reactions in the media to portray itself as a defender of the nation and to cover up its crimes within Yemen. He cited the indications of coordination between the Houthis and armed groups and pirates on the African side, threatening to transform the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden into an area of influence used for political and economic blackmail and the imposition of a fait accompli. He stressed that relying on foreign interventions has proven to be of limited effectiveness, explaining that they have managed the crisis without resolving it, and have instead allowed the Houthi militia to continue promoting its narrative. He added that the Houthi group is experiencing a period of weakness and internal vulnerability as a result of increasing public and tribal rejection. He called on the legitimate Yemeni government and the Arab Coalition, led by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, to capitalize on this phase to eliminate the militia and restore state institutions.

He explained that the recent decisions of Presidential Leadership Council Chairman Dr. Rashad al-Alimi regarding the resumption of oil exports and economic initiatives refuted the Houthi narrative and demonstrated that the group is the one imposing siege on the Yemeni people by disrupting exports and damaging the national economy. He called for an Arab-Gulf initiative to support the legitimate government politically, militarily, and on the ground, and to enable the Yemeni Armed Forces to recapture strategic ports and borders, most importantly the port of Hodeidah. He stated that the true solution to the Red Sea security issue begins with restoring stability in the Yemeni territory. He also emphasized the importance of strengthening maritime security coordination between the Gulf states, Yemen, Egypt and African countries bordering the Red Sea in order to counter the Houthi media disinformation and expose their connection to the Iranian project.

By Fares Ghaleb Al-Seyassah/Arab Times Staff