Washington [US], January 5: A group of 13 nations have given a strong warning to the Houthis against their ongoing attacks on commercial vessels transiting the Red Sea.
In a joint statement, the Governments of the United States, Australia, Bahrain, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Germany, Italy, Japan, The Netherlands, New Zealand, Singapore, and the United Kingdom called for an immediate end to the attacks and release of vessels and crews held by the rebels in Yemen.
The group of mainly Western countries warned that the Houthis will face the consequences if they continue to threaten lives, the global economy, and free flow of commerce in the region's critical waterways.
The warning comes in the wake of a significant escalation over the past week targeting commercial ships in the Red Sea with missiles, small boats, drones, helicopters, and attempted hijackings.
Iranian-backed Houthis, who support Hamas in the war against Israel, have been attacking the ships since November, claiming they were linked to Israel.
For the first time, they also used anti-ship ballistic missiles against the vessels. The nations said the Houthi attacks in the Red Sea are a direct threat to the freedom of navigation that serves as the bedrock of global trade in one of the world's most critical waterways.
The statement notes that these attacks threaten innocent lives from all over the world and constitute a significant international problem that demands collective action. (DPA)
Source: Qatar Tribune