Yemen Monitor/Aden/Exclusive:
The Yemeni legitimate army spokesman stated on Thursday that the US’ approach towards the Houthi group in the Red Sea crisis “does not show decisiveness in eliminating missile capabilities and launch sites for drones.”
Brigadier General Abdo Mujali, the official spokesman for the Yemeni Armed Forces, told “Asharq Al-Awsat” newspaper that Houthi attacks in the Red Sea have exacerbated the suffering of the Yemeni people and thwarted all efforts to end the war instigated by the militia itself.
Responding to a query regarding the US strikes on Houthi targets and their effectiveness, the official spokesman for the Yemeni legitimate Armed Forces opined that “there is a degree of flexibility and a lack of decisiveness in these strikes.” He continued, “The US actions against the Houthis do not demonstrate a firm commitment to destroying missile capabilities and drone launch sites. There is a rather calm and flexible approach towards the militias, hoping they will cease attacks, but the militias seem unconcerned.”
He highlighted that the attacks not only jeopardize regional and international security but also peace.
Mujali asserted that the Houthi group is perpetrating numerous attacks, particularly in the Red Sea, to endanger the Yemeni people by driving up food prices and the cost of other commodities. These economic burdens are borne by the populace as a direct consequence of the ongoing attacks on ships in the Red Sea.
He further noted that targeting international shipping “indicates their implementation of the Iranian agenda in the Red Sea, seeking regional expansion, and obstructing Saudi and Omani-led efforts to achieve peace in Yemen.”
Since late last year, the Houthis have been targeting commercial vessels in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, and more recently, they have extended their operations into the Indian Ocean. They claim to be targeting ships linked to Israel, which they accuse of launching a brutal assault on the Gaza Strip. However, the Yemeni government and experts asserted that the Houthis’ objectives are domestic, aimed at escaping internal crises and enhancing their regional image.
In response, the US and UK have been conducting airstrikes against Iranian-backed Houthi group since January 11. As a result, the Houthis announced an expansion of their operations to include US and British ships.
From November to August, the US Department of Defense (Pentagon) recorded over 220 attacks on US commercial or military vessels off the Yemeni coast, including nearly 120 attacks since the commencement of US airstrikes on the Yemeni mainland.
