Yemen Government Reacts to Houthi Seizure of Israeli-Linked Ship

The Yemeni government condemned the Houthi seizure of the Israeli-linked ship Galaxy Leader in the Red Sea off the coast of Yemen, saying this act is a full-fledged crime and Iran-sponsored terrorism.

Muammar Al-Eryani, the information minister in the Yemeni government, stated that the seizure of the ship does not have any direct or indirect impact on the brutal Israeli occupation. Instead, this act directly affects the international trade movement in the Red Sea, the Bab al-Mandab Strait, the Suez Canal, and the economies of the countries overlooking the Red Sea.

According to Al-Eryani, the Houthi seizure is an attempt to legitimize the presence of foreign forces in the region's sea straits under the pretext of protecting international marine routes from piracy.

Yahya Sarea, the military spokesperson for the Houthi group, declared Sunday that the Israeli-linked ship was seized and moved to territories under their control. He also threatened that the group would target all vessels owned or operated by Israeli companies.

The United States on Monday called on the Houthis to release the ship. State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller told a briefing, "The Houthi seizure of the motor vessel Galaxy Leader in the Red Sea is a flagrant violation of international law." Miller added, "We demand the immediate release of the ship and its crew, and we will consult with our allies and UN partners as to appropriate next steps."

However, the Houthi leadership says the ship will not be released unless Israel stops its war on Gaza. Mohammed Ali Al-Houthi, a senior member of the Houthi Supreme Political Council, said, "If America and Israel stop killing the Palestinians in Gaza and bring in water, medicine, and food [to the Gazans], then talks about the Israeli ship can happen."

Observers say the Houthi group will cause severe threats to the international shipping routes in the Red Sea, and such threats should not be belittled. 

The Houthi group has lately deployed military reinforcements in At Tuhayta district to the south of Al-Hudaydah province as part of its military preparation for potential escalation after its missile attacks on Israel and its recent declaration of downing a U.S. drone off the Red Sea. A military expert told Sheba Intelligence that the group used the Iranian Khordad-3 Air Defense System to down the American drone.

Houthi naval missiles were transported from several areas over the past weeks, particularly from Bajil district of Al-Hudaydah, and were deployed near the Red Sea coast. This would enable the group to threaten trade routes and international forces in the Red Sea, informed sources previously told Sheba Intelligence.