Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan Al-Sad has expressed concern about the potential escalation in the Red Sea region. This statement came on Friday following attacks on two Liberian-flagged ships in the Bab al-Mandab Strait by Houthi-controlled Yemen, as reported by the US military.
We are worried about the escalating tension. Our region is extremely complex, and we do not wish for any further conflicts to erupt. Therefore, we hope to prevent any further escalations in our region.
Earlier, the shipping giant Merck decided to halt all container shipments through the Red Sea. Similarly, the German transport company, Hapag Lloyd, also suspended its Red Sea container ship traffic. Merck, being one of the world’s largest shipping companies, opted to divert vessels around Africa, confirmed by a company spokesperson.
A Danish vessel traveling from Salalah in Oman to Jeddah in Saudi Arabia was targeted by a missile near the Bab al-Mandab Strait. The company stated it made this decision after a near-miss involving its ship Merce Gibraltar.
Though the recent series of attacks targeted container ships near Yemen, prior to Mursk Gibraltar, Houthi militants claimed they targeted ships like MSC Elena and another cargo ship carrying naval missiles. They justified the attacks, stating the ships were targeted after ignoring warnings from Yemeni naval forces.
Apart from discussing the idea of a naval coalition with allies, the US is concentrating on diminishing the Houthi threat in the Red Sea. The US Envoy for Yemen mentioned Washington’s aim to form the most extensive maritime coalition possible to safeguard ships in the Red Sea and send a significant message to the Houthis against further tolerated attacks.
While the United States believes Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps is involved in planning and executing Houthi missile and drone attacks, Iran has denied any involvement.
The Houthis, initially involved in the Israel-Hamas conflict, have expanded their actions. They’ve been attacking vessels in crucial shipping lanes and launching drones and missiles at Israel from Yemen’s capital, Sana’a, over 1,000 miles away. They’ve even expressed intentions to target all ships heading towards Israel, irrespective of their nationality.
I am Atul Sharma, As a full-time blogger, my focus is on delivering news articles on this platform. Your visit to my blog is highly appreciated. Thank you!