Coalition pledges to protect ships in Bab Al-Mandab, warns Houthis

The Coalition Joint Forces Command has announced the implementation of strict operational measures to protect its commercial vessels transiting the Bab Al-Mandab Strait, reaffirming its commitment to international law and the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.

Coalition spokesperson Brig. Gen. Turki Al-Maliki stated that recent claims about the closure of Yemeni ports and airports are part of misinformation and escalation by the Houthis against the Yemeni government and neighboring countries.

Al-Maliki emphasized that the Houthi narrative of a blockade is misleading, noting that over 300 commercial ships entered the ports of Hodeidah, Al-Salif, and Ras Issa during the first half of 2026, carrying food, goods, fuel, and construction materials.

He added that it was the Houthi militia that caused the closure of Sanaa International Airport and the destruction of Yemenia Airways aircraft, and that they have rejected all initiatives to resume flights to and from the airport.

Al-Maliki further confirmed that the Joint Forces Command has begun implementing protective measures for coalition vessels passing through Bab Al-Mandab, stressing that Houthi threats to transiting ships are a clear violation of international law and constitute acts of maritime piracy, which will be met with decisive and forceful responses.