EU plans Red Sea security initiative as Yemen urges Houthi terror listing

The Yemeni government has called on the European Union to designate the Houthi group as a terrorist organization and to pursue its funding and arms networks, as the bloc announced its readiness to launch a new initiative to strengthen maritime security and economic resilience in Yemen and combat arms smuggling in the Bab Al-Mandab Strait.

The Yemeni request was made during Foreign Minister Afrah Al-Zouba's visit to Brussels, where she urged the 27 EU member states, in a session of the EU Political and Security Committee, to implement the European Parliament's call to add the Houthis to the terrorist organizations list, warning of the consequences of Iranian military support for the group.

In response, EU Commissioner for the Mediterranean Dobravka Šuica, following her meeting with the Yemeni minister, revealed the bloc's readiness to launch the anticipated initiative. She explained that it would build on existing European efforts to support the Yemeni coast guard and safeguard freedom of navigation, as well as enhance maritime security in the region.

On the humanitarian front, EU Commissioner for Crisis Management Haja Habib, during her meeting with Afrah Al-Zouba, confirmed that European humanitarian aid to Yemen has reached $128 million (equivalent to €110 million) this year. She called for ensuring that aid reaches those in need without obstacles, while the Yemeni government warned that hospitals in Taiz could shut down due to the blockade and fuel shortages.

At the conclusion of the meetings, EU ambassadors condemned the Houthi escalation, the siege of Taiz, and attacks targeting commercial vessels and civilian facilities. They reaffirmed their support for the EU maritime operations EUNAVFOR MED Operation Irini and Atalanta as part of efforts to protect maritime security.