Coalition vows to protect Bab Al-Mandab shipping, warns of firm response to Houthi threats

The Joint Forces Command of the Coalition announced it has begun implementing measures to protect commercial vessels transiting the Bab Al-Mandab Strait. The coalition issued a stern warning, stating it will respond firmly to any Houthi threats targeting maritime navigation in this critical waterway.

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The coalition's measures are being carried out in accordance with customary international humanitarian law and the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

Coalition spokesperson Maj. Gen. Turki Al-Maliki emphasized that these protective measures are being executed in full compliance with international humanitarian law and the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). Al-Maliki specifically rejected recent Houthi assertions that Yemeni ports and airports are under blockade, characterizing these claims as fabrications designed to escalate tensions.

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Houthi claims that Yemeni ports and airports are under blockade... are false allegations intended to escalate tensions against the Yemeni government and neighboring countries.

Al-Maliki provided data indicating significant maritime traffic, stating that over 300 commercial vessels carrying essential goods like food, fuel, and construction materials successfully entered the northern Yemeni ports of Hodeidah, Al Salif, and Ras Isa during the first half of 2026. He further attributed the closure of Sanaa International Airport and the destruction of other facilities to the Houthi group.

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More than 300 commercial vessels carrying food, fuel, construction materials and other goods entered the northern Yemeni ports of Hodeidah, Al Salif and Ras Isa during the first half of 2026.