Yemeni Forces Halt Israel-Bound Ship in Red Sea, Compelling its Return
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Yemeni Armed Forces intercepted a merchant vessel destined for occupied Palestine in the Red Sea, redirecting it after declaring the blockage of all ships bound for Israeli ports in solidarity with Gaza.
The Arabic-language al-Mayadeen television news network in Lebanon reported on Sunday, citing a statement issued by Yemen's Defense Ministry, that "a proper interaction was carried out with the ship, but it did not pay heed to our warnings."
The statement added that the vessel was subsequently “blocked from passing through and was forced to turn back.”
Brigadier General Yahya Saree of the Yemeni Armed Forces cautioned earlier that ships navigating through Yemeni waters en route to the occupied territories would become viable targets if Gaza's essential necessities, like food and medicine, remained unmet.
While emphasizing global commercial activities could continue through Yemen's waters, Saree underscored that vessels related to Israel or designated for ports in the occupied territories would face restrictions.
Yemen's overt support for Palestine intensified following Israel's fierce assault on Gaza initiated on October 7 in response to Al-Aqsa Storm operation, a retaliatory move by Palestinian resistance groups against the occupation. The relentless Israeli offensive since has claimed nearly 18,000 lives, predominantly women and children, with over 49,000 individuals sustaining injuries in Gaza.
Recent actions by the Yemeni army, including targeting two Israeli ships in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait on December 4, have prompted Israeli shipping companies to alter their routes, wary of potential Yemeni force attacks.
Moreover, Yemeni forces have launched missile and drone assaults on Israeli-occupied Palestinian territories in response to the Zionist regime's aggression against Gaza.