Coalition for the Support of Legitimacy: We carried out a firm and strong response against legitimate targets of the terrorist Houthi militia

The Saudi-led coalition supporting Yemen’s legitimate government announced a firm and robust response to the terrorist Houthi militia’s attacks on commercial vessels in the Red Sea, targeting legitimate military objectives linked to the threat against ships.

Official spokesperson for the coalition forces, Major General Turki Al-Maliki, stated that the terrorist Houthi militia acted cowardly and recklessly by targeting commercial vessels in the Red Sea, adding this to its list of crimes and maritime terrorism in one of the most critical international waterways.

In a statement relayed by the Saudi Press Agency (SPA), Major General Al-Maliki emphasized that “the Kingdom has stood and will continue to stand by the Yemeni people and its government during the most difficult circumstances and changes, and reaffirms its ongoing support to confront the terrorist Houthi militias.”

Major General Al-Maliki also clarified that the port of Hodeidah was not targeted, and all Yemeni ports, including Hodeidah, Ras Isa, and Salif, remain open to maritime navigation, facilitating the arrival of commercial vessels transporting food, goods, fuel, and construction materials, as well as flights to Yemeni airports. He noted that the Houthi militia continues to refuse to operate flights from Sana’a International Airport, insisting on besieging the Yemeni people to export the problems and suffering it has caused, thereby exacerbating the hardships faced by our Yemeni brothers in areas under their control.

The spokesperson explained that the coalition carried out a firm and strong response after prioritizing the preservation of the resources of the fraternal Yemeni people. The strikes focused on legitimate military objectives of the terrorist Houthi militia associated with threats to ships in the Red Sea. The military response concluded by achieving the principle of proportionality and the planned operational objectives, and was executed in accordance with the provisions of international humanitarian law and its customary rules, consistent with the principle of proportionality.

Major General Al-Maliki affirmed that the joint forces command of the coalition will continue to take all necessary operational measures and precautions to protect our ships and safeguard the Kingdom’s interests and national resources. Should the Houthi militia persist in its hostile actions, the coalition will respond without hesitation.

Earlier, a senior source at the Saudi General Authority for Transport stated that the vessel NCC MASA, owned by a Saudi company, was targeted while sailing in the Red Sea two days ago, resulting in minor damage to the ship’s hull. The source clarified that the vessel continued its journey to its destination after confirming the safety of the ship and its crew.

Meanwhile, the Saudi Civil Defense announced on the X platform that the danger had passed in the Jazan and Yanbu governorates, urging the public to follow instructions and avoid gathering or taking photographs. This followed a previous statement announcing an alert from the National Early Warning Platform regarding a potential threat in Jazan and Yanbu.

For her part, the General Secretariat of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) strongly condemned the brazen attack by the terrorist Houthi militia on Saudi commercial vessels while they were navigating in the open waters of the Red Sea. The organization described the act as a clear aggression and a serious violation of regional and international maritime security and safety, which negatively impacts the security and delivery of global food and energy supplies.

In a statement, the OIC General Secretariat affirmed that this aggression constitutes a genuine threat to international peace and security, and a clear violation of the principles and rules of international law. It called on the international community to take strict measures to halt these flagrant violations and treacherous attacks committed by the renegade terrorist militia. The OIC expressed its full solidarity with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in all measures taken to protect its security and interests.