'Israel',UAE to establish land bridge between ports: Israeli media

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Israeli media
5 Dec 2023 17:04
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Israeli media has revealed that an agreement has been signed to establish a land bridge between the port of Dubai and the occupied port of Haifa.

Undated photo of the occupied Haifa port

Israeli media has revealed that an agreement has been signed to establish a land bridge between the port of Dubai and the occupied port of Haifa. The purpose of this agreement is to "bypass the threat from Yemen to close the sea lanes," as claimed.

This development indicates the occupation's need for support from its regional allies and the alignment of the United Arab Emirates with "Israel".

Earlier, Israeli media reported that the UAE is the most concerned country about Yemen's support for Palestine.

It is worth noting that Sanaa has supported the Palestinian Resistance against the aggression, repeatedly affirming its commitment to the safety of waterways and ship navigation. It emphasized that the military operations it conducts target only Israeli ships until "Israel" stops its war on the Gaza Strip.

Israeli media previously revealed that the occupation "officially" asked several countries, including Britain and Japan, to form an "international naval force" to "ensure freedom of navigation in the Bab el-Mandab Strait, according to their claims.

The request came after Yemeni forces targeted two Israeli ships in response to the Israeli aggression on the Gaza Strip.

Red Sea maritime task force

White House National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan on Monday stated that the US is in discussions with "other countries" to create a maritime task force in the Red Sea, aiming to secure the safe passage of commercial ships.

"We are in talks with other countries about a maritime task force of sorts, involving the ships from partner nations, alongside the United States, in ensuring safe passage of ships in the Red Sea, those talks are ongoing as we speak, I don't have anything formal to announce," Sullivan said during a press briefing.

Israeli concerns about the navigation of its ships and those related to it in the Red Sea are escalating, as expressed by the Israeli Institute for National Security Studies.

Footage of the #Yemeni Armed Forces capturing the Israeli-owned ship, #GalaxyLeader, in the #RedSea yesterday. pic.twitter.com/AjKWido2OA
— Al Mayadeen English (@MayadeenEnglish) November 20, 2023

Changing ship routes from Red Sea

Among the shipping companies operating in service of "Israel", ZIM has decided to change the routes of its ships and avoid crossing the Red Sea, incurring a significant economic burden due to "the additional cost of about 30 days of sailing and the extra fuel consumption for the journey around Africa and back, instead of passing through the Suez Canal."

Last Sunday, the spokesperson for the Yemeni Armed Forces, Brigadier General Yahya Saree, announced the execution of a naval operation targeting two Israeli ships in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait. The targeted vessels were the "United Explorer" and the ship "Number Nine." This operation took place following the resumption of the occupation's aggression on the Gaza Strip last Friday.

Just before the ceasefire came into effect, an Israeli ship in the Arabian Sea, north of the Indian Ocean, was targeted, leading to it catching fire.

Yemen ready to target any Israeli-affiliated ship

On November 19, the Yemeni naval forces successfully seized an Israeli-owned ship, Galaxy Leader, in the depths of the Red Sea, with 52 people on board, raising concerns that this could lead to the cancellation of shipping lines to the occupied territories.

Ansar Allah spokesperson Yahya Saree said the army would target all ships owned or operated by Israeli companies or ones bearing the Israeli flag, calling on countries to withdraw their citizens operating on such ships.

In the same context, a Yemeni military source revealed to Al Mayadeen earlier the Yemeni Armed Forces' readiness to target any Israeli vessel, whether in the Red Sea or any other place unexpected by the enemy.

"Our armed forces are set to target all Israeli ships, whether they are heading to occupied Palestine or not," the source said.