Maritime 'hegemonic influence' of US, allies is over: Yemen MoD
3 Min Read
Yemen's Defense Minister in Sanaa reiterates that Yemeni operations will continue until the Israeli on Gaza stops.
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Yemeni Defense Minister in Sanaa Major General Mohammed al-Atifi gives an address in Sanaa, Yemen in 2023. (Yemeni media)
The Yemeni Defense Minister in Sanaa declared on Sunday that the era of "hegemonic influence" over international waters is over, reaffirming that the armed forces' operations will continue until the Israeli war on Gaza comes to an end.
"The US, London, and Israel have to realize that control over geography and claiming guardianship over the seas has become a rejected and unwelcome approach," Major General Mohammed al-Atifi said at a graduation ceremony of Yemeni cadets in Hodeidah.
Read more: Yemen warns European Union against 'playing with fire'
The General praised the army's operations and stressed that maritime security in the Red and Arabian Seas has been properly redefined now that Israeli destabilization in them has been put to an end.
On Western allegations that Yemen is posing a risk to international maritime trade, he reiterated that attacks are exclusive to Israeli and "Israel"-linked ships.
Read more: What the West needs to know about Yemen's Ansar Allah
"We reaffirm that the Yemeni Armed Forces will not target any ships that are neither affiliated with the Zionist enemy nor serving its interests. Marine navigation for vessels through the Red Sea and the Arabian Sea is safe," the Defense Minister said.
"Sanaa is committed to all international treaties and conventions that do not infringe upon Yemeni dignity and sovereignty or subject it to hegemony and foreign mandates," he continued.
The top military official vowed that "as long as the Zionists’ atrocities continue in Gaza, we will continue our operations against the usurping entity. Washington has aided and abetted the Zionist entity to forge ahead with its genocidal war on our Palestinian brothers and sisters."
Read more: Sanaa Minister promises surprises if aggression on Gaza is not ended
"The US, London, and Israel have to realize that control over geography and claiming guardianship over the seas has become a rejected and unwelcome approach."
Top-tier operations
Last November, Sanaa announced the launching of a series of operations against Israeli and "Israel"-bound ships in support of Gaza, until "Israel" brings an end to its genocide.
Since then, the Yemeni Armed Forces have carried out tens of operations in the Red and Arabian Seas and against Israeli military targets in the occupation entity.
To protect "Israel," Washington formed a maritime coalition in the Red Sea and attacked Yemen multiple times since last month, prompting the Yemeni army to declare all US and British military vessels as legitimate targets.
The spokesperson of the Yemeni Armed Forces (YAF), Brigadier Yahya Saree, confirmed in a brief statement last Thursday that the YAF carried out three top-tier military operations.
Read more: YAF target US tanker, warships in Gulf of Aden, Red Sea: Spokesperson
The first operation was conducted against different Israeli targets in Umm al-Rashrash/"Eilat", in southernmost occupied Palestine using drones and ballistic missiles.
The second operation saw the Yemeni naval forces striking and hitting the UK ISLANDER ship in the Gulf of Aden, resulting in a fire erupting onboard.
In the third operation, Saree announced that several drones attacked a US destroyer in the Red Sea.
