The Minister of Information in the Sanaa government, Daifallah al-Shami, told Al Mayadeen that if the Israeli aggression on the Gaza Strip is not stopped, Sanaa will take "escalatory steps", promising "new surprises".

The Yemeni Minister reiterated that the continuation of the war on Gaza and the failure to lift the blockade on the Gaza Strip corresponds to the continuation of the Yemeni Armed Forces' operations in the Red Sea and the Arabian Sea. Furthermore, the official explained that stopping the aggression on the Gaza Strip also means that Israeli forces halt all "airstrikes, assassination [attempts], and targeting," as well as ensuring the delivery of "aid to the Strip."

Al-Shami underlined that the United States military is "surprised and astonished" by the capabilities that the Yemeni Armed Forces possess.

"The Yemeni people are united today under a major cause, and the enemy fears the societal and popular convergence among the components of the Yemeni people," noting an attempt by "a group of mercenaries to fish in troubled waters and distort Sanaa's role in supporting Gaza."

He told Al Mayadeen that Yemenis witnessed major reconciliations among themselves, which occurred as a result of Sanaa's historic stance towards the Palestinian cause.

Read more: Specialized Yemeni force marches 200km to refine combat readiness

Sanaa to condition towing of RUBYMAR from Red Sea

In the same context, a member of Sanaa's Supreme Political Council posted on X that Sanaa is ready to allow the concerned parties to tow away the half-sunken UK-owned RUBYMAR bulk carrier from the Red Sea.

بالامكان أن تسحب السفينة البريطانية الغارقة مقابل إدخال شاحنات للاغاثة إلى غزة
هذا عرض قابل للدراسة

— محمد علي الحوثي (@Moh_Alhouthi) February 24, 2024

However, the official conditioned the proposition on delivering aid trucks to Gaza, expressing Sanaa's readiness to discuss the offer with concerned actors.

Earlier on February 18, the Yemeni Armed Forces' Navy struck the British bulk carrier with a number of anti-ship missiles, severely damaging the vessel, which rendered it non-operational. However, the YAF ensured that the appropriate measures to evacuate its crew were taken, ensuring the safety of all of its crew members.

The YAF's Navy did so after warning Israeli, US, and UK-affiliated ships from sailing in the Red Sea and the Arabian Sea, after the former two countries launched a number of strikes on Yemen, violating the country's sovereignty.

Since then, the RUBYMAR has been seen on various occasions half-sunk in the Red Sea and abandoned. Earlier, the US CENTCOM said that the sinking ship had been anchored in place. 

It is worth noting that the Yemeni Armed Forces also seized the Israeli-owned Galaxy Leader vehicle carrier on November 18, 2023.
 
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