Yemen Foreign Minister warns against Houthi-Iran maritime threats

Yemeni Foreign Minister Afrah Al-Zouba has characterized the relationship between the Houthi militia and Iran as a form of “collaboration” that extends beyond a bilateral alliance into a cross-border network of interests involving armed groups and smuggling networks in the Horn of Africa and Iraq.

Al-Zouba stated that the Bab al-Mandab strait must not be used as leverage by armed groups and emphasized that Yemen will not remain a hostage to an open war serving Iranian regional agendas. She highlighted that Houthi ballistic missile attacks on the port of Mocha and the western coast represent attempts to weaken the state's ability to secure international maritime navigation in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden.

The diplomatic statements follow intense military clashes on Yemen's western coast. Joint forces reported repelling a large-scale Houthi attack involving heavy artillery and infiltration attempts. According to spokesperson Wadah Al-Dubaysh, the engagement resulted in an estimated 45 to 55 Houthi casualties, including killed and wounded, alongside the destruction of several vehicles and pieces of equipment.