The U.S. State Department condemned on Wednesday the hijacking of the "Rawabi" ship by Houthi militias off the coast of Al Hudaydah, considering the act a threat to international navigation in the Red Sea. The Saudi-led Coalition Supporting Legitimacy in Yemen declared that "the launch of piracy and hijacking operations from any port in Yemen will make it a legitimate military target," deeming the Houthi hijacking of the "Rawabi" a flagrant violation of international law principles.
Criminal Act
Brigadier General Turki al-Maliki, the official spokesperson for the coalition forces, stated that following the statement issued by the coalition's joint forces leadership regarding the commercial cargo ship "Rawabi" being subjected to piracy, hijacking, and armed robbery on Sunday evening while sailing off the Governorate of Al Hudaydah, it was a criminal act planned by the Iranian-backed Houthi terrorist militia to intercept the ship in international waters and forcibly lead it to the Salif port. General al-Maliki explained that the execution of the piracy and hijacking operation originated from Al Hudaydah port to intercept the commercial vessel in the international maritime passage, which constitutes a blatant violation of international humanitarian law and relevant maritime laws, considering the "Rawabi" a commercial vessel carrying equipment and supplies for operating the Saudi field hospital on Socotra Island after completing its humanitarian mission, which contributed to providing healthcare and medical services to thousands of Yemenis on the island.
Additionally, he indicated that the texts and provisions of international humanitarian law and the "San Remo" manual on international law in maritime armed conflicts and United Nations agreements guarantee freedom of maritime navigation and global trade in waterways and seas, and do not offer protection or safe haven to pirates, as such terrorist acts undermine the security of maritime passages and pose a direct threat to maritime navigation and global trade. General al-Maliki also noted that this grave criminal act contradicts the spirit and texts of the Stockholm Agreement of 2018, particularly what is included in clause (2) of the commitments and clause (2) of the agreement relating to the city of Al Hudaydah and the ports of Al Hudaydah, Salif, and Ras Issa, as the Houthi terrorist militia continues all forms of violations which have exceeded (30,527) deliberate violations.
He emphasized that the Iranian-backed Houthi terrorist militia must release the "Rawabi" ship from Salif port with its entire humanitarian non-combat cargo, and if they do not comply, the ports from which piracy and armed robbery operations were launched and the elements involved in the piracy will become legitimate military targets under the texts and provisions of international humanitarian law and relevant maritime laws.
In this context, the Gulf Cooperation Council condemned on Monday the armed hijacking by the Houthis of a cargo ship flying the Emirati flag off the city of Al Hudaydah, Yemen. The council also announced its support for the UAE in all measures to respond to the Houthi aggression. It is worth noting that the Coalition Supporting Legitimacy in Yemen announced on Monday that a cargo ship had been subjected to piracy and robbery by Houthi militias off the city of Al Hudaydah, Yemen.
