Yemen's ambassador to France on Thursday called on the international community to
“intervene to stop the actions of the Houthis”
, and
“not only”
to carry out
“air strikes”
against the rebels who are increasing their attacks in the Red Sea.
“Foreign countries must intervene to stop the actions of the Houthis, not only in the Red Sea but especially inside Yemen,”
Yemen's ambassador to France, Reyad Yassin Abdullah, declared at a press conference.
“We need a lot of equipment, financial and economic aid”
and
“the whole process of solving the Yemen problem is about supporting the legitimate government”
and
“not only”
about carrying out
“airstrikes that boost popularity Houthis
,” said the diplomat, interviewed by AFP.
The Houthis control north-west Yemen, in the grip of a civil war since 2014, and have increased attacks on merchant ships in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden since November, pushing many shipowners to now avoid these essential passages. for international trade.
The rebels, supported by Tehran, say they carry out their attacks in
“solidarity”
with the Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, where Israel is at war with Hamas after the bloody attack by this Islamist movement on October 7 on Israeli soil.
Washington reinstates the Houthis to its list of terrorist organizations
On Thursday, they claimed responsibility for an attack on
“a British ship”
off the coast of Yemen, after two shipping companies reported an explosion near a ship in the area.
“It is essential to remember that the militias did not wait until October 7 to carry out attacks in the region”
and
“if Israel leaves Gaza, there is no guarantee that the Houthis will cease the actions they have been carrying out for more than 10 years
,” justified the Yemeni ambassador.
In December, the United States set up a multinational naval force to protect ships in the Red Sea, but this coalition has so far failed to stop the attacks, and American forces, sometimes with ally Britain , have carried out several strikes against the Houthis in Yemen since mid-January.
Washington also reinstated the Houthis to its list of
“terrorist”
organizations in January, after removing them in 2021 to facilitate humanitarian aid in the rebel-controlled area.
“A crucial step”
because
“the attacks in the Red Sea aggravate the already severe humanitarian crisis in Yemen”
, underlined the diplomat.