Saudi Arabia has initiated a multinational maritime coalition aimed at safeguarding shipping routes, as reported by the kingdom’s ambassador to the United Nations, according to AlQahera News. The ambassador emphasized the need for a decisive response from the UN Security Council regarding the militarization of crucial waterways, highlighting the threats posed by Yemen’s Houthi rebels to maritime safety in the Bab al-Mandab strait.
These statements come in light of the United Nations’ condemnation of Houthi attacks targeting Saudi Arabia, as well as growing apprehensions regarding the security of shipping lanes in the Red Sea and the Bab al-Mandab, a critical passage linking the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden. UN Assistant Secretary-General for the Middle East, Khaled Khiari, expressed concern over the ongoing instability that is impacting vital maritime routes during a special Security Council meeting focused on Yemen.
Khiari stressed the importance of restoring and respecting freedom of navigation in these waterways, urging all involved parties to maintain maritime freedom. He also noted that since early September, 225,000 individuals have been displaced in Yemen, warning that disruptions in Bab al-Mandab could have dire implications for energy supplies and food security in the region.
