Houthi Threatening Directive to Ships: Must Obtain Permission Before Entering Yemeni Waters

On Monday, March 5, the Houthi communications and telecommunications official, Musfar al-Namir, issued a threatening directive stating that all ships must obtain permission from the maritime affairs department controlled by these Iranian-backed rebels before entering Yemeni waters. He cited the reason for this decision as 'ensuring the security' of vessels passing through the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, adding, 'We are ready, with the help of the Yemeni Navy, to identify ships intending to pass through Yemeni waters, review their requests for passage, and grant permission if deemed appropriate.' Since early November of this year, the Houthi rebels, supported by the Islamic Republic, have repeatedly attacked international commercial vessels in the Gulf of Aden and the Red Sea with missiles and drones under the pretext of supporting the people of Gaza. Many of these attacks have been thwarted by American forces or the coalition, and numerous Houthi bases within Yemen have been targeted by independent or joint operations of the U.S. military and other allied countries. Nevertheless, Houthi leaders have stated that they will not cease attacks on ships and will maintain security in their surrounding waters until the end of the war in Gaza. The Biden administration, which had removed the Houthis from the U.S. list of terrorist organizations shortly after taking office in January 2021, placed this rebel group back on the list of 'specially designated global terrorists' on February 16 of this year. The British newspaper Telegraph reported on January 9, citing its intelligence sources within Iran, that the Houthis have been trained at the 'Khamenei Marine Science and Technology University' in Zibakenar, Rasht, and that Ali Khamenei, the leader of the Islamic Republic, oversees their activities. An explosion and fire on a vessel in southeastern Aden; Iranian-backed Houthis: We will continue to sink British ships. A condition from a Houthi leader for Britain: Permission to recover the sunken British ship in exchange for allowing aid trucks into Gaza. The legitimate Yemeni government reported that the cargo ship 'Rubimar' sank in the southern Red Sea. A session was held to inform the captain of the boat carrying missile equipment for the Houthis. CENTCOM: The Houthi missile attack on an American ship caused no damage. The fourth large-scale attack on Houthi positions; coalition forces: We will not hesitate to defend human lives and the free flow of trade.