Yemen's Foreign Minister: The European Union Must Increase Pressure on the Houthis

On Thursday, February 1, Yemen's Foreign Minister called on the European Union to increase pressure on the Iran-backed Houthis who are attacking commercial ships in the Red Sea. Ahmad Awad bin Mubarak told reporters before meeting with EU officials, "Attacking the Houthis is not enough. We need medium- and long-term solutions." The Yemeni government, recognized by the United Nations, is based in Aden, the country's exiled capital, and is supported by a Saudi-led regional coalition. The Yemeni Foreign Minister referred to what he called the EU's misguided approach, adding that Europeans "must exert more pressure on the Houthis. For example, they should designate them as a terrorist group. However, the EU's argument is that adopting this approach would worsen the humanitarian situation." He noted that "this approach has not been effective, and the Houthis continue to extort the international community, and the humanitarian situation has not improved." Mr. bin Mubarak called for greater EU support for the establishment of Yemeni institutions such as the Coast Guard and for sending humanitarian aid through the central bank based in Aden, stating, "The Houthis will never stop. Their ideology is that they have a divine right (to govern) in Yemen and are part of the Islamic Republic's regional strategy." According to him, the lack of a "clear path" from the West to end the conflict in Gaza and ensure justice for the Palestinians has strengthened "all extremist groups in the region." The Houthis have launched rockets and attacked commercial ships in support of Hamas, disrupting shipping in the Red Sea. In response to these attacks, the U.S. and the U.K. have struck Houthi targets in Yemen multiple times. The European Union, with 27 members, plans to carry out a naval mission by the end of February to help protect ships in the Red Sea. The first Houthi missile attack targeted a U.S. destroyer in the Gulf of Aden. Josep Borrell announced the EU's mission in the Red Sea to protect commercial ships from Houthi attacks. A British warship destroyed a Houthi drone supported by the Islamic Republic. The Chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff stated that the U.S. goal in the Red Sea is solely to deter the Houthis, not to escalate tensions. Houthi attacks on ships continue; reports indicate two missiles exploded near the port of Aden.