The Arab coalition fighting in support of Yemen's legitimate government has warned that the Houthis (Ansarallah) threaten ships in the Red Sea through their control of a key port, AFP reported.
"The port of al-Hodeida is a launching pad for terrorist operations threatening navigation in the Red Sea and the Bab al-Mandab strait," coalition spokesman Turki al-Maliki said Wednesday (January 10th).
The Red Sea is a key shipping route for world trade that connects the Middle East to Europe via the Suez Canal. Bab al-Mandab is the southern entrance to the Red Sea.
The Houthis control the main port of al-Hodeida, among a string of Red Sea ports on Yemen's coast that are vital entry points for food imports and aid.
Al-Maliki spoke after the Houthis on Monday threatened to cut off Red Sea traffic unless the Aarb coalition lifted a blockade on Yemen's ports and main international airport.
In November, the coalition tightened the blockade after the Houthis fired a missile into Saudi Arabia that was intercepted near Riyadh.
