UAE decries Houthis' repeated attacks on ships in international waters

The United Arab Emirates strongly condemned repeated attacks by Houthi militants on ships in international waters in an attempt to simmer the situation in the region, particularly in Yemen, the Emirates news agency (WAM) reported Thursday. 

In a statement, the UAE Foreign and International Cooperation Ministry considered as a "repeated escalation" the failed missile attacks on the US Navy destroyer "USS Mason" on Wednesday after last week's attack on the UAE ship "Swift" by Houthi rebels in Bab al Mandeb Strait.

It described as "justifiable and legitimate" the US Navy's retaliation for the attacks and its launch of cruise missile strikes to knock out three coastal radar sites affiliated to Houthis.

The latest escalations reflect the intentions of the Houthi rebels and Saleh loyalists to parry the political process that aims at bringing an end to the Yemeni crisis, the statement added.

These escalations demonstrated their insistence on using violence and increasing the suffering of the brotherly people of Yemen to serve the interests of regional powers that seek to disturb security and stability in the region, it said. 

The ministry further warned that these dangerous developments would threaten international navigation in Bab al Mandeb Strait, stressing the importance of adopting all necessary measures to ensure the safety of international navigation lines that represent the lifeblood of communication between nations and peoples.

It also underlined the urgent need to press for a UN-backed political solution that will help restore peace and stability in Yemen, the statement said.

Source: MENA