Yemen Vows to Continue Targeting British Ships in Red Sea in Solidarity with Gaza
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Yemen pledged to persist in its attacks on British vessels in the Red Sea, expressing support for Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, who are enduring a genocidal war by the Israeli regime.
The announcement came from Yemen's Deputy Foreign Minister Hussein al-Ezzi in a statement on Sunday, following the recent sinking of a British container ship nearly two weeks after it was struck by Yemeni Armed Forces.
"We will continue to sink more British ships, and any repercussions or other damages will be added to Britain’s bill," Ezzi stated. He condemned Britain as a "rogue state" for its support of American efforts and contributing to ongoing crimes against Gaza's civilians.
The UK-owned, Belize-flagged bulk carrier, the M/V Rubymar, was attacked by the Yemeni military on February 18 with naval missiles in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, a vital waterway connecting the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden.
Yemeni officials reported that the Rubymar, abandoned for 12 days, sank late Friday amid stormy weather in the Red Sea. The US Central Command (CENTCOM) released an image of the vessel on its side, confirming its sinking.
Yemen's military has been targeting Israeli ships and those headed for Israeli ports since November last year, in solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza, who have suffered through a five-month war resulting in the deaths of over 30,320 Palestinians, mostly women and children, with 71,533 others injured.
Yemen has made it clear that it will not hesitate to conduct operations against all hostile targets in defense of its homeland and in support of the Palestinian cause. They have stated that strikes on ships in the Red Sea will continue unless the Israeli regime ends its genocidal campaign in Gaza.
International shipping companies are advised that they can sail safely in the area if their ships are neither owned by Israel nor bound for Israeli ports, according to the Yemeni Armed Forces.
