Yemen’s internationally recognised government has condemned the Houthis’ recent attack on two Saudi cities along the Red Sea coast, accusing the group of sacrificing Yemen’s national interests to advance Iran’s agenda. In a statement issued on Friday, the government said the Houthis were using the Red Sea and the Bab al-Mandab Strait as tools to exert pressure on regional and international actors in pursuit of their objectives. The statement said the government, in coordination with the coalition backing the internationally recognised authorities and its regional and international partners, would continue efforts to protect civilians, safeguard Yemen’s sovereignty and ensure the security of international shipping. It also vowed not to allow Yemeni territory to be used as a launch pad for threats against neighbouring countries or global maritime navigation. The government held the Houthis responsible for the humanitarian, economic and security consequences of their actions, and called on the international community to adopt a firmer stance by cutting off the group’s financial and military resources and holding its backers to account.
