Yemen’s Houthi group warned the European Union not to join the coalition of the United States and Britain in the Red Sea, otherwise its ships would be targeted, Houthi-run al-Masirah TV reported on Tuesday.
The United States and Britain – using the Akrotiri base in Cyprus – have conducted numerous airstrikes on what it identified as Houthi targets, including mobile missile launchers, drones, and underwater vehicles.
“A message to the EU, don’t play with fire and take a lesson from Britain,” the television cited a statement from Houthi leader Abdulmalik al-Houthi in reference to his group’s recent missile attacks against British-registered cargo vessels.
“Your presence increases the militarization of the sea, which would affect your countries’ needs of shipping chains through the Red Sea,” al-Houthi said, referring to the EU’s oil shipments from the region.
“If your coalition in the Red Sea commits any foolishness, you will bear the consequences and your navy ships and commercial vessels will be targeted,” the statement added.
On Monday, the EU said it launched a naval mission in the Red Sea to protect shipping as cargo vessels continued to come under Houthi attacks. It said the Houthi attacks on the international shipping in the Red Sea are casting a shadow over global stability and prosperity.
The Houthis have been attacking Israel-linked vessels transiting the Red Sea since mid-November last year, a move the group describes as a display of its support for Palestinians in Gaza, which has led some shipping companies to alter their routes and circumnavigate the African continent to avoid the threat of Houthi missile attacks.
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