The Coalition to Restore Legitimacy in Yemen said Saturday that the Houthi militias continue to violate international navigation in the Red Sea through acts of piracy backed by Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).
The Houthis' use of civilian sites as fortresses will turn Hodeidah and Salif ports into legitimate military targets, the Coalition said.
"We do not want to target the ports... We want to reach a comprehensive political solution, but when they use civilian sites... they forfeit the immunity... thus it (Hodeidah and Salif ports) will be a legitimate military target,” Coalition spokesman Brigadier General Turki al-Malki said in a press conference.
He added that the Houthis have launched 432 ballistic missiles as well as 100 booby-trapped boats from Hodeidah to target commercial shipping in the Red Sea.
The Coalition has recorded 13 violations on commercial ships by Houthi militia boats launched from Hodeidah, and pointed to the destruction of dozens of mines planted by the insurgents in the Red Sea.
The Coalition said the militias planned to attack and hijack the Emirati-flagged Rwabee ship in international waters, adding that the vessel was carrying aid for those affected by the cyclones on the island of Socotra.
The Coalition added in a video presentation that the Houthis attacked the oil tanker Rabigh 3 south of the Red Sea, and targeted the Saudi oil tanker Abqaiq in the Red Sea as well.
