Arab League Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul Gheit demanded on Thursday the immediate release of the UAE-flagged Rwabee ship that was hijacked by the Iran-backed Houthi militias off the coast of Hodeidah in early January.

The Arab League completely condemns the hijacking and deems it an act of marine piracy, he added according to an official source, urging the release of the ship crew.

The hijacking is a "dangerous escalation" by the Houthis, he continued.

The action is a violation of marine and international laws and could affect the interests of several countries and threaten trade movement in this vital part of the world, he went on to say.

The source warned that the Houthi piracy and hijacking "reflect a criminal shift that needs to confronted and deterred to safeguard freedom of navigation in this important trade route."