NYN | News
The former United Nations envoy to Yemen, Jamal Benomar, affirmed that the attacks carried out by the Houthi group (Ansar Allah) in the Red Sea against ships linked to Israel do not constitute a violation of international law. He explained that these operations are part of reactions to repeated aggressions against Yemeni territory.
In a statement to the American website “Drop Site,” Benomar referred to a previous agreement reached between the Sanaa government and U.S. President Donald Trump, brokered by the Sultanate of Oman in May. He noted that it was a “mutual non-aggression pact” requested by Washington, stipulating that American forces and ships would not be attacked. However, the agreement did not include any commitments regarding Israel or its vessels.
He clarified that the agreement was not a comprehensive cessation of attacks but was limited to the two parties involved. He emphasized that the continued targeting of ships associated with Israel did not breach any previous understandings between the sides.
Sanaa continues to enforce a naval blockade on ships linked to Israel in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, as part of what it describes as a “practical show of solidarity” with the Palestinian people and in response to the ongoing Israeli aggression against the Gaza Strip.
The forces aligned with Sanaa stress that their operations will not cease as long as the war on Gaza continues, considering the targeting of Israel-linked maritime activity as part of their deterrence strategy and a direct means of pressuring Tel Aviv and its regional allies.
