Coalition Spokesperson: We Will Protect Our Ships in Bab el-Mandeb and Respond Firmly to Threats

Official Spokesperson of the Coalition Forces, Major General Turki Al-Maliki

The official spokesperson of the Coalition Forces, "Coalition to Support Legitimacy in Yemen," Major General Turki Al-Maliki, stated that the leadership of the Coalition Joint Forces is taking and implementing all decisive and strict operational measures, in accordance with international law and the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (1982), to protect our naval ships in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait.

Al-Maliki added that the claims about closing Yemeni ports and airports come in the context of fallacies and Houthi escalation against the Yemeni government and neighboring countries, and that the Houthi narrative about the siege is misleading, as more than (300) commercial ships have entered the ports of (Hodeidah, Salif, and Ras Issa) during the first half of the year (2026), carrying various foodstuffs, goods, fuel, and building materials.

Al-Maliki added that the Houthi militia is the one that caused the closure of Sanaa International Airport and the destruction of Yemenia Airways aircraft, and also refused all initiatives to resume flights to and from the airport.

Major General Al-Maliki affirmed that the leadership of the Coalition Joint Forces has begun implementing measures to protect coalition ships through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, and will respond to Houthi threats to passing ships with all firmness and force, considering these threats a clear violation of international law and constituting acts of maritime piracy.

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