Ansarullah warns US Navy
In a statement, a member of the political office of Yemen's Ansarullah Movement pointed out the weaknesses and damages of US warplanes when they take off and land on the decks of ships and warned that Yemeni forces could use these weaknesses to shoot them down those.
Over the course of eighteen months, the Yemeni Civil War has unfolded, setting President Mansur Hadi and his supporters against former president Ali Abduhallah Saleh and the Iran-backed Houthi rebels. Yemen remains engulfed in near-daily military clashes, with the conflict morphing into a proxy battle between Saudi Arabia and Iran. The recent widening of the conflict occurred when a missile was launched from Houthi-held territory toward the USS Mason, prompting a retaliatory response from the United States. This incident has raised doubts among regional observers about the sincerity of the Houthis in the ongoing UN-backed peace talks in Kuwait. Many have condemned this escalation of violence and urged the Houthis to engage earnestly in the peace negotiations.
Meanwhile, the Houthis and Iranians have focused on condemning Saudi Arabia for a bombing incident during a funeral procession in Yemen, which resulted in the deaths of over 150 civilians. The Saudis claim they are investigating the matter.
Accusations have been directed at the Iran-backed Houthi rebels for launching rocket attacks against U.S. and Emirati naval vessels. Some, including the editorial staff of the Khaleej Times, view these attacks as deliberate attempts to heighten tensions and stoke anti-Arab sentiments in the region. They argue that the Houthis are undermining peace efforts by resorting to violence and avoiding constructive dialogue.
Similarly, The National's editorial contends that the rocket attacks indicate the Houthis' lack of interest in peace negotiations, portraying them as obstructive and unwilling to engage in meaningful dialogue. The editorial emphasizes the necessity for the Houthis to lay down their arms and participate in peace talks for the sake of resolving the conflict in Yemen.
Despite concerns about further escalation, a sentiment echoed in a recent editorial in Gulf Today supports the U.S. response against the Houthi rebels, viewing it as appropriate and necessary. The editorial highlights the repeated assaults by the Houthis on ships in international waters and commends Washington for responding to these provocations. It underscores the importance of holding the Houthi-Saleh alliance accountable for their actions and violations of international agreements and resolutions.
