Houthi Supreme Political Council Member Claims Resolution Of GCC Border Issues Would Eliminate U.S. 'Blackmailing'; Defense Official: Yemen's Military Position 'Will Escalate' As Long As War On Gaza Continues

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In the wake of the Houthi Ansar Allah movement's attack on the Norwegian commercial tanker STRINDA, and the group's announcement that it would close the Red Sea to any vessel sailing to Israel, senior Houthi officials continued to issue statements threatening to escalate military operations as long as the siege on Gaza continues. The movement added that Yemen's armed forces operations represent a response to the U.S. veto, at the United Nations, on the resolutions calling for a cease fire in Gaza.

On December 12, 2023, the Houthi armed forces claimed responsibility for a military operation targeting a Norwegian vessel, STRINDA, after it reportedly had been warned but "failed to heed the warnings." The Yemeni armed forces said it would not hesitate to target any vessel violating the terms set out in the armed forces' previous statements, until "our steadfast brothers in the Gaza Strip" receive the food and medicine they need.[1]

Supreme Political Council Member: Solving GCC Border Demarcation Issues Would Deny Israel "Loopholes" To Exploit, And Eliminate U.S. "Continuing Blackmail"

On the same day, December 12, Houthi Supreme Political Council member Muhammad Ali Al-Houthi wrote on his Telegram channel what he called four ways to "avoid danger in the Red Sea." These are:

1. Keep marine communications devices switched on at all times.

2. Immediately respond to any instructions from the Yemeni navy.

3. Avoid concealment of the identity of vessels or national flags that do not match the ship's ownership.

4. Do not sail to "the occupied ports in Palestine."

Promoting the hashtag #Gaza_Is_Besieged_You_Will_Not_Sail_By, Al-Houthi wrote that Yemen's armed forces have clearly stated that the objective of their support of Gaza is to stop the "terrorist American-Israeli aggression" and lift the siege on Gaza to allow water, food, and medicine to be delivered to the "besieged, oppressed population of the Gaza Strip."[2]

In a related post, on December 12, Al-Houthi wrote that Yemen would be ready to serve as a mediator between Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, and other members of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) to solve the border demarcation issues concerning oil fields ownership; to normalize the situation, which is strained due to estrangement of the parties, and to redeploy military forces to their positions.

Al-Houthi argued that reaching "fair resolutions" to outstanding issues will "unite ranks and close loopholes." Furthermore, settling these problems would deny Israel the opportunity to exploit them, and would eliminate the U.S. "continuing blackmail."[3]

Supreme Political Council Chairman:  The Islamic Nation Is Entering A "Sensitive Phase In Its Conflict Against The American Enemy"

Also on December 12, the official website of the Houthi Ansar Allah Movement featured a report summarizing an address by Houthi Supreme Political Council Chairman Mahdi Al-Mashat. Al-Mashat, who also serves as the commander of the Houthi armed forces, praising the Yemeni armed forces' fight "for the sake of Allah and the oppressed people, alongside the Palestinian resistance factions and the Islamic resistance in Lebanon."

Al-Mashat wrote that the Islamic nation is entering a "sensitive phase in its conflict against the American enemy" and that the defense of Palestine and support of Gaza also constitute "defense of Yemen, the [Islamic] nation, and all of humanity." In addition, he wrote that the enemies must be dealt "blows," calling for an increase in readiness to be braced for any possible event.[4]

Houthis Spokesperson: Israel And Allies Bet On "Ineffective Opportunists"

On December 12, 2023, Houthi Ansar Allah movement Spokesman Muhammad Abdelsalam wrote, on his Telegram channel, that Palestine is an "all-encompassing issue." Neutrality or negativity in the conflict is tantamount to fighting alongside Israel against Gaza and Palestine, he stated. He added that the Yemeni people praise the Houthi armed forces' activities and continue to encourage others to stand by the Palestinian people.

"As for Israel and its supporters' bet on mercenaries here and there to obstruct the Yemeni armed forces, we say it is a bet on ineffective opportunists, who betrayed Yemen and the Palestinian cause."[5]

Houthi Government Spokesman: Yemeni Armed Forces' Actions Represent A Veto In Face Of U.S. Veto Of Ceasefire

The spokesman of the National Salvation Government and Minister of Information Daif Allah Al-Shami confirmed that the Yemeni people will not delay in exerting pressure to counter U.S. policies in support of Israel. In a report on the Houthis' website, Al-Shami explained that the decision to ban ships from crossing into Israel represents a "Yemeni veto" against the U.S. veto of a Gaza cease-fire resolution in the United Nations' Security Council.[6]

Defense and Security Affairs Official: Military Operations "Will Escalate" As Long As Siege On Gaza Continues

Deputy Prime Minister of the Caretaker Government for Defense and Security Affairs, Lieutenant General Jalal Al-Ruwayshan, stated that Yemen cannot reverse the decision to carry out operations against Israel "in light of the continued aggression and siege on the Gaza Strip."

"The Yemeni armed forces have the capabilities and intelligence that enable them to enforce all warnings," he added, noting that Yemeni military position "will escalate as long as the Zionist aggression and siege on the Gaza Strip continue."[7]