Somalia condemns Houthi threats against Saudi Arabia after Red Sea tanker attacks
Somalia condemned threats by Yemen’s Houthi group against Saudi Arabia after attacks on two Saudi oil tankers in the Red Sea, warning that such actions threaten maritime security, freedom of navigation and international trade.
Mogadishu (Somali Report) — Somali government on Wednesday strongly condemned threats by Yemen’s Houthi group against Saudi Arabia after the Iran-aligned movement claimed attacks on two Saudi oil tankers in the Red Sea.
In a statement, Somalia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation denounced actions it said undermine maritime security, freedom of navigation and international trade.
The Somali government said it reaffirmed its commitment to the sovereignty, security and territorial integrity of states, as well as respect for international law.
The statement came after Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree said the group had targeted two Saudi oil tankers, identified as Encelia and Layla, as they transited the Red Sea.
“We targeted two Saudi oil tankers, named Encelia and Layla, for their violation of the blockade decision issued by the armed forces,” Saree said Wednesday.
Saudi Arabia’s state news agency reported that the Encelia had been hit, citing an official source at the kingdom’s Transport General Authority. The source said all crew members were safe.
“These attacks constitute a violation of international laws and conventions that guarantee the safety of commercial vessels and their crews,” the Saudi Press Agency reported.
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The agency did not provide details on the claimed attack on the Layla.
Saree said the attacks were carried out using ballistic missiles, cruise missiles and drones. He claimed the strikes caused fires on the vessels and said the Houthis had forced nearly 10 ships to abandon their routes and turn back.
Somalia said threats to maritime security and freedom of navigation pose serious risks to regional stability and international trade, particularly in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, two of the world’s most important shipping corridors.
The Red Sea route links the Indian Ocean to the Mediterranean through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait and the Suez Canal. Disruption in the area can affect global energy supplies, commercial shipping and humanitarian deliveries.
Somalia has a long coastline along the Gulf of Aden and the Indian Ocean, making maritime security a core national and regional concern. Mogadishu has repeatedly called for respect for international law and the protection of shipping routes used by commercial vessels, humanitarian agencies and regional economies.
The Houthi attacks have intensified concern among countries bordering the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, where regional tensions have increasingly affected commercial shipping.
Somalia said it stands against actions that endanger civilian vessels and their crews, and called for the protection of maritime routes from threats that could destabilize the region.
About the Author
Osman Hassan is a Senior Editor at the Somali Report based in Nairobi with over 15 years of experience in journalism. He has worked with local and international media outlets in Somalia and is an award-winning journalist. His reporting focuses on politics, security, and regional affairs in the Horn of Africa.