Barran Press
Several Arab nations condemned the Israeli airstrikes on Yemen's Hodeidah province on Saturday, warning of the potential for regional security instability and undermining efforts to end the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict in Gaza, now in its tenth month.
On Saturday, Israel launched airstrikes on Hodeidah port, fuel tanks, and the power station, resulting in six deaths, three missing, and 83 injuries, according to the Houthi group, which controls the province and is designated as a terrorist organization by several countries.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu justified the strikes as retaliation for a drone attack by the Houthis on Tel Aviv early Friday, which killed one Israeli and injured ten others.
Saudi Arabia's Foreign Ministry expressed "grave concern" over the escalating military situation in Yemen following the Israeli strikes, stating in a Sunday statement that the attacks "exacerbate the current tension in the region and harm ongoing efforts to end the war on the Gaza Strip."
The Kingdom called on all parties to "exercise utmost restraint, to keep the region and its people away from the dangers of war, and for the international community and influential actors to play their roles and responsibilities to end the conflicts in the region."
Saudi Arabia reiterated its commitment to ending the war in Gaza and its continued support for peace efforts in Yemen to spare the Yemeni people further suffering and achieve security and peace in the region.
Undermining International Efforts
Kuwait also expressed "deep concern" over the "unprecedented Israeli attacks on Yemeni territory" on Sunday, stating that they "will lead to a deterioration of the security situation in the region and undermine international efforts to end the cycle of violence."
The Kuwaiti Foreign Ministry emphasized the need to "keep the region and its people away from the dangers of violence and destruction" and the "importance of the international community and the Security Council assuming their responsibilities in ending all conflicts."
Kuwait reaffirmed its ongoing support for efforts to achieve security and stability in Yemen and spare its people further suffering.
Renewed Tension
Oman, on Sunday, expressed its "condemnation of the Israeli military attacks on the sisterly Republic of Yemen, which represent a new escalation of tension in the region," according to a statement from the Foreign Ministry.
The statement added that these attacks "will further complicate the regional situation, hinder efforts to achieve calm and end conflicts, and obstruct the attainment of the desired peace, particularly in relation to the Arab-Israeli conflict and achieving justice for the Palestinian people."
Oman called on the international community to "fulfill its responsibilities to preserve regional and international security and peace, and to take decisive action to protect civilians and ensure the delivery of urgent humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip."
Risk of Regional Chaos
Egypt's Foreign Ministry declared on Saturday evening that the Israeli attacks on Yemen "further escalate the current tension on all fronts."
The ministry warned, through a statement, "of the risks of expanding the scope of conflict in the region following the developments of the Gaza Strip crisis and pushing the entire region into a vicious cycle of conflicts and instability."
Egypt called on "all parties to exercise restraint, calm down, and avoid slipping into regional chaos."
Egypt urged regional and international actors to "assume their responsibilities to end the Israeli war in Gaza, as it is the main reason for the current escalation of tension and regional escalation."
Egypt stressed that "a ceasefire in Gaza is the main and necessary step to contain the tension, the cornerstone for achieving comprehensive calm in the region, and preserving regional security and stability."
Hodeidah is one of the most important Yemeni provinces, as it houses an international airport, three vital ports, and a long coastline.
From Hodeidah, the Houthi group, designated as a terrorist organization by several countries, has continued to launch missile and drone attacks against commercial shipping vessels in the Red Sea, the Arabian Sea, and the Gulf of Aden since November 2023.
The group's attacks have led to increased maritime insurance costs and prompted many international shipping companies to opt for the much longer route around the southern tip of the African continent.
To deter the Houthis and protect maritime navigation, the United States formed a multinational coalition in December 2023, while US forces have been carrying out strikes against Houthi military targets.
Since January 12, there have been approximately 560 US and British airstrikes against the Houthis on the ground, resulting in the deaths of 58 individuals and the injury of 86 others, according to the group's own admission.
The internationally recognized Yemeni government contends that Western strikes are ineffective in neutralizing the Houthi threat to navigation and that the most effective solution is to support its armed forces in retaking Hodeidah, its ports, and other areas under Houthi control.