MASAM Destroys Houthi Missile Underwater off Bab el-Mandeb Coast

The Saudi Project for the Clearance of Yemeni Lands from Mines (MASAM) announced on Tuesday, July 30, 2024, that its team in the Aden and West Coast sector successfully destroyed an unexploded missile found underwater in the Al-Ardi area off the Bab el-Mandeb coast.

In a statement published on its official website, monitored by "Barran Press", MASAM stated that the missile was a remnant of the Iran-backed Houthi group, classified as a terrorist organization. The missile posed a direct threat to the lives of fishermen and divers in the area.

Engineer Yasser Al-Mazloumi, a member of the Special Tasks Team in the Aden and West Coast sector, said the team received a report from fishermen about the presence of a warhead from Houthi remnants under the water's surface, causing fear and anxiety among fishermen and divers.

Al-Mazloumi noted that the detonation occurred at a depth of 9 meters below sea level, marking the first such operation by MASAM at this depth. He explained that the explosives used in the detonation were packaged in plastic bags and tightly wrapped before being lowered underwater to ensure the safety of the operation.

He added that the team took all necessary safety precautions to protect citizens' property, including fishing boats and homes, due to the sensitive location of the missile.

In the same context, MASAM confirmed that it had carried out a detonation operation involving 26 pieces of explosives in Jabal al-Nar in the Al-Mocha district. This included three anti-tank mines, 23 shells, and various difficult-to-transport rounds due to their danger, according to the project's website.

Launched in 2018, the MASAM project aims to clear Yemen of mines as a humanitarian initiative within the efforts of the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center in Yemen. It currently comprises 32 demining teams operating in areas controlled by the internationally recognized government.

Last June, Yemeni Presidential Leadership Council President Rashad al-Alimi issued two decrees awarding MASAM and the National Mine Action Programme the Medal of Courage, in recognition and appreciation for their role in clearing Yemeni lands of mines and unexploded ordnance planted by the Houthi group, which is classified as a terrorist organization by the international community.