Official Spokesperson of the Coalition to Restore Legitimacy in Yemen Major General Turki Al-Malki has said that the Coalition will protect commercial vessels in Bab Al-Mandab Strait and respond to threats. "The Joint Forces Command of the Coalition undertakes and executes all firm and resolute operational measures that fall in line with Customary International Humanitarian Law and the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) to protect our commercial vessels transiting through Bab Al-Mandab Strait,” he said in a statement on Monday. He denied the claims regarding the closure of Yemeni ports and airports, saying that during the first half of 2026, more than 300 commercial vessels entered the ports of Hodeidah, Salif, and Ras Isa carrying foodstuffs, goods, oil, and construction materials. Al-Malki accused the Houthi militias of causing the closure of Sanaa International Airport, destroying the Yemenia Airways fleet, and refusing all initiatives to resume flights to and from the airport. “The Joint Forces Command of the Coalition has initiated the implementation of protection measures for Coalition vessels transiting through Bab al-Mandab Strait,” he said. “All Houthi threats against transiting vessels will be dealt with swiftly and firmly, as such threats are a blatant violation of international law and fall under acts of maritime piracy,” Al-Malki added.
