Sana'a: The Yemeni armed forces have declared a maritime ban on the Saudi regime as a response to its failure to address Yemen's legitimate demands. According to Yemen News Agency, Mohammed Abdulsalam, head of the Yemeni national negotiating delegation, announced this move on Monday, stating that Yemen was compelled to take this step after Saudi Arabia's continued refusal to resolve the situation peacefully.
Mohammed Abdulsalam shared on the "X" platform that Saudi Arabia had been given sufficient time to address the consequences of its aggression against Yemen. He noted that the Yemeni people have suffered greatly while hoping for a peaceful resolution to avoid military escalation. However, the Saudi regime has consistently chosen to ignore and delay taking responsibility.
Abdulsalam emphasized that since the 2022 ceasefire, the Saudi regime has dismissed its eight-year aggression as merely an internal Yemeni issue. This attitude has been a major barrier to achieving a comprehensive solution. He further accused the Saudi regime of denying its role in the blockade on Yemen, despite its recent attack on Sana'a International Airport and military statements indicating continued blockade.
He clarified that the Saudi regime is accountable for the prolonged closure of Sana'a Airport and is the main instigator of the naval blockade targeting ships. The complications surrounding the arrival of goods at the port of Hodeidah have significantly increased the cost of imported materials, placing a heavy burden on Yemeni citizens.
Abdulsalam warned that the Saudi regime's belief in prolonging the blockade is a misguided and losing gamble. He cited the unprecedented million-person demonstrations on Friday as a clear indication that Yemenis have lost patience. He affirmed that a blockade for a blockade is a justified response to the Saudi regime's intransigence.
Reiterating Yemen's military stance, Abdulsalam expressed the aim to pressure the Saudi regime into lifting the blockade entirely on Yemen's airports and seaports, allowing access to its sovereign resources, addressing the humanitarian crisis, paying salaries, and hastening the prisoner exchange.