Naval tensions: The French military announced tonight (Sunday) that a French destroyer intercepted two drones that were launched at it off the coast of Yemen. According to them, the incident took place at a distance of about 110 km from the coast, near the port city of Al Hudaydah which is under the control of the Houthi rebels.
According to the French announcement, the two interceptions took place two hours apart, with the first arriving at 11:30 p.m., and the second around 1:30 a.m. (according to Yemeni time). In both cases, the UAVs were successfully shot down without causing damage or casualties to the ships.
The current incident comes after yesterday the spokesman of the Houthi army announced that it will prevent the passage of ships in the direction of Israel and that any vessel, whose destination is Israel, will become a legitimate target for the Houthi forces - regardless of the country of origin or ownership.
According to the announcement he published, "Out of concern for the safety of maritime navigation, we warn all ships and companies against dealing with Israeli ports. The Yemeni armed forces confirm their full commitment to the continuation of world trade movement through the Red and Arab Bahrain Sea for all ships and all countries except ships connected to Israel, or that will lead goods to Israeli ports. The Yemeni army will implement this decision from the moment the statement is published."
This is a serious step up in the threat to Israel from the direction of the Houthis from Yemen. In the past, the Houthis fired missiles towards Israel when some of them were intercepted on their way to Israel by American warships or by the Saudis. Several ships were attacked in the Red Sea, and last week American forces prevented the Houthis from taking over a cargo ship in the middle of the sea.
So far, the Americans have refrained from attacking Yemen as well as prevented Israel from doing so in order not to drag the war in Gaza into a regional war, but it seems that if the Houthis carry out the new threat, there will be no choice but to respond and prevent the naval blockade that the Houthis are trying to establish in the area.
