2024-02-18 17:58:54
Group of Seven (G7) countries have condemned attacks carried out by Yemen’s Houthi rebels on merchant ships transiting the Red Sea. This is stated in a statement by Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani as chairman of the meeting of the heads of the G7 foreign affairs agencies on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference, Day.Az reports with reference to TASS.
“Members of the G7 once again strongly condemned the attacks carried out by the Houthis on merchant ships transiting through the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, and the warships protecting them,” the text notes. “They stressed that these attacks violate international law, endanger the lives of innocent people and threaten the rights and freedoms of navigation,” the document emphasizes.
The foreign ministers “confirmed their support for countries that exercise the right to protect their ships from attacks in accordance with international law.” Ministers welcomed the upcoming launch of the EU’s Operation Aspides to secure merchant shipping in the Red Sea and the continuation of the US-led Operation Guardian of Prosperity, along with UK support to protect these vital shipping lanes. “Maritime safety, rights and freedoms of navigation are critical to ensuring the free movement of essential goods to destinations and communities around the world,” the statement concluded.
The head of EU diplomacy, Josep Borrell, at a press conference following a meeting of defense ministers in Brussels, said that the EU states agreed on the start of the Aspides mission on February 19 to protect merchant ships in the Red Sea.
Following the escalation of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict in the Gaza Strip, the Houthis said they would carry out attacks on Israeli territory and would not allow associated ships to pass through the waters of the Red Sea and the Bab al-Mandeb Strait until the operation in the enclave was stopped. Since mid-November last year, rebels have attacked dozens of civilian ships in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden.