International Maritime Organization urges action on Red Sea security crisis

By Aysu Bicer

LONDON (AA) - In response to escalating security concerns in the Red Sea region, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) on Friday issued a poignant call to action, highlighting the resurgence of piracy and armed robbery off the coast of Somalia and the perilous conditions facing seafarers.

Expressing profound concern over maritime security, the IMO said in a statement: "We are additionally troubled by the situation involving MV Abdullah, a Bangladesh-flagged bulk carrier recently hijacked by pirates off the coast of Somalia, resulting in the abduction of its 23-member crew."

"This and other recent attacks have prompted concerns regarding the resurgence of the piracy threat originating from Somalia, a matter that some industry stakeholders have been hesitant to acknowledge," it added.

While acknowledging the efforts of international naval forces, the IMO stresses the need for increased naval presence and urges regional states to contribute assets to safeguard the lives of seafarers and protect the marine environment. India's significant contribution is highlighted as an example to follow.

Emphasizing the urgency to support the recognized governments of Yemen and Somalia in building the capabilities of their Coast Guard and operationalizing the Regional Maritime Information Sharing Centre (ReMISC) in Aden, the IMO stresses the crucial role of information sharing in combating illegal activities at sea.

The Houthi group announced Friday that the US and UK conducted six more airstrikes on the coastal province of Al Hudaydah in western Yemen.

“A US-UK aggression targeted the area of Ras Issa in the Salif directorate and the Al-Faze region of At Tuhayta District in Hodeidah province with five raids,” said Houthi-affiliated channel Al-Masirah.

The Al Hudaydah Airport was also attacked, it added.

Al Hudaydah is an important Yemeni province, with three vital ports in addition to a long coastal strip.

Since the beginning of 2024, a coalition led by the US has been conducting airstrikes that it said are targeting Houthi locations in parts of Yemen in response to attacks by the group in the Red Sea. The counterattacks have been occasionally met with retaliation from the group.

In solidarity with Gaza, which is facing a devastating Israeli offensive, the Houthis targeted Israeli cargo ships or those associated with Tel Aviv in the Red Sea with missiles and drones, expressing determination to continue operations until the end of the war on the enclave.

With the intervention of Washington and London and an escalation of tensions, the Houthis announced that they now consider all American and British ships as military targets.