Saudi-led coalition thwarts rebel attack south of Red Sea

SANAA, Yemen (AA) – The Saudi-led coalition said Monday it had foiled a booby-trapped boat attack by Houthi rebels south of the Red Sea.

In a statement reported by the official Saudi news state SPA, the coalition accused the Houthi militia of continuing “to threaten shipping lines and global trade,” without giving further details.

There was no immediate comment from the Houthi group on the report.

Yemen has been ravaged by violence and instability since 2014, when Houthi rebels captured much of the country, including the capital Sanaa.

A Saudi-led coalition aimed at reinstating the Yemeni government worsened the situation, causing one of the world’s worst man-made humanitarian crises, with 30 million people accounting for 80% of the population needing humanitarian assistance and protection.

*Writing by Ibrahim Mukhtar in Ankara