ADDS MORE FROM STATEMENT
By Diyar Guldogan
WASHINGTON (AA) - The US, and its allies on Wednesday warned Yemen's Houthi group of the consequences of their "unacceptable" attacks in the Red Sea.
In a joint statement, the US, Australia, Bahrain, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Germany, Italy, Japan, Netherlands, New Zealand, and the UK called for the immediate end of the "illegal attacks" and the release of unlawfully detained vessels and crews.
"The Houthis will bear the responsibility of the consequences should they continue to threaten lives, the global economy, and free flow of commerce in the region’s critical waterways," the statement said.
"It added that there is no lawful justification for intentionally targeting civilian shipping and naval vessels.
"Attacks on vessels, including commercial vessels, using unmanned aerial vehicles, small boats, and missiles, including the first use of anti-ship ballistic missiles against such vessels, are a direct threat to the freedom of navigation that serves as the bedrock of global trade in one of the world’s most critical waterways," it read.
Saying that the attacks threaten innocent lives from all over the world, the statement underlined that the attacks constitute a significant international problem that demands collective action.
Touching on the negative effects of the attacks, it said that international shipping companies continue to reroute their vessels around the Cape of Good Hope, adding significant cost and weeks of delay to the delivery of goods, and ultimately jeopardizing the movement of critical food, fuel, and humanitarian assistance throughout the world.
"We remain committed to the international rules-based order and are determined to hold malign actors accountable for unlawful seizures and attacks," it said.
Yemen’s Houthi rebels have significantly stepped up their involvement in the Israel-Hamas conflict in the Gaza Strip by targeting vessels in the Southern Red Sea. The group has warned that it will attack all Israel-bound ships. It said the attacks are to support Palestinians as they face Israel's "aggression and siege" in Gaza.
The Red Sea is one of the world's most frequently used sea routes for oil and fuel shipments.
Last month, US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin announced the creation of a multinational mission -- Operation Prosperity Guardian -- to counter Houthi attacks on commercial vessels in the Red Sea.