Yemeni coast guard steps up island security, targets Houthi smuggling routes

Yemen's coast guard chief has announced intensified efforts to secure islands and coastal waters, targeting Houthi smuggling routes. Major General Khaled Al-Qamaly, head of the Yemeni Coast Guard Authority, revealed that coast guard forces are collaborating with allied units such as the Giants Brigades, Shield of the Nation forces, and the National Resistance, receiving support from the Coalition leadership.

Al-Qamaly highlighted that the coast guard remains active in its national and military duties, even in Yemen's challenging circumstances, reinforcing the protection of the country's coasts, islands, and maritime areas. The coast guard's responsibilities extend beyond safeguarding territorial waters; they also involve supporting joint military operations, securing maritime zones, and countering infiltration, smuggling, and illicit supply routes to Houthi militias, all aimed at mitigating threats to coastal regions and maritime entry points.

Emphasizing the importance of coordinated efforts between the coast guard and other military formations, Al-Qamaly stressed that joint coordination is crucial for maintaining security and stability in coastal areas and protecting international shipping lanes through the Bab Al-Mandab Strait, the Gulf of Aden, and the Red Sea. He affirmed that the coast guard forces will continue to operate responsibly and ready alongside other military units, underscoring that safeguarding national sovereignty and securing islands, coasts, and maritime corridors is a collective responsibility necessitating continuous cooperation and coordination.