The Saudi-led coalition believes that the use by Houthis of two ports as military bases would turn them into legitimate military targets.
More specifically, according to coalition spokesman Brigadier General Turki al-Malki, the aim is not to target the ports, but “to reach a comprehensive political solution.”
However, he added that in case the Houthis use any civilian sites, then they they “forfeit immunity thus making the ports targets for their forces.”
Currently, the ports of Hodeidah and Salif are controlled by the Houthis, which the Saudi-led coalition has said uses them as launching points for missiles, drones and marine operations.
On the other hand, air and sea access to Houthi-held areas is controlled by the Saudi-led coalition, that intervened in Yemen in early 2015.
What is more, earlier this month, Houthi forces hijacked a United Arab Emirates-flagged cargo vessel, saying that it was engaged in “hostile acts,” but which the military alliance led by Riyadh claims was carrying hospital equipment, part of a struggle to assert control over imports into the country.
After the incident, the Arab coalition recently demanded the immediate release of the cargo ship, and warned Houthis that if that does not happen, they would “face the prospect of a use force if necessary.”
In addition, the US condemned the seizure of the cargo vessel, saying that:
These actions interfere with freedom of navigation in the Red Sea and threaten international trade and regional security
Finally, the Yemen Petroleum Company (YPC) informed that the Saudi-led coalition diverted a fifth fuel vessel to a Saudi port.
The vessel was heading for the Houthi-controlled port of Hodeidah, and according to Essam al-Mutawakkal, who heads the YPC in Houthi areas, five such fuel ships that had received United Nations clearances to enter Yemen were currently being detained by the coalition.