Dubai/Riyadh, Sept. 15 (SANA) The United States expects a change in the Red Sea security situation “soon” and is coordinating with regional allies over maritime security, a senior adviser to US President Donald Trump said Tuesday.
Massad Boulos, Trump’s senior adviser for Arab and Middle Eastern affairs, said freedom of navigation in the Red Sea was a “red line” for Washington, adding that coordination with regional allies was underway.
“We’re starting to see things turning in a positive direction in the past few hours. We haven’t announced it yet,” Boulos said during the Arab Media Summit in Dubai.
His remarks came as Houthi forces launched further attacks on Saudi Arabia, according to Saudi authorities, following an advance along Yemen’s western coast that has displaced nearly 94,000 people.
Saudi Arabia’s Civil Defense urged residents in six cities, including Yanbu, the Kingdom’s main Red Sea oil port, to remain indoors and away from exposed areas amid the attacks. Authorities later said the danger had passed in several cities.
Saudi authorities said Houthi attacks on civilian areas had injured 13 people and damaged seven residential homes and two vehicles.
Saudi-led coalition spokesman Brig. Gen. Turki Al-Maliki said Houthi forces launched ballistic missiles and drones toward civilian areas in Abha, Khamis Mushait and Taif.
The Houthis said they targeted Saudi Arabia’s King Khalid airbase near Khamis Mushait with dozens of ballistic missiles and drones.
Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree said the operations were carried out in response to Saudi strikes on Yemen, adding that Saudi warplanes had conducted air strikes in several Yemeni provinces.
The Houthi advance along Yemen’s western coast toward the Bab Al Mandeb strait has raised concerns over the security of one of the world’s key maritime routes.
FJ/MF
