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Khasrouf: International Aviation in Bab el-Mandeb Threatened | ASHARQ AL-AWSAT English Archive 2005 -2017
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A general view of boats at a harbour in the southern city of Aden, situated at the mouth of the Red Sea, August 22, 2013. REUTERS/Mohamed al-Sayaghi (YEMEN – Tags: ENVIRONMENT) – RTX12TL6


Riyadh- Mohsin Ali Khasrouf, the chief of Yemen’s Armed Forces Moral Guidance Department, warned that international navigation in the Arabian Gulf, Red Sea and Bab el-Mandeb will remain under threat as long as the Houthis possess advanced weapons provided by Iran.

Khasrouf revealed to Asharq al-Awsat that all what is taking place in Yemen currently is due to the army’s favoritism of Former Yemen President Ali-Abdullah Saleh and its lack of professionalism and fidelity to the country.

Commenting on the Yemeni incident, Khasrouf described it as a murder that is rejected on all levels of humanity, laws and morals regardless of who the committer is. “The Saudi-led Arab Coalition issued a statement denying having any relation with the bombing and stressing that it will request an international investigation into this crime,” Khasrouf said, adding that the international, unbiased investigation will reveal details on the incident.

When asked about what might have been the reason behind the army’s bias, Khasrouf said that the “majority of the Yemeni army which shares part of the corruption, personal interest and loyalty to Saleh followed the former president along with their units. Soldiers are not held accountable as much as leaders.” Khasrouf commented on the attack on the human-aid Emirati ship, saying: “Threatening the navigation in the Red Sea, Arabian Gulf and Bab el-Mandeb was among the reasons behind establishing the Arab coalition.”

He, finally, wished that Houthis accept peace and the national dialogue is lose to reaching a partnership without the use of weapons. “We welcome the arrival of Houthis to the administration without them having to conduct a coup,” Khasrouf said.