News - Yemen: The Commander of the Coastal Defense Forces stated that Yemen has successfully built a professional and capable naval force over the past decade, capable of protecting its maritime sovereignty and securing international waterways—despite ongoing aggression and blockade. He emphasized that Yemen possesses "major surprises" in the fourth phase of escalation against the Zionist entity and its allies.

In a press statement, Major General Mohammed Ali Al-Qadri explained that the Yemeni naval forces have proven their competence and superiority during the battle to support the Palestinian people in Gaza and confront global arrogance in the Red and Arabian Seas (targeting the U.S., Britain, and the Zionist enemy).

He noted that the world breathed a sigh of relief while witnessing the major victories of the Yemeni Armed Forces, which inflicted a harsh defeat on the world’s strongest military power. These victories proved that the decisive factor in any battle is the human element, not weapons, and that the Yemeni fighter embodies this reality on the ground—recording a resounding triumph against the most powerful military force in the world.

Al-Qadri pointed out that Yemen’s support and confrontation have progressed in stages, and they are now launching the fourth phase with high readiness. He sent a direct message to the U.S. and the Zionists, warning them to "recalculate their moves, unless they want to face the major surprises we have prepared—deterring their arrogance, as even their own allies admit."

He affirmed that Yemen has successfully imposed a "low-cost deterrence equation," which has visibly disrupted the U.S. Navy. He stressed that they have "multiple options to prevent the passage of any ship, regardless of nationality or ownership, if it deals with the Zionist entity."

The Coastal Defense Commander called on all ship-owning and operating companies, the maritime community, and local populations to avoid any dealings with the Zionist entity, no matter the offers, to ensure the safety of their vessels and crews. He reiterated that maritime navigation remains safe for all except Zionist-linked ships or those heading to occupied ports, as well as vessels owned by companies violating the blockade—until the aggression and siege on Gaza end.

He confirmed that the Yemeni naval forces have now tightened their control over the Red Sea, enforcing an effective blockade on occupation-linked shipping in support of Gaza. This reflects Yemen’s capability to challenge major powers and impose new equations in one of the world’s most critical maritime passages.

Al-Qadri highlighted that the Yemeni Navy has achieved a stunning military feat by dismantling the myth of U.S. naval dominance in the Red Sea and disrupting the so-called "Prosperity Guardian" alliance formed since December 2023. These successes have drawn global attention, forcing a rethink of international power dynamics.

He added that with every decisive strike, new contours of an emerging global force in the Bab al-Mandeb Strait have been revealed. The U.S. Navy has been forced to retreat from the Red Sea, suffering significant damage—proving the Yemeni Navy’s superiority and its ability to undermine American prestige and that of its allies. He stressed that developments in the Red Sea mark a radical shift in regional power balances, warning that "we will cut off any hand that tries to reach our territorial waters."

Since late 2023, Yemen’s naval operations in the Red Sea and Arabian Sea have dramatically reshaped maritime security and trade in the region. By targeting Israeli-linked vessels and imposing a de facto blockade on the port Umm al-Rashrash, Yemen has dealt a significant economic and strategic blow to the Israeli enemy.