Minister: US airstrikes in Yemen may herald ground offensive

Amid growing concerns over escalating military actions in Yemen, US airstrikes in frontline and coastal areas are now seen as a precursor to a possible ground operation, Foreign Minister and Expatriates Affairs, Jamal Amer said.

During a meeting today with the Acting Head of the United Nations Mission to Support the Hodeidah Agreement (UNMHA), Marie Yamashita he warned that these airstrikes could signal a shift in US military strategy towards a larger and more destructive ground offensive, Caliber.Az reports per Yemeni media.

Minister Amer condemned the ongoing US strikes on civilian sites across various Yemeni provinces, asserting that they violate both international law and the United Nations Charter. He specifically pointed to the targeting of Ras Issa Port and the bombing of medical personnel as "a fully-fledged war crime that must be investigated."

"The U.S. airstrikes, particularly in frontline and coastal areas, indicate that the aggression is following a scorched-earth policy in preparation for a ground military operation, which poses a serious threat of escalating the situation beyond control," Amer warned. His remarks highlighted the escalating risk of a major military escalation as the US potentially prepares for an intensive land operation.

The Foreign Minister called on the United Nations to convey the gravity of the situation to the UN Secretary-General to prevent further escalation. He also stressed the need for UNMHA to remain strictly within its mandate in Hodeidah Governorate, cautioning that any overreach would infringe on Yemen's national sovereignty.

In response, Acting Head of the UNMHA, Marie Yamashita, reaffirmed the United Nations’ commitment to de-escalation and dialogue. "The mission will conduct a field visit to the ports of Hodeidah, Ras Issa, and Al-Salif to assess the situation on the ground," she stated, underlining the UN's efforts to closely monitor developments and prevent further destabilisation in Yemen.

By Aghakazim Guliyev