Yemen’s Presidential Leadership Council chief Rashad al-Alimi on Thursday accused the Houthi group of coordinating with African militant networks in a recent tanker hijacking.
Al-Alimi made the statement during a meeting with US Ambassador to Yemen Steven Fagin in Riyadh, according to Yemen’s state-run Saba News Agency.
He said recent developments show a clear pattern of escalating Houthi activity across multiple fronts.
The Yemeni official cited maritime threats, humanitarian pressure, and alleged links with armed groups in the Horn of Africa.
He referred to the hijacking of an oil tanker off Yemen’s coast as the latest example of this escalation.
Al-Alimi stressed that the incident reflects widening regional risks linked to cross-border militant cooperation.
He underlined the importance of strategic partnership with the United States to counter such threats effectively.
He also pointed to Iran’s alleged destabilising role in regional and international security dynamics.
The Houthi movement has not issued an immediate response to the accusations made by Al-Alimi.
Earlier, Yemen’s Coast Guard reported that nine Somali nationals armed with weapons seized an oil tanker.
The vessel was carrying around 2,800 tons of diesel during the hijacking incident off Shabwah province.
Authorities said the tanker continued its course toward Somalia’s northeastern coastline after the seizure.
No group has yet claimed responsibility for the maritime attack, leaving motives unclear.
