Yemeni official warns US warship deployment in Red Sea of escalating tension

A senior Yemeni official said on Sunday that the deployment of U.S. warships in the Red Sea risks destabilizing the region, calling it a violation to international law and vowing retaliation if Yemen is attacked.

Ambassador Abd al-Ilah Hajar, a diplomatic adviser to the President of the Supreme Political Council of Yemen, told China Global Television Network (CGTN) in Sanaa that the U.S. military presence in the Red Sea and in the Strait of Hormuz threaten regional states and carry consequences beyond the region.

"The deployment in the Red Sea, just like the deployment in the Strait of Hormuz, is a threat to international peace and security, given that there is no justification and no military operations in the Red Sea that require the presence of these American destroyers. It is also considered a violation of international laws and international maritime law, and it is a threat to the countries bordering the Red Sea, including Yemen," said Hajar.

"These are reckless adventures, and their impact is not limited to the countries of the region, but also affects the United States and international peace and security," Hajar continued.

Hajar said that Yemen is prepared for any regional escalation.

"We are ready for all possibilities, and any escalation related to Lebanon, Iran, or the Arab region -- Yemen will be present with all its strength," said Hajar.

He stressed that Yemen supports safe navigation in the Red Sea and the Strait of Hormuz, but will resist military activity aimed at aggression.

"We support the safety of navigation routes in the Red Sea and the Strait of Hormuz, and we have no hostile intentions toward any commercial maritime traffic. As for military maritime activity aimed at aggression against the countries of the region, we will confront it, reject it, resist it, and we are ready, to the fullest extent, to deter it and defend ourselves against any attacks from it," said Hajar.

Hajar also said that "The recent entry of the American aircraft carrier into the Red Sea indicates an intention to escalate."

Yemeni official warns US warship deployment in Red Sea of escalating tension

Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said on Sunday that Spain will present a proposal to the European Union (EU), calling on the 27-member bloc to break off its association agreement with Israel over the Middle East country's violations of international law in military operations, particularly those in the Gaza Strip and Lebanon.

At a campaign rally in the southern province of Huelva, Sanchez said a government that violates international law or the principles of the EU cannot be its partner.

Sanchez said that Spain would be formally requesting the termination of the Association Agreement during a meeting of the EU's 27 foreign ministers in Luxembourg on Tuesday.

The prime minister added that Spain is "a friend of Israel", but that it does not share the actions of its government, and urged other European countries to join the initiative.

At the campaign event, he also reiterated Spain's opposition to the ongoing conflict involving the United States and Israel against Iran, describing it as a major mistake.

Spain has in recent months adopted a more assertive stance on Middle East issues, calling for greater adherence to international law and multilateral principles in EU's external relations.

Earlier this month, Sanchez said that Israel's military operations in the Gaza Strip and Lebanon are flagrant violations of international humanitarian law, urging the European Union to act decisively to prevent Lebanon from becoming "a new Gaza."

The Association Agreement has been in force since 2000 to provide the legal basis for the EU's trade relationship with Israel.

Spain pushes to end EU-Israel association agreement