Saudi-led coalition launches operation near Yemeni port city Hodeida

Saudi state media said that the Saudi-led military coalition launched the operation against “remote controlled” boats early Friday near Hodeida.

The coalition said the operation destroyed four sites used to assemble the unmanned boats and sea mines to “help protect freedom of maritime navigation,” Reuters news agency reported.

The operation comes after state media reported Thursday that the Saudi coalition thwarted a “terrorist act” by intercepting an unmanned boat fitted with explosives in the Red Sea, which it said had been launched from Yemen by Houthi rebels.

Earlier, the United States wants a peaceful solution after attacks on Saudi Arabia’s oil facilities blamed on Iran, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said , after Iran raised the prospect of “all-out war”.

Pompeo’s comments came after talks in Abu Dhabi with Gulf allies about responding to the attacks which he has denounced as an “act of war” by Iran.

He said there was an “enormous consensus in the region” that Iran carried out Saturday’s attacks, despite its denials.

Via Arab News