Qatar has strongly condemned Yemen’s Houthi rebels for blocking maritime navigation in the Red Sea, as well as statements from the group’s spokesperson accusing Saudi Arabia of “besieging the sister Yemeni people”.

In a statement, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs calls on the international community to fulfil its responsibilities in implementing the relevant UN Security Council resolutions, including Resolution 2216 on Yemen and Resolution 2722 on the rights and freedom of navigation in the Red Sea.

The ministry, “affirms that freedom of navigation in international waterways is a fundamental principle of international law, and the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea of 1982”.

“The Ministry renews the State of Qatar’s full solidarity with the sister Arab Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and its support for all measures it takes to preserve its sovereignty and security, and affirms that the security of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is an integral part of the security of the State of Qatar and the security of the Gulf Cooperation Council for the Arab States,” the statement concludes.