The Houthi movement, a Shia militant group backed by Iran in Yemen’s civil conflict against Saudi Arabia and its allies, asserts its focus is on targeting vessels associated with Israel and its allies to pressure a termination of the Gaza war. The stance has led to numerous commercial ships being attacked or delayed in the crucial maritime passage stretching from the Suez Canal in Egypt through the Red Sea and Bab al-Mandab strait, prompting intervention from Western countrie

Colombo, Jan 04 (Daily Mirror) – President Ranil Wickremesinghe said a decision has been taken to deploy a ship from the Sri Lanka Navy on the Red Sea area, contributing to the security of the region against Houthi activities