UN Security Council Documents Houthi Attacks Amid Regional Tensions

United Nations, Jul 16 (AP) The UN Security Council on Tuesday sanctioned the continued documentation of Houthi attacks on ships in the Red Sea. Despite previous demands for an immediate cessation, Yemen's Houthi rebels have persisted in their assaults. The resolution passed in the 15-member council garnered a 12-0 vote, with Russia, China, and Algeria abstaining. Their abstention highlighted concerns over violations of Yemen's sovereignty, alluding to US airstrikes against the Houthis who dominate most of northern Yemen.

The Trump administration has justified these strikes due to the Houthis' aggression towards shipping in the crucial global trade passage of the Red Sea, alongside threats posed to close ally Israel. The resolution, co-sponsored by the United States and Greece, mandates UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres to deliver monthly updates on the Houthi attacks in the Red Sea until January 15, 2026.

Acting US Ambassador Dorothy Shea emphasized the need for sustained vigilance against what she termed the “Iran-backed Houthi terrorist threat”. Highlighting recent destructive incidents, she cited attacks on the civilian cargo vessels MV Magic Seas and MV Eternity C, which resulted in their sinking, loss of seafarers, and hostage situations for some crew members.

“The United States strongly condemns these unprovoked terrorist attacks,” Shea stated, reaffirming the council's call for an immediate stop to Houthi aggression and the release of hostages from the Eternity C. The attacks represent the latest escalation linked to the ongoing conflict in Gaza, ignited by Hamas' surprise attack on southern Israel on October 7, 2023. This takes place amidst a decade-long war in Yemen, the Arab world's poorest country, showing no signs of resolution.

Greece's UN Ambassador Evangelos Sekeris remarked that the ongoing Houthi attacks are undermining trust within the international maritime sector, pointing to the importance of security and free navigation for global supply chain stability and economic progress. “A further degradation of the Red Sea region—a critical international maritime route—poses heightened security risks and economic uncertainty globally,” he warned.

Russia's deputy UN ambassador Dmitry Polyansky explained Russia’s abstention, arguing that previous resolution language was misinterpreted to justify arbitrary use of force on Yemen's sovereign territory. “Stabilizing Yemen and its surroundings requires political and diplomatic initiatives,” he asserted.

China's deputy UN ambassador Geng Shuang voiced a similar rationale for abstaining, criticizing military interventions for worsening Yemen's peace process and heightening Red Sea tensions. The Houthis' missile and drone offensives against regional ships are framed by their leadership as attempts to counter Israel’s military actions against Hamas in Gaza.

Shuang branded the Red Sea tensions as a significant ripple effect from the Gaza conflict. Russia’s Polyansky stressed the need for a ceasefire in Gaza and an immediate release of all hostages, linking these to normalization efforts in the Red Sea.

Algeria's deputy UN ambassador Toufik Koudri, speaking as the Arab representative on the Security Council, regretted that the Yemen resolution’s demand for a halt to Houthi attacks failed to acknowledge the Gaza conflict, which he called a “catalytic factor”. “The Security Council must recognize the connection between the Red Sea attacks and the assault on Palestinians in Gaza, amid the overwhelming sentiment provoked by the massacre of innocent civilians,” he declared.

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