(United Nations) The UN Security Council on Wednesday demanded an “immediate” end to Houthi attacks on ships in the Red Sea, calling on all states to respect the arms embargo targeting Yemeni rebels.
The resolution prepared by the United States and Japan, adopted by 11 votes in favor and 4 abstentions (Russia, China, Algeria, Mozambique), “condemns in the strongest terms the attacks, at least two dozen, against merchant ships and commercial since November 19, 2023″, the date on which they seized the Galaxy Leader, taking its 25 crew members hostage.
It “demands that the Houthis immediately end such attacks, which hamper international trade and undermine navigation rights and freedoms, as well as peace and security in the region.”
The Council, insisting on respect for international law, “takes note” of the right of Member States to defend ships against attacks.
PHOTO ANGELA WEISS, AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE
The resolution prepared by the United States and Japan, adopted by 11 votes in favor and 4 abstentions.
Since the start of the war on October 7 between Israel and Hamas, the Houthis, who control a large part of Yemen, have increased attacks in the Red Sea in order to slow down international maritime traffic there, claiming to act in solidarity with the Palestinians of Gaza.
Israel’s first ally, the United States, set up an international coalition in December to protect maritime traffic from Houthi attacks, in this strategic zone where 12% of world trade passes.
A coalition denounced by Russia. “We cannot but be concerned about the current situation in the Red Sea […] “but we are worried that the United States and its allies often prefer to choose a unilateral solution by force,” denounced Russian Ambassador Vassili Nebenzia.
The resolution, noting the “large-scale” violations of the arms embargo targeting the Houthis, also recalls the need for all member states to “respect their obligations” in this regard and “condemns the provision of weapons” to the Houthis, close to Iran.
According to the latest report from experts mandated by the Council to monitor the arms embargo, dated November, the Houthis are “considerably strengthening their land and naval military capabilities, including submarines, as well as their arsenal of missiles and drones , in violation of the embargo.”
The draft resolution finally calls for “addressing the roots” of the situation, “including conflicts contributing to regional tensions”.
Russia, whose three amendments to the draft resolution were rejected, wanted to specifically add “the conflict in the Gaza Strip” among these factors contributing to tensions.
Making this link with Gaza “would have encouraged the Houthis and created a dangerous precedent for the Council by legitimizing these violations of international law,” commented American Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield, attacking the “financial and material” support of Iran to the Houthis.
“We must not neglect the source of the problem […] We know that Iran is heavily involved in planning operations against commercial ships in the Red Sea,” she assured, calling on Tehran to make “a choice”.
“We are still very concerned about the situation in the Red Sea, not only about the situation itself, the risks to global trade, the environment and people, but also the risks of escalation of a more serious conflict. wide in the Middle East,” said Stéphane Dujarric, spokesperson for the UN Secretary General.