UN Security Council Takes Action Against Houthi Attacks on Red Sea Shipping
UN Security Council's Decision on Houthi Attacks
The United Nations Security Council convened on Tuesday to authorize ongoing monitoring of assaults on vessels in the Red Sea by Yemen's Houthi rebels, who have ignored previous calls to cease such actions.
In a vote among the 15-member council, the result was 12 in favor, with Russia, China, and Algeria abstaining due to concerns over violations of Yemen's sovereignty, particularly referencing US airstrikes targeting the Houthis, who dominate northern Yemen.
The Trump administration has conducted these strikes in response to the group's threats to shipping routes in the Red Sea, a vital artery for global trade, and its actions against Israel.
This resolution, co-sponsored by the United States and Greece, mandates that UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres submit monthly updates to the Security Council regarding Houthi activities in the Red Sea until January 15, 2026.
Acting US Ambassador Dorothy Shea emphasized the resolution's recognition of the ongoing threat posed by the Iran-supported Houthi militants.
She highlighted recent assaults on civilian cargo ships, the MV Magic Seas and MV Eternity C, which resulted in the sinking of both vessels and the tragic loss of seafarers, with some crew members taken hostage.
The United States has condemned these unprovoked attacks, which threaten maritime security and regional economic stability, reiterating the council's demand for an immediate cessation of Houthi assaults and the release of all kidnapped crew members from the Eternity C.
These incidents are part of the rebels' broader campaign against maritime targets linked to the ongoing conflict in Gaza, which escalated following Hamas's surprise attack on October 7, 2023, in southern Israel. The war in Yemen, the poorest country in the Arab world, continues without resolution.
Greece's UN Ambassador Evangelos Sekeris remarked that the Houthi attacks exacerbate distrust within the international maritime community, underscoring the importance of security and freedom of navigation for global supply chains and economic growth.
He warned that further degradation of the Red Sea region, a crucial international shipping route, could lead to heightened security risks and economic instability.
Russia's Deputy UN Ambassador Dmitry Polyansky explained that Moscow abstained from the vote due to concerns that previous resolutions demanding an end to Houthi attacks were misinterpreted to justify military actions affecting Yemen's sovereignty.
He asserted that stabilizing Yemen should be pursued through political and diplomatic means.
China's Deputy UN Ambassador Geng Shuang also abstained, citing military actions by certain countries against Yemen that have negatively impacted the peace process and heightened tensions in the Red Sea.
The Houthis have been conducting missile and drone strikes against both commercial and military vessels, which they claim is a response to Israel's actions against Hamas in Gaza.
Shuang characterized the tensions in the Red Sea as a significant spillover from the Gaza conflict.
Polyansky reiterated the connection between stabilizing the Red Sea and achieving a ceasefire in Gaza, along with the release of all hostages.
Algeria's Deputy UN Ambassador Toufik Koudri expressed disappointment that the resolution did not address the Gaza conflict, which he believes is a significant factor in the attacks.
He stated that the Security Council must acknowledge the clear link between the assaults in the Red Sea and the aggression against the Palestinian people in Gaza, stemming from the brutal violence against innocent civilians.