The UN Security Council approved a resolution on Wednesday calling on Yemen’s Houthi group to “cease its brazen” attacks in the Red Sea as the United States and Britain hinted at military strikes.
The UN Security Council vote was 11 in favour, 0 against and four abstentions, including Russia and China.
Earlier on Wednesday, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who is on a diplomatic tour of the region to try to reduce tensions, warned that “there will be consequences” for continued attacks by the Houthis.
The US and other countries have several ships in the Red Sea as part of the Prosperity Guardian Operation, in which more than 20 countries are taking part, to protect shipping on one of the world’s most important waterways.
The UN resolution condemned about two dozen attacks by the Houthis on merchant ships since November 19, when the Houthis attacked and seized the commercial vessel Galaxy Leader. US Ambassador to the UN Linda Thomas-Greenfield accused Iran of aiding the Houthis, stressing that the resolution demands the group stop violating international law.
“The United States applauds today’s adoption by the United Nations Security Council of a resolution co-penned by the United States and Japan condemning Houthi attacks on commercial shipping in the Red Sea. The resolution unequivocally demands that the Houthis cease their attacks and underscores the Council’s support for navigational rights and freedoms of vessels of all States in the Red Sea in accordance with international law.”
The Houthis have said they will relent only when Israel allows food and medicine into Gaza. The group’s strikes may be aimed at causing economic damage to Israel’s allies in the hope that they will pressure Israel to stop bombing the enclave.
Mohamed Ali al-Houthi, a member of the Supreme Political Council and former head of Yemen’s Houthi Supreme Revolutionary Committee, said the group’s actions were justified.
Since November 19, there have been at least 26 attacks by the Houthis, who have threatened the world economy by obstructing northbound shipping through the Red Sea and Suez Canal.
