UN Security Council Passes Resolution, Demand Houthis “To Stop” Attacks

The UN Security Council passed a resolution demanding the Houthi rebels in Yemen to stop attacking ships in the Red Sea and to free the Japanese-operated Galaxy Leader, which they seized over the previous year. Eleven lawmakers support the resolution, demanding an immediate stop to any acts obstructing regional navigation rights and international trade.

US Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield stated to the United Nations that the world’s message to the Houthis today was clear: to stop the attacks immediately. The resolution, which the US and Japan supported, highlighted the council’s duty to guarantee the unhindered passage of authorized travel via the Red Sea.

Since the seizure of Galaxy Leader and its multinational crew in November, the Houthi rebels, who are allied with Iran, are alleged to have carried out 26 strikes on commercial ships in the Red Sea. Although several of the targeted ships have no apparent link to Israel, the Houthis allege that their activities are a protest against the ongoing violence in Gaza.

Big Breaking 🚨🚨

Houthis, backed by Iran, have released footage depicting the seizure of the Galaxy Leader vessel in the southern Red Sea. Ship is co-owned by Israeli businessman Abraham “Rami” Ungar, recognized as one of Israel’s wealthiest individuals.#Israel #Iran #Houthis https://t.co/LWVaxE7ApS pic.twitter.com/8fsgbVdi89

— QuickUpdate (@BigBreakingWire) November 20, 2023

Video Credits: QuickUpdate/Twitter

The resolution supports the multinational naval task force “Operation Prosperity Guardian” led by the US and intended to protect commercial shipping from Houthi attacks. The clause highlights that UN member states have the right—under international law—to defend their vessels against attacks, particularly those that jeopardize freedoms and rights of navigation.

Norway, with one of the largest fleets of merchant ships in the world, had its vessels targeted by the Houthis, which is also part of the multinational effort. The most extensive attack in the region was the most recent Houthi assault on the southern Red Sea route, which was stopped by the US and the UK and featured the interception of 21 Houthi missiles and drones.

The US has accused Iran of violating UN Security Council resolutions by providing vital assistance for the Houthi strikes, including drones and advanced missiles. However, Tehran denies these claims. The leader of Yemen’s Houthi supreme revolutionary committee, Mohammed Ali al-Houthi, termed the UN resolution a “political game” and asserted that the US was breaking international law. The voting took place following the rejection of Russian-proposed amendments that would have removed the implied support for the task force commanded by the United States and listed the Gaza conflict as one of the “root causes” of the Houthi strikes. Regarding the task force’s validity, Russian Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia claimed the resolution’s current draft was “an open-ended blessing of it.”

Around 10% of the world’s oil traffic and $1 trillion of products are estimated to flow through the Bab al-Mandeb Strait yearly. Due to the disruption caused by the Houthi attacks, some shipping lines have decided to reroute their vessels from the Red Sea to longer routes, which could impact food and energy pricing.

Reference: Al Jazeera

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