Postpone the vote on a Security Council resolution denouncing Houthi threats to shipping
The Security Council vote scheduled for Wednesday against Houthi groups in the Red Sea has been postponed; Informed sources in New York said: Russia wanted to introduce amendments that need to be reviewed, and the vote is expected to return to the agenda on Thursday.
The draft resolution was prepared by the United States to “denounce in the strongest possible terms” attacks by the Iran-backed Houthi group against commercial shipping and international shipping in the Red Sea and vital waterways in the region, and “takes note” of the right of countries of the world to defend their ships, recalling the need to adhere to international resolutions preventing transfers of weapons, ammunition and military material to the group in accordance with international resolutions 2140, 2216 and 2624.
The resolution’s authors could not confirm in advance whether Russia and other countries might allow the resolution, which requires fewer than nine out of 15 votes in the Security Council, with no veto power from any of the five permanent members: the United States, Great Britain, France, China and Russia.
The eleven paragraphs of the American draft resolution provide for “condemning in the strongest terms” the attacks, which have numbered more than 26 since November 19, against commercial ships, including the merchant ship “Galaxy Leader”, managed by a Japanese company with ties with an Israeli company, calling on the Houthis to “immediately stop all these attacks, which impede global trade and undermine navigation rights and freedoms, as well as regional peace and security,” and to “immediately release (Galaxy Leader) and his crew.”
The Galaxy Leader ship, controlled by the Houthi group since last November (Reuters)
“Respect freedom of navigation”
The initial text distributed by American negotiators to the Security Council stated that “the rights and freedoms of navigation of commercial vessels must be respected in accordance with international law” and that the Security Council “takes note of the law of member States, in compliance with international law, to defend their ships from attacks, including those that undermine the rights and freedoms of navigation. However, this paragraph was amended to delete any “recognition” by the United Nations of “the right of any country to defend its ships.” The text praises “the efforts of Member States, in the context of the International Maritime Organization’s framework for action, to improve the safety and soundness of shipping of ships sailing to all Red Sea countries”, and further encourages Member States to “support efforts to strengthen the capacity of the Yemeni Coast Guard to effectively implement the measures imposed under paragraph 14.” Since Resolution 2216 of 2015, with full respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Yemen.”
Despite the changes made to the original text, a Western diplomat described the situation before the vote as “complicated”.
Paragraph 14 of resolution 2216 states that the Security Council “decides that all Member States shall immediately take such measures as may be necessary to prevent, directly or indirectly, the supply, sale or transfer to or for the benefit of Ali Abdullah Saleh, Abdullah Yahya Al- Hakim, and Abdullah The creator of the Houthis (…) and anyone acting on their behalf or at their direction in Yemen, from or through its territory or through its citizens, or using ships or aircraft flying its flag, to weapons and related material of all types, including weapons and ammunition, military vehicles and equipment, paramilitary equipment and spare parts therefor, as well as technical assistance, training, financial or other assistance in connection with military activities or the provision, maintenance or use of weapons and related material, including the supply of armed mercenary personnel, whether or not native to its territory”.
A US Department of Defense photo of the destroyer USS Labone during its transit through the Suez Canal (AFP)
Improve maritime safety
The resolution also encourages Member States to “continue to develop and strengthen their capacities and support the building of port and coastal capacities of the Red Sea and Bab al-Mandab countries”; In order to “enhance maritime security, including by providing technical assistance, as appropriate, through United Nations entities in accordance with the mandates conferred on each of them and at the request of these countries”, underlining the need to address the problem at root, including conflicts, conflicts that contribute to regional tensions and hinder maritime security” in order to “ensure an effective and immediate response”, while underlining “the need for all countries to respect their obligations, including the ban on targeted weapons contained in Resolution 2216 and the classification of the Houthis as a group vulnerable to the arms embargo, in accordance with Resolution 2624.” It also “denounces the supply of weapons and related equipment of all types to the Houthis, in violation of resolution 2216,” calling for “further practical cooperation to prevent the Houthis from obtaining the equipment needed to carry out further attacks.” It urges “caution and restraint to avoid any further escalation of the situation in the Red Sea and the wider region”, encouraging “diplomatic efforts by all parties to this end, including by continuing to support the dialogue and political process in Yemen under the auspices of the United Nations”.
The biggest barrier
The vote on the resolution comes a day after the Houthis launched the largest barrage of drones and anti-ship cruise missiles into the Red Sea. Which forced American and British forces to shoot it down, without suffering any damage.
The private intelligence company “Ambry” reported that the attack occurred in two phases, the first off the Yemeni coastal cities of Hodeidah and Mokha, explaining that during the Hodeidah attack, ships sent radio signals regarding in the presence of missiles and drones. US-allied warships urged merchant ships to “proceed at full speed.” He added that ships off Mokha witnessed missiles being fired, a drone in the air and small boats following it.
The British destroyer HMS Diamond in the Red Sea (Reuters)
Complex attack
British Army Maritime Commercial Operations recognized the attack off Hodeidah. While the US Army Central Command reported that the “complex attack” carried out by the Houthis included bomb-laden drones, as well as anti-ship cruise missiles and an anti-ship ballistic missile. It reported the shooting down of 18 drones, two cruise missiles and one anti-ship missile by F-18 aircraft launched from the aircraft carrier USS Dwight Eisenhower and the American destroyers USS Gravely, USS Laboon and USS Gravely. .” As well as the British destroyer HMS Diamond. He also explained: “This is the 26th Houthi attack on trade routes in the Red Sea since November 19.” Commercial vessels were advised to “cross with caution and report any suspicious activity.”
The Houthis later claimed responsibility for the attack in a statement conveyed by their spokesman, Brigadier General Yahya Saree, who said the attack “targeted an American ship providing support to the Zionist entity” during the war in Gaza against “Hamas”. also describing it as an “initial response” to the attack by American forces, sinking Houthi ships and killing ten last week.
The 15 members of the Security Council unanimously condemn the Houthi attacks, stressing that they threaten the vital trade corridor linking Asia and the Middle East with Europe via Egypt’s Suez Canal, and Bab al-Mandab , which is 29 kilometers wide at its summit. two narrowest points and through which approximately ten percent of the total oil shipped by sea passes. It is estimated that trillions of dollars of goods pass through the strait every year.
