
UN council authorizes vigilance of attacks by Yemen's Houthis on Red Sea shipping
The Trump administration has carried out the strikes because of the group's attacks on shipping in the Red Sea, a crucial global trade route, and on close ally Israel. The resolution cosponsored by the United States and Greece extends the requirement that UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres provide monthly reports to the Security Council about Houthi attacks in the Red Sea until Jan. 15, 2026.
Acting US Ambassador Dorothy Shea said the resolution recognizes the need for continued vigilance against the Iran-backed Houthi terrorist threat. She cited the two latest attacks by Houthis against civilian cargo vessels, the MV Magic Seas and the MV Eternity C, which caused both vessels to sink and led to the loss of innocent seafarers and saw crew members taken hostage. 'The United States strongly condemns these unprovoked terrorist attacks, which demonstrate the threat that the Houthis pose to freedom of navigation and to regional economic and maritime security,' Shea said, reiterating the council's demand for an immediate halt to Houthi attacks and the release of all crew members kidnapped from the Eternity C.
The assaults represent the latest chapter of the militia's campaign against shipping over the war in Gaza that began with Hamas' Oct. 7, 2023 surprise attack in southern Israel. They also come as Yemen's nearly decade-long war drags on in the Arab world's poorest country without any sign of stopping.
Greece's UN Ambassador Evangelos Sekeris said the Houthi attacks have continued to fuel mistrust in the international maritime community, stressing that security and freedom of navigation are essential for the stability of global supply chains and economic development. 'If the Red Sea region–a critical international maritime route–becomes even more degraded, it will expose the international community to more acute security risks and economic uncertainty,' he warned.
Russia's deputy UN ambassador Dmitry Polyansky said Moscow abstained because language in the previous resolution demanding a halt to Houthi attacks was arbitrarily interpreted to justify the use of force affecting the territory of the sovereign state of Yemen. 'We stand convinced that any steps aimed at stabilizing the situation in Yemen and around Yemen should be taken in political and diplomatic ways,' he said.
China's deputy UN ambassador Geng Shuang said his country abstained because certain countries took military action against Yemen which seriously impacted the Yemeni peace process and exacerbated tensions in the Red Sea.
The Houthis have been launching missile and drone attacks against commercial and military ships in the region in what the group's leadership has described as an effort to end Israel's offensive against Hamas in Gaza. Shuang called tensions in the Red Sea a major manifestation of the spillover from the Gaza conflict.
Russia's Polyansky also stressed the link between normalizing the situation in the Red Sea and the need for a ceasefire in Gaza and release of all hostages.
Algeria's deputy UN ambassador Toufik Koudri, whose country is the Arab representative on the Security Council, expressed regret the Yemen resolution demanding an immediate halt to Houthi attacks made no mention of the Gaza war which he called one of the catalytic factors. 'The Security Council cannot disregard the clear nexus between the attacks in the Red Sea and the aggression against the Palestinian people in Gaza and the deep feelings that resulted from the brutal massacres committed against innocent civilians,' he said.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Leaders
9 hours ago
- Leaders
Saudi Arabia Spearheads Condemnation of Israeli Knesset's Motion to Annex West Bank
Saudi Arabia has led Arab and Islamic condemnation of Israeli Knesset's call to impose sovereignty over the occupied West Bank and the Jordan Valley. The Israeli move has sparked regional denunciation as a blatant violation of international law and UN Security Council (UNSC) resolutions. Israeli Vote On Wednesday, Knesset lawmakers voted in favor of a non-binding motion that demands the Israeli government to apply sovereignty over territories that make up the occupied West Bank and the Jordan Valley. The motion, which got 71 votes against 13, described the territories of the occupied West Bank as 'an inseparable part of the historical homeland of the Jewish people,' according to the Times of Israel. 'This move would make it clear to the world that Israel will not accept solutions that involve dangerous territorial concessions,' the motion said. The motion is part of the agenda that calls for the annexation of the West Bank. However, it is symbolic and will not impact the legal status of the West Bank. Saudi Condemnation Following the declaration, Saudi Arabia on Thursday strongly denounced the motion, which represents a flagrant violation of international laws and UNSC resolutions. In a statement, the Saudi Foreign Ministry said that such Israeli provocative acts undermine efforts to establish peace through a two-state solution and emphasize Israel's insistence on sabotage and destruction. Furthermore, the Kingdom stressed its categorical rejection of Israeli violations against the Palestinian people and their rights, particularly their right to self-determination. In the light of this, Saudi Arabia called on the international community to take decisive actions to implement UN resolutions that support the Palestinian people's right to live with dignity in an independent state along the 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital. Unified Position against Israeli Policies Later on Thursday, Arab and Islamic nations joined Saudi Arabia in denouncing the Israeli motion. Saudi Arabia, alongside Bahrain, Egypt, Indonesia, Jordan, Nigeria, Palestine, Qatar, Türkiye, the UAE, the Arab League, and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) issued a joint statement condemning the Israeli declaration. They called the motion a 'blatant and unacceptable violation of international law, and a flagrant breach of relevant UNSC resolutions, foremost among them Resolutions 242 (1967), 338 (1973), and 2334 (2016), all of which affirm the invalidity of all measures and decisions that seek to legitimize the occupation, including settlement activities in the Palestinian territory occupied since 1967.' Rejecting Israeli Annexation The signatories reiterated that 'Israel has no sovereignty over the Occupied Palestinian Territory.' They also stressed that 'this unilateral Israeli move has no legal effect and cannot alter the legal status of the Occupied Palestinian Territory, particularly East Jerusalem, which remains an integral part of the Territory.' Moreover, the countries reaffirmed that 'such Israeli actions only fuel the growing tension in the region, which has been exacerbated by the Israeli aggression on the Gaza Strip and the resulting humanitarian catastrophe in the Strip.' International Call The signatories called on the international community, including the UNSC and all relevant stakeholders, to uphold their legal and moral responsibilities and take decisive actions against Israel's illegal policies designed to 'impose a fait accompli by force, undermining the prospects for a just and lasting peace, and the two-state solution.' The countries also reiterated their commitment to the two-state solution based on international legitimacy and the Arab Peace Initiative, and to the establishment of an independent, sovereign Palestinian State along the June 4, 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital. Two-state Solution Conference Saudi Arabia has long advocated Palestinian Statehood as a viable pathway to resolve the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. In the light of this, Saudi Arabia and France will co-chair the International Conference for the Peaceful Settlement of the Question of Palestine and the Implementation of the Two-State Solution on July 28-29, 2025, at the UN headquarters in New York. The conference aims to chart a roadmap for a Palestinian State while guaranteeing Israel's security, in a bid to resolve the decades-old conflict. Palestinian Statehood During the conference, more countries are expected to officially recognize the State of Palestine, most notably France and the UK. In a recent visit to the UK, the French President, Emmanuel Macron, emphasized support for the two-state solution. 'I believe in the future of the two-state solution as a basis for regional security architecture, which will enable Israel to live in peace and security alongside its neighbors,' Macron told the British parliament. Similarly, the British Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, reaffirmed the UK's commitment to a 'just political settlement of the Palestinian issue.' Both Macron and Starmer reiterated their commitment to recognizing Palestine. 'We reaffirm our commitment to recognizing a Palestinian state, as a contribution to a peace process. We will work together to support its development and the realization of a Two-State Solution,' they said in a joint statement. Short link : Post Views: 9

Al Arabiya
10 hours ago
- Al Arabiya
Iran says right to enrich uranium ‘unshakable,' ahead of nuclear talks with Europeans
Iran on Thursday reaffirmed its right to enrich uranium, saying it was 'unshakable,' on the eve of key talks with European powers threatening to reimpose sanctions. 'Especially after the recent war, it is important for them to understand that the Islamic Republic of Iran's position remains unshakable, and that our uranium enrichment will continue. We will not give up this right of the Iranian people,' Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi was quoted as saying by Tasnim news agency.


Arab News
10 hours ago
- Arab News
Saudi Border Guard, SCIHL drive humanitarian progress at Riyadh event
RIYADH: A course aiming to promote awareness of international humanitarian law and enhance its implementation in Saudi Arabia took place on Wednesday in Riyadh. The Introduction to International Humanitarian Law course was organized by the Kingdom's national Standing Committee of International Humanitarian Law, or SCIHL, in partnership with the General Directorate of Border Guard, with the participation of more than 500 military and civilian personnel. The three-day course took place at the Border Guard headquarters and included a series of specialized lectures addressing key topics such as cyber operations within the framework of international humanitarian law and the role of civilian and military media in times of armed conflict. The program also featured a high-level panel discussion titled 'The Importance of Enforcing International Humanitarian Law at the National Level,' delivered by a select group of experts. SCIHL secretary-general counselor, Abdullah Al-Ruwaili, told Arab News that the diverse attendance reflected the high level of confidence participants place in the professionalism of the organizing bodies, particularly the SCIHL and the General Directorate of Border Guards. Al-Ruwaili said that the relevance and timing of the course — amid escalating challenges related to conflicts and emerging technologies — were key factors behind the significant turnout. The diversity of the course's themes — encompassing legal, cyber and media aspects — played a key role in drawing a wide audience of practitioners and stakeholders, according to the secretary general. The interactive approach and the participation of prominent experts fostered a rich environment for dialogue and the exchange of expertise, Al-Ruwaili said. He said that confidence in the professionalism of the organizing bodies and their commitment to the quality of content and outcomes were among the key factors behind the engagement and positive feedback from participants. The joint organization of the course by the SCIHL and the Border Guard stands as a distinguished example of national institutional synergy in the implementation of international humanitarian law, he added. By combining the committee's legal and academic expertise with the directorate's provision of a practical, field-based setting for in-depth dialogue, the initiative successfully integrated theoretical frameworks with real-world application — substantially enhancing the quality and impact of the training content, Al-Ruwaili said. 'This collaboration stands as a testament to the Border Guard's dedication to strengthening its capabilities in accordance with international humanitarian values and principles. It represents a leading example of synergy between legal and security institutions — one that holds potential for broader application across various sectors,' Al-Ruwaili said. The joint organization of the course by the SCIHL and the Border Guard stands as a distinguished example of national institutional synergy in the implementation of international humanitarian law, he added. By combining the committee's legal and academic expertise with the directorate's provision of a practical, field-based setting for in-depth dialogue, the initiative successfully integrated theoretical frameworks with real-world application — substantially enhancing the quality and impact of the training content, Al-Ruwaili said. 'This collaboration stands as a testament to the Border Guard's dedication to strengthening its capabilities in accordance with international humanitarian values and principles. It represents a leading example of synergy between legal and security institutions — one that holds potential for broader application across various sectors,' Al-Ruwaili said.