UN Security Council demands Houthis stop attacks on ships

DW:  The United Nations Security Council has called for an immediate end to attacks by Yemeni rebels on ships in the Red Sea. The corresponding resolution, introduced by Japan and the United States, was adopted on Wednesday, January 10, in New York with eleven votes in favor and none against. Four states - Russia, China, Algeria and Mozambique - abstained. The vote was delayed for several hours due to the fact that Russia submitted several amendments, all of which were rejected, the dpa agency clarifies.

The resolution condemns in the strongest terms Houthi attacks on merchant ships in the Red Sea. Rocket and drone attacks, which have increased sharply since the start of the war between Israel and the radical Islamist organization HAMAS, designated a terrorist organization by the US, EU and Israel, are disrupting international trade, undermining the law of the sea and harming peace and security in the region. The resolution says the attacks must stop "immediately."

At the same time, the Houthis are called upon to release the Japanese ship Galaxy Leader, which was seized in November, along with its crew. Since October 2023, the Iranian-backed Houthis have launched more than a hundred drone and missile attacks from Yemen in the Red Sea, according to the US administration. Rebel officials previously said they would only allow cargo ships delivering aid to the Gaza Strip.