United Nations Chief Urges Caution Following Strikes on Houthis
United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has called for restraint and warned against escalating the current situation in the Red Sea. This statement comes in the wake of recent strikes by the United States and the United Kingdom on Yemen’s Houthi rebels. The attacks, carried out in response to weeks of rebel assaults on Red Sea shipping, have raised concerns about the conflict in the region spilling over and causing further instability.
Guterres’s spokesman, Stéphane Dujarric, emphasized the need to prevent a further escalation. The secretary-general further calls on all parties involved not to escalate even more the situation in the interest of peace and stability in the Red Sea and the wider region, he said.
Khaled Khiari, assistant secretary-general for the Middle East, also addressed the UN Security Council, expressing deep concerns about the violence and its potential consequences. We are witnessing the cycle of violence that risks grave political security, economic, and humanitarian repercussions in Yemen and the region, Khiari stated. He also highlighted the alarming risk of exacerbating regional tensions due to the developments in the Red Sea.
However, Russia’s ambassador to the UN, Vasily Nebenzya, accused the United States and the United Kingdom of engaging in blatant armed aggression against another country. Nebenzya condemned the mass strikes carried out by these countries, stating that they targeted Yemeni territory as a whole, affecting the entire population.
In response, Washington’s ambassador to the UN, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, emphasized the vulnerability of all nations’ vessels to the threat posed by Houthi rebels in the Red Sea. Thomas-Greenfield made it clear that irrespective of a ship’s flag, all ships were susceptible to attacks by the Houthis. She further pointed out the Houthi’s reliance on Iranian support in tracking and striking commercial vessels navigating through the Red Sea, in violation of the international obligations.
The UK’s ambassador to the UN, Barbara Woodward, defended their actions as limited, necessary, and proportionate self-defense measures. She emphasized the careful approach taken to minimize risks to civilians during the operation.
The situation in the Red Sea continues to be a cause for concern globally. With various nations involved in the conflict, efforts must be made to prevent further escalation and seek peaceful resolutions. The United Nations, through the Secretary-General and the Security Council, plays a crucial role in fostering dialogue and seeking solutions that can ensure peace, stability, and humanitarian relief for those affected by the violence.
As tensions persist and the risk of regional instability remains, international collaboration and diplomatic efforts become increasingly essential. It is crucial for all parties involved to prioritize the well-being of the people and strive to de-escalate the situation in the Red Sea and the wider region. Only through collective action and cooperation can a sustainable and lasting peace be achieved.
