Houthi attacks in Red Sea 'must stop,' says UN

WASHINGTON

Attacks originating from Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen on merchant vessels navigating through the Red Sea "must stop," said a UN official on Wednesday.

"No cause or grievance can justify continuation of these attacks against the freedom of navigation," Khaled Khiari, Assistant Secretary-General for the Middle East and Asia and the Pacific, told a UN Security Council meeting.

"The UN continues to warn against the adverse political, security, economic and humanitarian repercussions of military escalation in the Red Sea and the risk of exacerbating regional tensions," Khiari said.

"Continued Houthi threats to maritime navigation coupled with the risk of further military escalation remains of serious concern and could potentially impact millions in Yemen, the region and globally," he cautioned.

The UN encourages all concerned parties to avoid further escalation and de-escalate tensions and threats, Khiari said, adding: "This is critical so that traffic through the Red Sea can return to its normal state and the risk of Yemen being dragged into a regional conflagration be avoided."

Attacks against int'l shipping 'not acceptable'

Also addressing the Council, Secretary-General of the International Maritime Organization (IMO), Arsenio Dominguez reiterated his call for de-escalation "to ensure safety of our seafarers, freedom of navigation and stability of supply chains."

"Attacks against international shipping in the Red Sea area are not acceptable," Dominguez said.

The IMO continues to closely monitor the situation and liaise with industry representatives and navies, he added.

For his part, Deputy Permanent Representative of the US to the UN Chris Lu said these attacks pose "grave" implications for maritime security, international shipping and commerce.

They undermine the fragile humanitarian situation in Yemen, damaging the ability of the international community to deliver assistance to more than 21 million people in need, he added.

"The threat to navigational rights and freedoms in the Red Sea is a global challenge and necessitates a global response," the ambassador said.

Yemen’s Houthi rebels have significantly stepped up their involvement in the Israel-Hamas conflict in the Gaza Strip by targeting vessels in the Southern Red Sea. The group has warned that it will attack all Israel-bound ships. It said the attacks are to support Palestinians as they face Israel's "aggression and siege" in Gaza.

The Red Sea is one of the world's most frequently used sea routes for oil and fuel shipments.

US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin recently announced the creation of a multinational mission -- Operation Prosperity Guardian -- to counter Houthi attacks on commercial vessels in the Red Sea.