NEW YORK
The UN Security Council on Tuesday adopted a resolution imposing an arms embargo against Houthi rebels fighting against Yemen's internationally recognized government backed by a Saudi-led coalition.
The resolution submitted by Jordan received 14 votes in favor with abstention from Russia.
During discussions on the final form of the text, Moscow reportedly insisted on an arms embargo on all parties, including Yemen's UN-backed government of Abd Rabbuh Mansour Hadi.
There is widespread speculation that Iran is providing material support to the rebels, a claim Iran denies.
The resolution also imposes a global asset freeze and travel ban against Ahmed Saleh, son of former Yemeni president Ali Abdullah Saleh, and Abdul Malik al Houthi, a Houthi leader.
Houthis "attempted to unilaterally replace the legitimate government of Yemen with an illegitimate governing authority that the Houthis dominated," reads the resolution.
"UK welcomes res 2216 on #Yemen. #UNSC made clear further measures would be taken if #Houthis failed to cease their aggression," the British UN mission said on Twitter.
Yemen has been in turmoil since last September, when the Houthis overran the capital Sanaa and from where they have sought to extend their influence over the rest of the fractious country.
The resolution says the rebels must withdraw from territory and government institutions they have seized.
Since March 25, Saudi Arabia and its Arab allies have pounded Houthi positions across Yemen in a bombardment that has killed more than 600 people, according to the UN.
Riyadh says the strikes are in response to appeals by Hadi to "save the [Yemeni] people from the Houthi militias."
The Houthis have denounced the U.S.-backed offensive as an unwarranted "Saudi-American onslaught" on Yemen.
The current conflict is seen in some circles as a proxy war between predominantly Sunni Saudi Arabia and majority Shiite Iran.
Yemen's Houthis reject UNSC sanctions
Yemen's Shiite Houthi group on Wednesday rejected sanctions imposed by the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) one day earlier on it and on the son of former President Ali Abdullah Saleh.
Senior Houthi member Mohamed al-Bukhaiti described the sanctions as "unjust," "unethical" and "illogical."
"The Houthis believe that nothing good can come of the Security Council," al-Bukhaiti told The Anadolu Agency.
"Council resolutions are never based on ethical or logical considerations," he added.
He said the UNSC should have issued a resolution suspending what he called "aggression" against Yemen that targeted the country's infrastructure.
On Wednesday, the Security Council imposed sanctions on the Houthi group and the son of former Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh.
It also imposed an embargo on weapon supplies to the Shiite group.
Al-Bukhaiti, for his part, said the Houthis would not abide by the decision.
"The Yemeni people will carry out their will," al-Bukhaiti said.
Since March 25, Saudi Arabia has been leading an Arab coalition, striking Houthi positions across Yemen.
Riyadh says the campaign comes in response to appeals by embattled Yemeni President Abd Rabbuh Mansour Hadi to "save the [Yemeni] people from the Houthi militias."
The Houthis, for their part, consider the onslaught a "blatant violation of Yemeni territory."
Yemen has remained in turmoil since last September, when the Shiite Houthi group overran capital Sanaa.
Some Gulf States accuse Shiite Iran of supporting Yemen's Houthi insurgency.
Turkey welcomes UN resolution on Yemen
Turkey has welcomed the UN Security Council’s resolution on Yemen to impose an arms embargo against Houthi fighters, Turkish Foreign Ministry said in a statement Wednesday.
"We welcome the UN Security Council resolution regarding the situation in Yemen that poses a threat to regional and international security and stability," the statement said.
"The resolution constitutes a clear message and warning from the international community to the Houthi rebels towards ending violence, withdrawing from territories they have seized, including the Yemeni capital of Sanaa, and not threatening its neighboring countries," it added.
The Turkish statement added that Turkey saw the sanctions, including a general assets freeze, travel ban and arms embargo as a "right step."
Turkey expects all the parties in Yemen, particularly the Houthi group, to comply with the resolution for the unity, integrity and welfare of the country.
Turkey will continue to give any kind of contribution for ensuring peace and stability in Yemen, the statement added.
The UN Security Council adopted the resolution Tuesday, which was submitted by Jordan; it received 14 votes in favor with Russia abstaining.
The resolution imposed a global asset freeze and travel ban on Ahmed Saleh, son of former Yemeni president Ali Abdullah Saleh, and Abdul Malik al Houthi, a Houthi leader. It also said that the Houthi militants must withdraw from seized territory and government institutions they seized.
Yemen has been in turmoil since last September, when the Houthis overran the capital Sanaa and from where they have sought to extend their influence over rest of the fractious country.
