Russia and China Accuse US and UK of Illegally Targeting Houthi Rebels’ Military Sites
Disrupting Global Shipping and Red Sea Trade Routes
UNITED NATIONS (AP) — In a heated exchange at the United Nations Security Council, Russia and China accused the United States and Britain of launching illegal attacks on military sites used by Yemen’s Houthi rebels. The attacks target locations from where missiles are launched at commercial vessels in the Red Sea, causing significant disruption to global shipping.
Responding to the accusations, U.S. deputy ambassador Robert Wood and UK Ambassador Barbara Woodward argued that the Houthi attacks themselves are illegal and that their respective nations’ actions are well within the bounds of self-defense.
Woodward emphasized the rising costs of global shipping, especially in terms of food supplies and humanitarian aid in the affected region.
Russia and China Counter that Military Action in Yemen Was Never Authorized
Disputing the legality of the military action taken against Yemen, Russia’s deputy U.N. ambassador, Dmitry Polyansky, and China’s U.N. envoy, Zhang Jun, argued that the U.N. Security Council never sanctioned military action against Yemen.
The clashes came during a council meeting where U.N. special envoy for Yemen, Hans Grundberg, highlighted the detrimental effect of rising regional tensions on efforts to restore peace to Yemen. Grundberg linked these tensions to the ongoing war in Gaza and the escalating military buildup in the Red Sea.
Houthi Rebels’ Targeting of Red Sea Shipping Prompts Foreign Intervention
Since November, Houthi rebels have specifically targeted ships in the Red Sea as a means to demand a cease-fire in Israel’s offensive in Gaza. These attacks often occur on vessels with tenuous or ambiguous connections to Israel, causing significant risks to shipping along crucial trade routes linking Asia, the Middle East, and Europe.
In recent weeks, the United States, the United Kingdom, and their allies have launched airstrikes aimed at Houthi missile arsenals and launch sites used in attacks against commercial shipping in the Red Sea.
American envoy Robert Wood emphasized that U.S. strikes are in response to attacks on U.S. naval vessels, with the aim to disrupt and degrade the Houthis’ ability to continue their reckless assaults in the Red Sea, the Bab al-Mandeb Strait, and the Gulf of Aden.
Wood went on to accuse the Houthis of attempting to choke off global shipping and urged countries with direct channels to Iran, especially, to press Iranian leaders to rein in the Houthis and terminate these lawless attacks.
Conflict Analysis and Humanitarian Crisis
Key players involved in the discussions acknowledged that the conflict in Yemen, which began in 2014 when Houthi rebels ousted the internationally recognized government, has taken a heavy toll. As a Saudi-led intervention to restore the government escalated, the conflict evolved into a proxy war between Saudi Arabia and Iran, causing immense devastation in the Arab region’s poorest country.
Edem Wosornu, the U.N. humanitarian office’s director of operations, stressed Yemen’s massive ongoing needs. Over 18 million people, which is over half of the country’s population, will require humanitarian aid this year.
The U.N. estimates that 17.6 million people in Yemen will face severe food insecurity and nearly half of all children under five will suffer from moderate to severe stunting of growth and development. Additionally, last year’s Yemen humanitarian appeal received only 40% of its $4.3 billion target. This year, a more targeted Yemen appeal seeks $2.7 billion to reach 11.2 million people across the nation.
With countless lives on the line and a perpetually dire situation, the U.N. envoy reminded Council members of the need to protect political space, maintain open communication channels, and ensure continuous engagement towards efforts for peace.
Full AP coverage available at https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war
