The United Nations Security Council has condemned the Houthi attacks on commercial vessels in the Red Sea.
UN Council President Yamazaki Kazuyuki issued a statement in Monday in which he said member states “condemned in the strongest terms” the attacks on shipping in the region, including the 6 March attack on the MV True Confidence in which two Filipino sailors and one Vietnamese sailor died, and at least four others were injured.
He said they also condemned the 18 February attack on the MV Rubymar, which subsequently sank on 2 March as a result of damage from the attack.
“The council members took note of the negative impacts of these attacks and emphasised that the sunken vessel poses a navigational hazard to ships transiting the area,” said Kazuyuki.
He said the council had called for practical co-operation, including with the government of Yemen, to prevent the Houthis from acquiring arms and ammunition to carry out further attacks. They reiterated that all member states must adhere to their obligations regarding the targeted arms embargo.
“The council members demanded the immediate release of the MV Galaxy Leader and its crew, who have now been unlawfully detained for more than 100 days,” said Kazuyuki.
They underscored the importance of the Red Sea maritime route for humanitarian efforts in Yemen and beyond, as well as for the local fishing industry supporting Yemeni livelihoods.
“The council members demanded that all Houthi attacks against commercial and merchant vessels traversing the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden cease immediately, in accordance with international law and consistent with resolution 2722 (2024).”
He said the exercise of navigational rights and freedoms by merchant and commercial vessels of all states transiting the Red Sea and Baab al-Mandab, in accordance with international law, must be respected.
“Towards that end, the council members warned against the impact of the 4 March Houthi decision purporting to require ships to obtain a permit from their ‘Maritime Affairs Authority’ before entering Yemeni waters on the freedom of commercial navigation and humanitarian operations,” he said.
They reiterated their support to the UN Verification and Inspection Mechanism for Yemen and commended the government’s efforts to preserve the maritime environment, calling on all member states, organisations, and agencies to support it.
“The council members emphasised the need to prevent further regional spillover of the conflict and its impact on the security and stability of the region and beyond, and …reiterated the necessity to address the root causes contributing to regional tensions and to the disruption of maritime security,” he said.
