Washington: Permanent member prevented the Security Council from adopting additional measures to reduce Houthi aggression

The US Mission to the United Nations revealed that a permanent member of the Security Council (which it did not name) opposes the Council imposing additional measures to reduce the Houthis’ aggressive actions in Yemen and the region.

This came in a speech by the US Alternate Representative for Special Political Affairs, Ambassador Robert Wood, on Wednesday, following the renewal of the sanctions regime and the mandate of the Panel of Experts on Yemen.

“The United States joined the consensus to renew the mandate of the Panel of Experts on Yemen, as well as the targeted arms embargo, asset freeze, and travel ban measures,” Wood said, adding that these sanctions remain an important tool to deter threats to peace, stability, and security in Yemen.

"We regret that the Council has not adopted further measures to help reduce the Houthis' ability to continue their aggressive and destabilizing actions in Yemen and the region," he added.

He explained that the Sanctions Experts Committee recommended several measures that would enhance the Committee's ability to report on options to address the Houthi aggression, including monitoring the supply of weapons and related materials from governmental and non-governmental sources in the Red Sea.

He pointed out that the Council ignored this recommendation, attributing this to what he called "threats issued by one member of the United Nations Security Council - supported by another permanent member - to use the veto against any effort to strengthen the sanctions."

He said this objection prevented any reference to the growing ties between the Houthis and UN-designated al-Qaeda affiliates, including al-Shabaab.

The United States accuses Russia of supporting the Houthis in their naval attacks on cargo ships in response to US support for Ukraine, and accuses China of not cooperating with international calls to confront the Houthi attacks.

In his speech before the Security Council, Wood highlighted the Houthi attacks on shipping vessels in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, explaining in this context that the Houthis have targeted more than 90 commercial ships with drones and missiles since October 2023, which has had devastating effects on commercial shipping.

He also addressed the Houthis’ unlawful detention of UN, NGO, civil society, former diplomatic mission and other personnel, stressing that “rather than ignore these developments, the Council must use the tools at its disposal, including targeted sanctions, to address these escalating threats.”

The US mission statement stressed that "a negotiated solution to the conflict in Yemen will not be possible as long as the Houthis are allowed, and even encouraged, to act with impunity."

The mission reiterated its readiness to work with Council members to use all available tools, including sanctions, to enable a peaceful solution to the conflict in Yemen and the region.

Earlier on Wednesday, the Security Council unanimously extended the sanctions regime in Yemen for another year, ending on November 15 of next year, and also extended the mandate of the Panel of Experts on Yemen for another year.

The Council affirmed its continued support for United Nations institutions to ensure effective implementation of sanctions and arms embargoes under Resolution 2216.

Resolution 2140 issued by the Security Council in February 2014 imposes sanctions against the Houthi group for its actions that threaten peace, security and stability in Yemen.