UN chief urges de-escalation after US, UK strikes on Yemen’s Houthis

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres calls for de-escalation in the Red Sea following US and UK strikes on Yemen’s Houthi rebels

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres urged all parties to refrain from escalating the situation in the Red Sea on Friday, following strikes by the United States and the United Kingdom on Yemen’s Houthi rebels.

The Houthis claim to be acting in solidarity with Gaza, and their recent attacks on Red Sea shipping have raised concerns about the potential spread of the Israel-Hamas conflict in the region.

Guterres’ spokesperson, Stephane Dujarric, conveyed the secretary-general’s call for de-escalation, emphasizing the importance of maintaining peace and stability in the Red Sea. Assistant Secretary-General Khaled Khiari, for the Middle East, also addressed the U.N. Security Council, expressing concerns about the escalating cycle of violence and its potential political, security, economic, and humanitarian repercussions in Yemen and the surrounding region.

Russia’s ambassador to the U.N., Vasily Nebenzya, criticized the joint U.S.-U.K. strikes as “blatant armed aggression against another country.” Nebenzya highlighted the use of aircraft, warships, and submarines in the mass strike on Yemeni territory.

Meanwhile, Washington’s ambassador to the U.N., Linda Thomas-Greenfield, warned that Houthi rebels posed a threat to all countries’ vessels in the Red Sea, emphasizing the vulnerability of ships regardless of their flag.

Addressing the actions taken, Britain’s ambassador to the U.N., Barbara Woodward, stated that London conducted “limited, necessary, and proportionate action in self-defense.” She reassured that the operation took precautions to minimize risks to civilians, emphasizing its defensive nature.

Source: AFP