NYN | News
Russia, China, and Algeria refused to vote in favor of a new United Nations Security Council (UNSC) resolution on Thursday regarding operations conducted by Sana’a forces against Israeli navigation and ships associated with Israel in the Red Sea, Arabian Sea, and the Indian Ocean.
The UNSC resolution, backed by 12 out of 15 council members, including the United States and Japan, reiterated calls for the Houthis to cease attacks targeting shipping and commercial vessels in the region. It also demanded the release of the “Galaxy Leader” ship and its crew, detained since November 19, 2023.
The resolution urged caution and restraint to avoid further escalation in the Red Sea and the broader region, while encouraging diplomatic efforts by all parties to achieve these goals, including continued support for dialogue and peace processes in Yemen under UN auspices.
Since late last year, Sana’a forces have been targeting Israeli targets in occupied Palestinian territories and Israeli-affiliated ships in the Red Sea and Arabian Sea, recently extending operations into part of the Indian Ocean. They have announced the start of the fourth phase of escalation against ships “up to the Mediterranean” in support of Palestinians in Gaza, conditioned on “ending aggression and lifting the siege on Gaza” to halt their military operations in support of Gaza.
In response, the United States and Britain launched airstrikes on Yemen, prompting Sana’a government forces to announce that their operations would include targeting American and British commercial and military ships in retaliation for what they termed “American-British aggression.”
On February 19, 2024, the European Union announced a military operation named “Aspides,” led by Italy in the Red Sea, while the United States launched Operation “Guardian of Prosperity,” aimed at countering attacks by Sana’a government forces against Israel.
