Houthis to continue naval operations despite UNSC resolution

The Iranian-backed Houthis announced today the continuation of its naval military operations despite the United Nations (UN) Security Council recently adopting Resolution 2722, which condemned the Houthi attacks in the Red Sea and Bab al-Mandab.

In a post on social-media platform X, official Houthi spokesman Mohammed Abdul Salam said: “We are continuing to target Israeli ships or ships heading to the ports of occupied Palestine [Israel] in support of Gaza".

Salam’s post accused the UN Security Council of siding with Israel, saying: “The UN Security Council condemns itself for this blind bias toward the criminal [Israel], which is being prosecuted in the International Court of Justice for [its] brutal crimes."

The Houthi statement accused the Security Council of being "a platform for America and its destructive projects" and America of “protecting Israel and providing the political and military support it needs to continue its crimes”.

In a statement today, the Palestinian Hamas movement also condemned the UN Security Council resolution regarding the Houthi attacks. The statement said: “This decision provides cover for Israel’s continued aggression against us".

In a video speech published today, Houthi leader Abdulmalik al-Houthi vowed to escalate their responses to future American attacks. He said: "The response to any American attack will not only be at the level of the operation that was recently carried out with more than 24 drones and several missiles, but it will be greater than that".

Yesterday, the UN Security Council adopted Resolution 2722, with 11 members voting in favor and four abstaining. The resolution condemns in the strongest terms the attacks launched by the Houthis on commercial and transport ships in the Red Sea, and demands the immediate cessation of all such attacks.

The resolution demands that the Houthis immediately suspend all attacks that hinder global trade, and undermine navigational rights, freedoms, and regional peace and security. It also demands the release of the Galaxy Leader, the commercial ship hijacked by the Houthis on November 23, as well as its crew.

The resolution calls for respecting the exercise of navigational rights and freedoms by merchant and commercial vessels in line with international law, and takes note of the right of member states to defend their ships against attacks, including any that undermine those rights.

The resolution commends the efforts made by member states so far - within the framework of the International Maritime Organization - in enhancing the safety of commercial ships and transport ships from all countries and ensuring their safe passage through the Red Sea.

It also encourages Member States to continue building and enhancing their capabilities, and to support the building up of coastal state capabilities and port states in the Red Sea and Bab al-Mandab, with the aim of enhancing maritime security.

It stresses the need to address root causes of the attacks, including conflicts that contribute to regional tensions and disruption of maritime security, in order to ensure a rapid, efficient and effective response.

The resolution stresses the need for all member states to adhere to their obligations, including the targeted arms embargo contained in Council Resolution 2216 and the classification of the Houthis as a group subject to the arms embargo, in accordance with Resolution No. 2624.

The decision came hours after the Houthis for the first time announced attacking the US Navy in the Red Sea using drones and missiles.