“One hasty movement, one wrong calculation can cause a catastrophe “It goes far beyond the boundaries and, frankly, beyond the imagination,” Rosemary DiCarlo, undersecretary-general for political and peacebuilding affairs, said during a briefing held via video conference.
The meeting, convened by France, the United Kingdom and the United States, followed a Houthi drone attack on Tel Aviv, Israel, on July 19, which left one person dead and 10 others wounded. On July 20, Israel carried out airstrikes on the port of Hudaydah in Yemen, killing at least six people, wounding 80 others and causing widespread damage to civilian infrastructure.
These attacks and Other recent strikes “risk further regional conflagration”she said, pointing to the intensified Israeli military operations in Gazaclashes across the Blue Line between Israel and Hezbollah, as well as the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) attacks on Syriawhich was discussed by Council members earlier on Monday, she said.
“This The latest developments show the real danger of a devastating escalation across the regionshe emphasized.
42 Houthi attacks on ships in the Red Sea
In Yemen, the fragile gains from the 2022 UN-brokered ceasefire are “being overshadowed by a violent escalation in the region,” she warned, citing continued Houthis attacks on merchant ships in the Red Sea in violation of the Security Council resolutions 2722 And 2739both of which were adopted earlier this year.
The Houthis claim the attacks are “ostensibly in support of the people of the Gaza Strip,” she said.
On Monday, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) confirmed 42 Houthi attacksshe added.
Attacks on Yemen
The undersecretary-general said the IDF had stated that the strikes in Yemen were in response to previous Houthi “terror attacks” on Israel over the past nine months, which have totaled more than 100,000. 200 airstrikes on Israeli civilians and infrastructure.
“The port of Hudaydah is a lifeline for millions of people in Yemen,” who are heavily dependent on the import of essential goods such as food, medicine and fuel, with the majority of these goods arriving through the port, Ms. DiCarlo continued.
“It is essential that the port is open and operational. Any military campaign near it risks devastating consequences for citizens.”
UN Photo/Loey Felipe
Major General Michael Beary (on screen), head of the UN mission in support of the Hudaida agreement, speaks at the Security Council meeting about threats to international peace and security.
Head of UN mission: Fires still raging
Major General Michael Beary, Chairman of the Redeployment Coordination Committee and Head of the UN Mission in Support of the Hudaydah Agreement, ((UNMHA)gave details of the latest events following the Israeli attacks on Yemen.
During a briefing via video conference from Hudaida, he told members that the Israeli airstrikes targeted fuel storagecranes, infrastructure, military police stations and a power plant.
The fires are still raging, he said.
“I would like to reiterate the words of the Secretary General expression of deep concern about the risk of further escalation in the region,” he continued.
All parties are urged to exercise the utmost restraintHe pledged that the UN mission will continue its efforts to implement its mandate, including conducting regular patrols at the port and supporting de-escalation initiatives.
US: Council must speak with one voice
United States Ambassador Robert A. Wood said that some Council members had spread a “false narrative” that the Houthis are attacking ships in the Red Sea in support of the people of Gaza, but the truth is that “the Houthis are terrorists”.
“The only appropriate response is to condemn these attacks,” he said, expressing support for Israel’s right to defend itself.
At the same time, the Yemeni people are suffering, he said.
Given the current situation, he said, the Council must respond, hold the Houthis and Iran accountable and “speak with one voice”.
Russia: Gaza ceasefire is ‘only way’ to end current crisis
Vassily Nebenzia, Permanent Representative of Russia, Mr Bush, who will hold the Council presidency in July, said in his national capacity that drones, rockets and other types of weapons are being fired at Israel almost daily by opponents of the country’s actions in Gaza.
However, Israel’s “bloody operation” in the Gaza Strip has been going on for almost ten months and has already cost the lives of 39,000 innocent Gazans, despite the unequivocal position of the entire international community and the decisions of international bodies, including the UN Security Council.
“The IDF continues its brutal cleansing of the enclave, one of the most densely populated areas in the world,” he said. “Now we risk a new acute conflict.”
He said the way out of the current crisis “is very clear to all of us”.
“We need an immediate and unconditional ceasefire in Gaza, as well as the release of all hostages held in the enclave and arbitrarily detained Palestinians,” he said.
Israel: Iran ‘must be stopped’
Israeli Deputy Permanent Representative Brett Jonathan Miller said that since the start of the current war in Gaza, Israel has had to defend itself on seven fronts, with Iran supporting groups such as Hezbollah in Lebanon and the Houthis in Yemen.
Israel had decided to respond based on its right to self-defense in light of the October 7 attacks, he continued. That includes Yemen’s port, which is used for terrorist purposes and therefore “is a legitimate target,” he added.
“Iran is the head of the snake; it arms, trains and finances the Houthis” and “must be stopped,” he said, calling on the council to impose sanctions, strongly condemn the Houthis and support Israel’s right to defend itself.
Security Council meets on Yemen
The Council will hold its monthly meeting on Yemen on Tuesday.
In late June, Security Council members demanded that Houthi rebels in Yemen immediately cease all attacks on merchant and commercial vessels in the Red Sea.
Adoption of resolution 2739The Council, by 12 votes in favour and 3 abstentions (Algeria, China and Russia), also requested monthly reports from the Secretary-General on the Red Sea crisis until January next year.
