“A rash move, One miscalculation can cause disaster. “It goes beyond borders and, frankly, beyond imagination,” Rosemary DiCarlo, under-secretary-general for political and peacebuilding affairs, said in a video briefing.
The meeting, convened by France, the United Kingdom and the United States, comes after a Houthi drone attack on Tel Aviv, Israel, on July 19, which killed one person and injured 10 others. On July 20, Israel launched airstrikes on Hudaydah Port in Yemen, killing at least six people, injuring 80 others and causing widespread damage to civilian infrastructure.
These attacks and Other recent attacks “risk triggering another regional conflict”she said, pointing to Israel’s growing military operations across GazaClashes across the Blue Line between Israel and Hezbollah as well as the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) attacks on Syriawas discussed by Council members early Monday, she said.
“These The latest developments show the real danger of a devastating escalation across the region.“, she emphasized.
42 Houthi attacks on ships in the Red Sea
In Yemen, the fragile gains from a UN-brokered ceasefire in 2022 “are being overshadowed by the escalation of violence in the region,” she warned, referring to the Houthis’ repeated attacks on commercial vessels in the Red Sea, in violation of Security Council Resolution 2722 And 2739Both were passed earlier this year.
The Houthis claimed the attacks were “supposedly aimed at supporting the people of the Gaza Strip,” she said.
As of Monday, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) has verified 42 Houthi attacksshe added.
Attacks on Yemen
The deputy secretary general said the IDF had stated that the airstrikes in Yemen were in response to previous Houthi “terrorist attacks” on Israel over the past nine months, which numbered more than 200 airstrikes against Israeli civilians and infrastructure.
“Hudaydah Port is a lifeline for millions of Yemenis,” Ms. DiCarlo added, adding that the country relies heavily on imports of essential goods such as food, medicine and fuel, much of which come through the port.
“This port needs to be open and operational. Any military operation nearby is a risk. devastating consequences for civilians“ .
Major General Michael Beary (on screen), Head of the UN Mission supporting the Hudaydah Agreement, speaks at a Security Council meeting on threats to international peace and security.
UN Mission Chief: The Fire Is Still Burning
Major General Michael Beary, Chairman of the Redeployment Coordination Committee and Head of the United Nations Mission in Support of the Hudaydah Agreement, ((UNMHA)provides details on the latest events following Israel’s attacks on Yemen.
In a video press conference from Hudaydah, he told members that Israeli airstrikes targeted fuel depotscranes, infrastructure, a military police station and a power plant.
He said the fire was still going on.
“I would like to echo the words of the Secretary-General. expression of deep concern on the risk of further escalation in the region,” he continued.
All parties are required to exercise utmost restraint.He pledged that the UN Mission would continue its efforts to fulfill its mandate, including by conducting regular port patrols and supporting de-escalation initiatives.
United States: Council must speak with one voice
US Ambassador Robert A. Wood said some Council members had pushed a “false narrative” that the Houthis were attacking ships in the Red Sea in support of the Gaza people, but the truth was that “the Houthis are terrorists”.
“The only appropriate response is to condemn these attacks,” he said, voicing support for Israel’s right to self-defense.
At the same time, the Yemeni people are also 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, who held the Council presidency in July, said in his national capacity that drones, missiles and other weapons were launched towards Israel almost daily by protesters of Israel’s actions in Gaza.
However, Israel’s “bloody campaign” in the Gaza Strip has been going on for nearly 10 months, claiming the lives of 39,000 innocent Gazans despite the clear stance of the entire international community and the decisions of international organizations, including the United Nations Security Council.
“The IDF continues its brutal purge of this land, one of the most densely populated areas in the world,” he said. “Now we risk another serious conflict.”
The path out of the current crisis is “very clear to all of us,” he said.
“We need an immediate and unconditional ceasefire in Gaza and the release of all hostages held in the enclave and all arbitrarily detained Palestinians,” he said.
Israel: Iran ‘must be stopped’
Deputy Permanent Representative of Israel Brett Jonathan Miller 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, he said.
Israel has decided to respond in accordance with its right to self-defense to the October 7 attacks on it, he continued. That includes Yemen’s Hudaydah Port, which is being used for terrorist purposes and is therefore “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, harshly condemn the Houthis and support Israel’s right to self-defense.
Security Council meets on Yemen
On Tuesday, the Council is scheduled to hold its monthly meeting on Yemen.
In late June, Council members demanded that Houthi rebels in Yemen immediately stop all attacks on merchant and commercial vessels in the Red Sea.
Through resolution 2739With 12 votes in favor and three abstentions (Algeria, China and Russia), the Council also requested the Secretary-General to report monthly on the crisis in the Red Sea until January next year.
