Search

Yemen warns the Security Council of the continued Houthi threats to international navigation.

Tuesday 12/Aug/2025 - Time: 9:18 PM

Arab Sea Newspaper - News Updates

Arab Sea - Yemen - Follow-ups: The Republic of Yemen warned before the UN Security Council of the danger of the continued attacks by the Houthi group on international navigation in the Red Sea and the Bab al-Mandab Strait, stressing that these attacks represent a systematic approach for years, with direct support from Iran, and include the use of ballistic missiles, drones, and booby-trapped boats, which have caused heavy human and material losses and significant environmental damage. This came in a statement delivered by Ambassador Abdullah al-Saadi, Yemen's Permanent Representative to the United Nations, during the open session held by the Security Council to discuss **Maritime Security: Prevention, Innovation and International Cooperation to Address Emerging Challenges**, with the participation of leaders and officials from relevant international organizations. Al-Saadi explained that Yemen, since 2006, has worked in cooperation with the International Maritime Organization to enhance the security and safety of navigation, including signing the **Djibouti Code of Conduct** in 2009, and developing it later to include combating illegal fishing, smuggling, human trafficking, and protecting the marine environment. He pointed out that the attack on the tanker "Rubymar" last year, which led to its sinking loaded with thousands of tons of chemicals and oils, is a stark example of the seriousness of these attacks, along with other incidents that targeted cargo ships and resulted in the sinking of some of them, casualties, missing persons, and the detention of some crew members. Al-Saadi called for the establishment of effective international mechanisms to deal with marine disasters and support the General Authority for Maritime Affairs in Yemen with the necessary capabilities to respond to emergencies, combat pollution, and protect the lives of sailors, as well as strengthening the capabilities of the Yemeni coast guard with training and equipment, stressing the need for the international community to abide by the Security Council resolutions regarding the ban on supplying weapons to the Houthis and strengthening control over ports. He also pointed to Yemen's aspiration to launch the **Yemeni Maritime Security Partnership** next September in Riyadh, under Saudi-British sponsorship, stressing the need to adopt a comprehensive strategy that integrates national, regional and international efforts, and enables the government to extend its authority over all territories to ensure the security of the Red Sea and Bab al-Mandab and transform them from areas of threat to bridges of peace and economic cooperation. In his speech during the session, the Secretary-General of the International Maritime Organization, Arsenio Dominguez, stressed that the maritime shipping sector transported more than 12.3 billion tons of goods in 2024 with the efforts of 1.9 million sailors, making it a fundamental pillar of the global economy, calling for strengthening safety measures and confronting threats that go beyond traditional piracy to include illegal attacks on ships. For his part, the Secretary-General of Interpol, Valdecy Urquiza, explained that the international organization is working to translate multilateral commitments into practical results that help countries address maritime crime through effective coordination and information sharing.

Related:

Latest