International warnings escalate regarding Yemen: Washington against the Hodeidah mission, Britain launches a maritime initiative, and Russia links the escalation to Gaza.

Arab Sea Newspaper - Special

Arab Sea - Special: The United States has renewed its call to end the mission of the United Nations Mission to Support the Hodeidah Agreement (UNMHA) in Yemen, considering that "the mission's time is over" and that its role is no longer achieving the desired goals. During a Security Council session on Tuesday, Dorothy Shea, the acting U.S. representative to the United Nations, said that Washington looks forward to the UN Secretary-General providing a comprehensive review before November 28, focusing on streamlining the organization's operations, improving resource allocation, and restructuring field activities. The Security Council recently voted to extend the mission's mandate until January 28, 2026, after heated discussions between member states, amid increasing criticism of its effectiveness and accusations of failure and bias, as its mandate was supposed to end on July 14. In a related context, Shea pointed out that the Houthis' rejection of the continuation of the United Nations Verification and Inspection Mechanism (UNVIM) proves its effectiveness in reducing arms smuggling to the group, especially after the start of comprehensive 100% inspections of all goods transported in containers, renewing the call to secure the necessary funding to ensure the continuation of its tasks. She also warned against the continued Iranian support for the Houthis, enabling them to threaten stability in Yemen and regional maritime security, praising the seizure by Yemeni government forces of 750 tons of Iranian weapons destined for the Houthis, calling on the United Nations to facilitate the inspection of the shipment to determine its source. She called on the Houthis to immediately release the crew of the ship "Eternity Sea," and all UN, NGO, and diplomatic personnel detained for more than a year. For its part, Britain called for the establishment of an international maritime partnership with the internationally recognized Yemeni government to protect territorial waters, secure freedom of navigation in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, combat illegal activities, and rebuild the capabilities of the Yemeni coast guard. The Deputy Permanent Representative of Britain to the United Nations, James Kariuki, said that his country will host the inaugural conference of the Yemen Maritime Partnership Initiative (YMSP) on September 16 in Riyadh, in partnership with Saudi Arabia, calling on the international community to support the initiative, noting that the illegal transfer of weapons undermines the stability of Yemen and the region and violates Security Council resolutions. He also stressed the need for urgent international action to address the food insecurity crisis in Yemen, and the immediate release of the "Eternity Sea" crew and detained aid workers. As for Russia, it linked the escalation of Houthi maritime attacks to Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip, considering that stopping the war on Gaza will stop the conflict between Israel and the Houthis. The Russian delegate said that the resumption of attacks on commercial ships in the Red Sea is linked to the Israeli military operation and the blockade imposed on the sector, accusing Israel of launching raids on Yemeni ports, including Hodeidah, which exacerbates the humanitarian situation. He stressed that the optimal solution lies in a comprehensive peace process with the participation of all Yemeni parties and neighboring countries, warning that the continuation of divisions may return the country to a full-scale civil war.