Barran Press
The United States on Thursday, June 13th, 2024, criticized the failure of the UN mechanism for inspecting ships bound for ports controlled by the Houthi group, designated as a terrorist organization by the international community. The US stressed that UN-led negotiations should not continue until the Houthis cease their attacks in the Red Sea.
This statement came during a UN Security Council session on Yemen, as delivered by the US Alternate Representative to the UN, Ambassador Robert Wood. The text of the speech was published by the US Mission to the UN seen by "Barran Press."
Addressing the Security Council members, Wood stated, "We draw your attention to the fact that numerous documented ships have docked at Houthi-controlled ports without undergoing UN Verification and Inspection Mechanism (UNVIM) inspections since October 2023."
He added, "This failure to comply with UNVIM inspections highlights the need for member states to continue supporting the UNVIM to ensure the delivery of essential goods to Yemen, not weapons that fuel the Houthis' reckless campaign against ships."
Wood expressed his desire to engage in discussions with "stakeholders" on how to strengthen the UNVIM ensure its financial security and support its operations. He pointed out that reports published by news agencies directly linked to Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps are now openly promoting that Iran is supplying the Houthis with anti-ship ballistic missiles.
It is worth noting that the UN established the UN Verification and Inspection Mechanism for Yemen (UNVIM) at the request of the government to ensure compliance with UN Security Council Resolution 2216 of 2015 for ships sailing to Yemeni ports not under its control.
The mechanism, which began operating on May 2nd, 2016, is headquartered in Djibouti and managed by the UN Office for Project Services. It aims to facilitate the unimpeded flow of goods and commercial services to ports under Houthi control.
Wood continued, "Iranian statements confirm what we have long said about Iran providing advanced weapons to the Houthis in violation of Security Council resolutions." He emphasized that Iran continues to "directly support and enable Houthi attacks in the Red Sea."
The US representative called on the Security Council to "not ignore Iran's continued and blatant violations of the arms embargo, not allow it to hide behind the Houthis, and hold it accountable to Council resolutions and stop supplying them with weapons."
He stated, "It is time for the Council to take action to ensure compliance with the arms embargo and put an end to the unprecedented violations of UN sanctions. These transgressions clearly demonstrate that the Houthis are the primary actor threatening a political solution between the Yemeni parties."
Peace and Red Sea attacks
The United States has expressed skepticism regarding the Houthis' unilateral release of prisoners, suggesting it is a tactic to improve their position ahead of potential UN-led negotiations. The US has emphasized that these negotiations should not proceed without a cessation of Houthi attacks in the Red Sea.
During a UN Security Council session on Yemen, US Ambassador Robert Wood stated that his country views the UN's comprehensive roadmap for resolving the Yemeni crisis as the "best path forward." He expressed hope that this roadmap would lead to a permanent end to the conflict, fulfilling Yemeni calls for justice, accountability, and compensation for human rights violations by all parties involved.
Despite clear warnings and unified condemnations from nations worldwide, Wood highlighted that the Houthis have continued their reckless attacks in the Red Sea, the Gulf of Aden, and surrounding waterways. He emphasized the growing negative impact these attacks have on peace, security, and global trade.
The US ambassador called upon the Houthis to "comply with Resolution 2722 and immediately cease their attacks on commercial and merchant vessels." He stressed that this would facilitate the unimpeded delivery of food and supplies to ports in Yemen, as well as to Sudan and other countries with populations in dire need.
It is worth noting that in December 2023, the UN announced that Yemeni parties had reached an understanding to commit to a set of measures, including a nationwide ceasefire, measures to improve living conditions in Yemen, and engagement in preparations for resuming a comprehensive political process under UN auspices.
However, the roadmap and peace efforts in Yemen have stalled since November 2023 due to attacks by the Houthi group, designated as a terrorist organization by the international community, against commercial cargo ships in the Red Sea, the Arabian Sea, and the Gulf of Aden.
Houthi Arrests of UN Staff
Speaking at a UN Security Council session, US Ambassador Robert Wood stated that while the humanitarian situation in Yemen remains dire and the Yemeni people need international support more than ever, the detention of UN and NGO staff directly and negatively impacts the organizations' ability to provide humanitarian assistance.
He described these actions as "further casting doubt on the Houthis' commitment to acting in the best interests of the Yemeni people." Instead, he said, it demonstrates their focus on their own ideological goals.
"We condemn these arrests and echo Secretary-General Guterres' strong and clear call for the Houthis to release these detainees immediately," Wood said. He expressed disappointment that the Council had not been able to reach a consensus on echoing the Secretary-General's call.
He also strongly condemned the Houthis' efforts to spread misinformation regarding the role of current and former American staff held by the group through forced and fabricated televised confessions. He accused the Houthis of seeking to use disinformation to distract from their failure to meet the needs of the Yemeni people. Wood urged the Houthis to release all staff immediately.
Since June 7th, the Houthi group has launched a wide-scale arrest campaign targeting employees of international and UN organizations working in Sana'a and areas under their control.
116 local organizations have reported that the Houthis conducted a synchronized armed campaign in areas under their control, targeting Yemeni employees working for the UN and international organizations on June 6th and 7th.
The organizations, in a joint statement, stated that the number of abducted employees reached 50, including staff from international organizations, UN agencies, and civil society organizations.
On June 10th, the Houthi group claimed to have apprehended what they called a "US-Israeli espionage network" operating in Yemen for decades, days after arresting dozens of UN and international agency staff.
On June 9th, sources in Sana'a, speaking on condition of anonymity for security reasons, reported that the group forced detained international and UN agency staff to make coerced confessions under torture, alleging their involvement in an intelligence network affiliated with Washington and Tel Aviv.