UNSC to hold emergency meeting on Houthi threat

The United Nations Security Council was scheduled to hold an emergency session on Monday to discuss the escalating attacks on Israel by Yemen’s Houthi rebels, Hebrew media reported on Wednesday.

The meeting comes after Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar sent a letter to the president of the UNSC on Tuesday requesting that U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Linda Thomas-Greenfield convene the meeting.

In an X post including images of the letter, Sa’ar wrote that the purpose of the session was “to condemn the Houthis’ attacks and Iran’s ongoing support for them.”

“The Houthis repeatedly attack Israel, including through missile and UAV launches. They threaten freedom of navigation and international trade. They pose a threat not only to Israel but to the region and the entire world,” wrote Sa’ar.

“The Houthis’ ongoing hostile actions are a severe violation of international law, Security Council resolutions, and a continuous threat to peace and security,” he continued.

In the letter, Sa’ar cited three attacks on Israel over the past week by the Houthis, including the one that destroyed an elementary school in Ramat Gan.

Danny Danon, Israel’s U.N. ambassador, expressed satisfaction with the scheduled session, saying, “The Houthis appear not to have grasped the consequences that await those who attempt to attack Israel. The Security Council must stand with Israel and condemn these attacks. I urge the council to uphold international law and establish Iran’s accountability in this matter.”

Sa’ar on Monday instructed Israeli diplomats to advocate for the Houthis to be designated as a terrorist organization in the European Union and United Kingdom.

“The Houthis pose a threat not only to Israel but to the region and the entire world,” he said.

“The direct threat to freedom of navigation in one of the world’s busiest shipping lanes is a challenge to the international community and the world order. The first and most basic thing is to define them as a terrorist organization,” the statement continued.

In January, the Biden administration redesignated the Houthis as a terrorist group, having delisted the Iranian proxy shortly after Joe Biden took office, reversing a decision made by the Trump administration at the end of Trump’s first term.

In addition to the United States, Saudi Arabia, Malaysia, the United Arab Emirates, Australia, Canada, New Zealand and Israel classify the Houthis as a terrorist group.