The United Nations Security Council on Friday renewed sanctions against the Iran-backed Houthi terror regime in Yemen for another year, calling for an end to cross-border and maritime attacks by the radical Islamist group.
Thirteen of the 15 members voted to adopt the text of Resolution 2801, which the United Kingdom submitted. China and Russia abstained.
The Security Council condemned the attacks, “including those against infrastructure and civilian targets,” with the resolution now targeting terrorists “who launch cross-border attacks from Yemeni territory using ballistic and cruise missile technology, or attacks on merchant ships in the Red Sea or the Gulf of Aden,” according to Reuters.
Member states were asked to “increase efforts to combat the smuggling of weapons and components via land and sea routes, to ensure implementation of the targeted arms embargo.”
The Security Council asked its panel of experts to submit a report by mid-April with recommendations on controlling the sale and transfer to Yemen of dual-use components and chemicals that could reach Houthi forces. The report should also advise on improving information sharing about vessels suspected of violating arms sanctions, according to the UNSC. Britain’s interim U.N. envoy, James Kariuki, said the resolution will strengthen the council’s ability to monitor and deter embargo violations.
The targeted sanctions also include the freezing of assets and travel bans already in place against around 10 Houthi terrorists, mostly senior officials.
Reuters reported that several member states, notably the United States and France, wanted the resolution to go further, but that China and Russia prevented the Council from further strengthening the sanctions due to their veto power as two of the five permanent members.
“We regret that the text adopted was not more ambitious and does not reflect the deterioration of the situation in Yemen over the past year,” said France’s deputy envoy Jay Dharmadhikari.
The Houthis vowed on Saturday that the Iranian-backed terrorist group would resume its missile and drone attacks on Israel if the U.S.-brokered truce in Gaza collapses, Tehran’s IRNA agency reported.
The Houthis have carried out countless missile and drone attacks on Israel—including a drone attack that wounded 22 Israelis in Eilat on Sept. 24—since the Hamas-led terrorist assault on Oct. 7, 2023.
The Houthis also carried out countless drone and missile strikes on shipping in the Red Sea during the Gaza war in support of Hamas.
Israeli official vows ‘strong hand’ against Houthi resurgence
The Houthi terror group is rebuilding its ranks and smuggling in weapons and missiles as the Gaza ceasefire holds, senior Israeli officials warned this week, saying Jerusalem will not permit a renewed Houthi threat in the region.
After suffering major losses during the war—including the deaths of top security leaders in Israeli air and sea operations—the Houthis are working to replace their leadership and stockpile advanced armaments, according to Israeli intelligence assessments.
“We will not allow the Houthis to regain strength, we will act with a strong hand against any such attempt,” a senior Israeli official told Channel 12 News on Monday.
