The UN Security Council has extended the mandate requiring monthly reports on Houthi attacks against ships in the Red Sea for another six months. This decision comes as the Iran-backed group continues targeting vessels, demanding an end to Israel’s war in Gaza.
Originally introduced through Resolution 2722 in January 2024, the extension was approved with 12 votes in favor while Algeria, China, and Russia abstained. Greece and the US co-drafted the resolution, emphasizing the need to halt attacks and secure maritime navigation.
The ongoing attacks have led to retaliatory strikes by the US, UK, and Israel on Houthi targets in Yemen. Meanwhile, the EU launched Operation Aspides, a defensive mission based in Greece to safeguard shipping lanes without engaging offensively.
The resolution demands the immediate cessation of all Houthi assaults on commercial vessels and the release of the cargo ship Galaxy Leader along with its 25 detained crew members. It also urges UN member states to stop providing weapons to the Houthis, highlighting the group’s use of advanced armaments, including drones and anti-ballistic missiles.
Greece’s UN representative, Evangelos Sekeris, condemned the continuous Houthi attacks, stressing the severe humanitarian impact and disruption to global shipping. He called for greater efforts to investigate the source of the group’s weaponry and uphold the targeted arms embargo.
Russia abstained from voting, citing concerns that the resolution lacked balance and failed to address airstrikes on Yemen by the US, UK, and Israel, which it described as violations of Yemen’s sovereignty.
The issue of maritime security remains a top priority for Greece, Denmark, Pakistan, Panama, and Somalia—nations directly affected by attacks or piracy—further reinforcing the need for global cooperation to ensure safe navigation in the region.