Insights and Reflections: A UN Security Council Briefing on Yemen’s Crisis

Ambassador Dorothy Shea
Deputy Representative to the United Nations
New York, New York
January 15, 2025

AS DELIVERED

Thank you, Mr. President. Additionally, my gratitude goes to Special Envoy Grundberg and Assistant Secretary-General Msuya for your briefings highlighting the vulnerable state of affairs in Yemen. This Council is well aware that recent provocations from the Houthis regarding international peace and security have been the focal point of recent discussions.

During an emergency meeting on December 30, Assistant Secretary-General Khiari appropriately condemned the Houthis’ reckless choice to elevate their aggressive regional aspirations by assaulting international shipping in the Red Sea, emphasizing the adverse effects of their unprovoked attacks.

Salvage specialists have just finalized their tasks regarding the SOUNION, months after a Houthi assault left that vessel adrift and ablaze, carrying millions of barrels of oil.

Just weeks ago, we listened to a firsthand narrative from a briefer who recounted the harrowing particulars of his abduction and wrongful detention by the Houthis. He spoke on behalf of all those currently imprisoned by the Houthis, separated from their families and subjected to horrific maltreatment.

The situation continues to worsen. In recent days, the Houthis have intensified their efforts to detain innocent Yemenis, targeting additional former embassy personnel who are merely trying to fulfill their duties.

They persist in holding UN, diplomatic, and NGO personnel rounded up over the summer, alongside the crew of the Galaxy Leader – effectively hostages for over a year – while executing armed raids in Sana’a.

Colleagues, this raises the unavoidable question: Will this Council persist in remaining passive amidst such escalations? We cannot merely issue more calls that are disregarded.

The United States believes the time has arrived to address the escalating Houthi threat by holding Iran accountable for facilitating the Houthis’ long-range missile assaults on international maritime traffic and on Israel. Attacks that we vehemently denounce.

This is the reason we advocated for reauthorization language mandating the Secretary-General’s periodic reports to this Council to incorporate information regarding the provision of advanced weaponry utilized in the increasingly intricate attacks.

We must also take steps to deprive the Houthis of illicit funds that support their assaults and acknowledge the growing connection between the Houthis and other terrorist organizations like al-Shabaab, including through the implementation of targeted sanctions.

The United States continues to act in response to Houthi threats. On January 8, U.S. armed forces executed multiple precision strikes against two underground facilities housing advanced conventional weapons used to conduct assaults on U.S. Navy warships and commercial vessels.

Contrary to what Russia claims regarding these and previous actions, the reality is that these strikes were in accordance with international law and were executed in the exercise of the United States’ inherent right to self-defense.

Even as we contend with Houthi threats, we must not overlook the ongoing agony of Yemenis, particularly due to Houthi obstruction and limited humanitarian access, along with those facing food insecurity and other overwhelming difficulties. Over half of Yemen’s population remains in urgent need of humanitarian aid.

Thus, the United States remains committed to supporting the efforts of the UN and our humanitarian partners who are delivering essential health, nutrition, water, sanitation, and hygiene services to the people of Yemen.

We must collectively do more to enhance the humanitarian response in Yemen.

As the world’s foremost donor of humanitarian assistance to Yemen, the United States urges the international community to provide additional financial support to alleviate Yemen’s critical humanitarian crisis, while also pressing the Houthis to guarantee that humanitarian organizations can operate freely, without Houthi interference or threats of detaining their personnel.

We also call upon contributors to back the promotion of effective governance during Yemen’s Prime Minister’s visit with his delegation to New York next week.

Houthi assaults must cease for Yemen to evade the most adverse scenarios. The Houthis are the principal barrier to increased international assistance and are endangering the potential for peace in Yemen.

We must all collaborate and remain devoted to a UN-led, intra-Yemeni political process aimed at resolving the conflict in Yemen. For this to occur, the Houthi assaults and detentions must come to an end.

Thank you, Mr. President.

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By United States Mission to the United Nations | 15 January, 2025 | Topics: Highlights, Remarks and Highlights