Key Takeaways
- The UNSC adopts a resolution condemning Houthi attacks on Red Sea merchant vessels.
- The resolution demands the Houthi militia immediately cease all such attacks and release the Galaxy Leader and its crew.
- The UNSC resolution emphasizes the need to address the root causes of regional tensions and ensure maritime security in the Red Sea.
United Nations: The Security Council on Wednesday adopted a resolution to condemn the attacks by the Houthi militia on merchant and commercial vessels in the Red Sea.
Resolution 2722 condemns “in the strongest terms” the Houthi attacks on Red Sea vessels since Nov. 19, 2023, when they attacked and seized the Galaxy Leader and its crew.
It demands the Houthi militia immediately cease all such attacks, which impede global commerce and undermine navigational rights and freedoms as well as regional peace and security, and further demands the Houthis immediately release the Galaxy Leader and its crew.
The UNSC resolution emphasizes the importance of navigational rights and freedoms for merchant and commercial vessels, as stated in international law.
The resolution emphasizes the need to address the root causes, including the conflicts contributing to regional tensions and the disruption of maritime security in order to ensure a prompt, efficient, and effective response.
It calls for caution and restraint to avoid further escalation of the situation in the Red Sea and the broader region, and encourages enhanced diplomatic efforts by all parties to that end, including continued support for dialogue and Yemen’s peace process under the UN auspices.
Three Russian amendments to the draft, including the mentioning of the conflict in Gaza as a contributor to regional tensions, failed to be adopted by the Security Council.
Resolution 2722 was adopted with 11 votes in favor, none against, and four abstentions (by Algeria, China, Mozambique, and Russia).
