U.N. Chief Deplores Houthi Attacks on Commercial Ships in the Red Sea

U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres said he was deeply shocked by the Houthis’ renewed attacks on commercial ships transiting the Red Sea and their threats to maritime navigation. According to Odaily, the statement said the actions could further heighten regional tensions and draw Yemen deeper into the regional conflict. The statement warned that the continued deterioration of the situation in Yemen would undermine prospects for peace and have serious economic, humanitarian, and environmental impacts across the region and beyond. Guterres called on all parties to de-escalate immediately and urged the Houthis to stop any further attacks or other escalation measures. He also called on the Houthis to strictly comply with U.N. Security Council Resolution 2722 and subsequent resolutions on protecting commercial vessels and maintaining freedom of navigation in the Red Sea. Guterres said international navigation rights and freedom of navigation in and around the Bab el-Mandeb Strait must be fully restored.