Houthis Continue to Terrorize Region

The Houthis continue to terrorize ships in the Red Sea.

Last month, the United States condemned the Houthis’ unprovoked terror attacks in the Red Sea against two civilian cargo vessels, the Magic Seas and Eternity C. The latter attack resulted in the loss of at least four mariners, many others injured, and the complete loss of both ships. The Houthis then kidnapped and continue to detain at least 11 crew members of the Eternity C.

“We call for the kidnapped crew members’ immediate and unconditional release, just as we continue to call for the release of all UN, NGO, and diplomatic staff held for over a year,” said Ambassador Dorothy Shea, Acting U.S. Representative to the United Nations.

In the wake of these attacks, the Houthis ramped up their threats against commercial maritime traffic through the Red Sea and issued specific threats against ships that dock at Israeli ports.

As recently as August 8th, the Houthis fired a missile at Israel targeting Ben Gurion Airport. “We stand with Israel in its right to self-defense against the Houthis,” declared Ambassador Shea.

Iran’s defiance of the Security Council’s resolutions enables the Houthis to escalate regional tensions. Iran’s continued support for the Houthis also poses a threat to the people of Yemen and to freedom of navigation in the Red Sea.

In that regard, the United States commends Yemeni government-aligned forces for their July seizure of at least 750 tons of Iranian weapons bound for the Houthis.

Houthi actions also threaten the well-being of the people of Yemen. Indeed, Houthis attacks on commercial shipping made it more difficult to get basic goods and humanitarian assistance to Yemen and other countries in the region.

The Houthis have also conducted shakedowns of importers of basic goods and they’ve raided warehouses of humanitarian organizations, threatening to take over their assets if they do not cooperate with the Houthis’ criminal enterprises. They continue to arrest and detain Yemeni people in their effort to silence dissent at home and consolidate control through fear and intimidation.

The United States has overwhelmingly borne the costs of defending freedom of navigation in the Red Sea. “So, once again,” said Ambassador Shea, “we urge financial support for the UN Verification and Inspection Mechanism” that has succeeded in physically inspecting 100 percent of containerized cargo.

As Ambassador Shea has said, all Houthi attacks against vessels transiting the Red Sea must “cease immediately and permanently.”