The attack began in the middle of the night: the US and UK hit some Houthi bases in Yemen with missile and aircraft strikes. The aim is to reduce the military capacity of Iranian-backed rebels who have been attacking ships in the Red Sea for months, slowing global oil trade in industrial links with Asia. Bypassing the Red Sea and circumnavigating Africa on the Shanghai-Rotterdam route involves traveling approximately 14,000 miles instead of 11,000 and extending the navigation by 8 to 10 days.
The Iranian reaction to the anti-Houthi attacks was immediate: the spokesman for the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Nasser Kanaani, states that Iran “strongly condemns” the airstrikes in the areas of Yemen controlled by the Houthis. “We consider this a clear violation of Yemen’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, as well as a violation of international laws, regulations and rights,” adds Kanaani.
Moscow’s reaction is also harsh. Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova denounces the attacks as an “escalation” and has “destructive objectives”. “The US attacks in Yemen are yet another example of the distortion of UN Security Council resolutions by the Anglo-Saxons and the total disregard for international law in the name of escalating the situation in the region to achieve their destructive objectives.” The Russian mission to the UN has requested an urgent meeting of the UN Security Council regarding the US and UK attacks on Yemen, the Russian Permanent Mission to the UN said.
A Security Council resolution on Wednesday called on Yemen’s Houthis to immediately cease their attacks on ships in the Red Sea. Russia and China – permanent members of the Council – abstained from voting on this resolution, along with Algeria and Mozambique, while 11 nations voted in favor. Concern is also expressed by Riyadh: «The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia follows with great concern the military operations taking place in the Red Sea region and the air attacks on a series of locations in the Republic of Yemen», reads a note that calls for for “self-control” and to “avoid escalation.”
Source: IL Tempo
John Cameron is a journalist at The Nation View specializing in world news and current events, particularly in international politics and diplomacy. With expertise in international relations, he covers a range of topics including conflicts, politics and economic trends.
