The US called on the UN Security Council to respond to Iran’s “flagrant violations” of its resolutions to arming terrorist groups, and implored members with direct channels to Tehran to press its leaders to stop the Houthis from launching attacks that put civilians in harm’s way.
"It is past time for the Houthis to cease their reckless and destabilizing behavior, and this council should ensure that there are consequences for their actions,” the US said on Monday during the UNSC’s emergency session on the threat of the Houthis.
The session followed last week’s petition from Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar to convene the meeting.
“The Houthis have also taken hostages, including UN workers. I call on all countries who seek global stability to designate the Houthis as a terrorist organization,” Sa’ar said on Monday.
“It’s time for the international community to take action to counter the Houthis’ aggression.”
Houthis' latest attacks on Israel
The US reiterated that it condemned the Houthis’ latest attacks on Israel and supports Israel’s right to self-defense, a statement also supported by the United Kingdom.
While the UK said, “Iran bears responsibility for the actions of its proxies,” it also said Israeli action must be consistent with international humanitarian law.
The UK added that it is concerned by Israel’s strikes on Yemeni civilian infrastructure, including Thursday’s strike on Sana’a’s airport, in which three people were killed and 16 were wounded.
UNSC members, including South Korea, Ecuador, Japan, France, and Switzerland, echoed the condemnation of the Houthis’ attacks on Israel, while also raising concern over Israel’s attack on the airport.
South Korea said that while Israel had its own reasons for responding to the Houthis, it must not hinder humanitarian assistance.
“Further escalation will only deepen the crisis,” South Korea said.
Japan, condemning the Houthis, said the group has to realize its conduct is not helping the Palestinians as it claims to.
Japan also said the Security Council cannot turn a blind eye to the amount of weapons the Houthis have in their possession.
The Russian Federation, meanwhile, ignoring its relationship with Tehran, said violence is on the rise, and the Security Council shouldn’t “dismiss the broader context,” as many hotspots of tension are provoked by Israel’s actions against the Palestinians.
While Russia did condemn the Houthis’ attacks in northern Israel and in Jaffa, it made no mention at all of Iran.
Danny Danon, Israel’s ambassador to the UN, described how the Houthis attacked the school he attended in his hometown.
“It’s time the world wakes up,” Danon said, noting Iran was the elephant in the room. “Iran’s fingerprints are on every missile, every drone.”
Danon issued on Monday what he called a “final warning” to the Houthis to halt their missile attacks on Israel, saying they otherwise risked the same “miserable fate” as Hamas, Hezbollah, and Syria’s Bashar al-Assad if they persisted.
He also warned Tehran that Israel has the ability to strike any target in the Middle East – including in Iran – and that Israel would not tolerate attacks by Iranian proxies.
The Houthis have repeatedly fired drones and missiles towards Israel in what they describe as acts of solidarity with Palestinians under Israeli fire in Gaza.
“To the Houthis, perhaps you have not been paying attention to what has happened to the Middle East over the past year. Well, allow me to remind you what has happened to Hamas, to Hezbollah, to Assad, to all those who have attempted to destroy us. Let this be your final warning. This is not a threat. It is a promise. You will share the same miserable fate,” Danon told the UNSC.
Speaking before the meeting, Danon told reporters: “Israel will defend its people. If 2,000 km. is not enough to separate our children from the terror, let me assure you, it will not be enough to protect their terror from our strengths.”