US Warns of Fallout from Houthi Attacks on International Shipping and Energy Markets

The United States, through its representative to the Security Council, Jeffrey Bartos, warned of the repercussions of Houthi militia attacks in Yemen on international navigation security and global energy markets.

Bartos said in his speech that the Houthi militia is besieging hundreds of thousands of residents in the city of Taiz, obstructing the arrival of fuel and water supplies to them, calling for strengthening the arms embargo against the Houthis and stopping the smuggling of components they use to manufacture missiles and drones.

He explained that the Houthis threatened to close the "Bab el-Mandeb" strait, forcibly seized the city of Mocha and islands at the entrance to the Red Sea, fired upon commercial ships, and targeted oil tankers.

He added that the Houthis caused a "humanitarian catastrophe" by depriving Yemenis of food, clean water, and medical care, and imposing a siege on cities including Taiz, stating that hundreds of thousands of residents are stranded as fuel and water supplies decline to dangerous levels.

Bartos described the militia as an "Iranian-backed terrorist organization," saying they cannot manufacture ballistic missiles and long-range drones without external assistance, as these require guidance systems, electronic components, engines, and precursor chemicals.

He continued that preventing access to these components would limit their ability to manufacture missiles, citing reports from the Panel of Experts on Yemen issued in June, which addressed dual-use components, precursor chemicals, and maritime interdictions.

He called on member states to fully implement the arms embargo and stop smuggling operations in Yemen via land and sea, including weapons and their components.