The U.S. Calls for International Action Regarding Iran's Policy in Yemen

France Press reported that the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations on Tuesday, November 7, called for "international action" to hold Tehran accountable for its policies in Yemen. Nikki Haley stated that Iran had previously provided a missile to the Houthis, which was launched towards Saudi Arabia in the summer. According to France Press, she also referenced Saudi Arabia's claim that the missile launched by the Houthis towards Riyadh, the capital of that country, on Saturday, November 4, "probably had an Iranian origin." Saudi forces successfully intercepted a ballistic missile attack launched by the Houthis towards Riyadh International Airport on Saturday. Several senior Saudi officials have accused Iran of being involved in this missile attack, and one day after this was denied by Tehran, Mohammed bin Salman, the Saudi crown prince, reiterated his country's position, accusing Iran of "direct military aggression" through the Houthi rebels in Yemen. Ms. Haley further accused the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps of violating two United Nations resolutions by equipping the Houthis with such weapons. At the same time, she urged the "United Nations and international partners" to take necessary actions to hold Iran accountable for its policies in Yemen and for violating resolutions. The U.S. Department of Defense also praised Saudi Arabia on November 6 for what it described as "exposing" Iran's role in transferring missile systems to Houthi militants in Yemen. Meanwhile, following the missile launch towards Riyadh, ports and airports in Yemen were blocked by Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. This action also provoked a response from the Houthis, whose political office issued a statement declaring: "All airports, ports, border crossings, and significant areas of Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates will be direct targets of our weapons, which is a legal right." This threat came one day after the Kayhan newspaper, whose responsibility lies with Hossein Shariatmadari, representative of the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic, headlined: "The missile launch by Ansarullah towards Riyadh, the next target is Dubai." Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates are members of a regional coalition that has been trying to restore the Yemeni government to power by weakening the Houthi rebels since 2015. Currently, the Yemeni government, recognized by the United Nations as the legitimate government of the country, is based in the port city of Aden. According to the United Nations, nearly 5,300 people have been killed and over 8,800 injured in the Yemeni civil war.