The U.S. Urges Iran to Halt Military Weapon Shipments to Houthis

On Monday, the United States urged Iran to stop sending a large and "unprecedented" amount of military weapons to the Houthi rebels in Yemen, which enables their continued "irresponsible attacks" on shipping in the Red Sea. Robert Wood, the U.S. Deputy Ambassador, told the United Nations Security Council that if the body seeks to end the civil war in Yemen, it must unanimously "call on Iran to cease its destabilizing actions and emphasize that Iran cannot hide behind the Houthis." He stated that there is ample evidence proving that Iran is violating United Nations sanctions by providing advanced weapons, including ballistic and cruise missiles, to the Houthis. U.S. forces shot down Houthi drones over the Gulf of Aden. Mr. Wood noted, "To emphasize the Security Council's concerns regarding violations of the arms embargo, further actions must be taken to enforce resolutions and prevent violators of the sanctions." The Houthis claim that their attacks on international shipping in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden are aimed at pressuring Israel to end the war in Gaza, which has so far cost the lives of over 35,000 Palestinians. The Gaza war began following the October 7 attack by militants from the extremist group Hamas on southern Israel, which left 1,200 dead. The U.S. Maritime Administration announced in late April that the Houthis had conducted over 50 attacks on international shipping from November of the previous year until that time, seized one ship, and sunk another. Houthi attacks have decreased in recent weeks as a result of actions by the U.S.-led international coalition in the Red Sea. U.S. forces have conducted multiple strikes on Houthi positions in Yemen and intercepted and destroyed hundreds of their launched drones and missiles. However, the attacks by Iran-backed Houthi militants on international shipping routes in the Red Sea have disrupted global transport through the Suez Canal, forcing shipping companies to choose longer and more expensive routes around southern Africa.