US and UK Call on UN: Prevent Iran's Missile Shipments to Houthi Rebels in Yemen

On Thursday, March 15, the United States and the United Kingdom called for a UN maritime inspection to prevent Iranian-made missiles from reaching Houthi-controlled ports in western Yemen. According to The Guardian, Robert Wood, the US envoy to the UN, urged during a Security Council meeting that the UN's verification and inspection mechanism to counter the shipment of Iranian weapons to Houthi ports should continue with greater strength. James Kariuki, the UK Deputy Ambassador, echoed the US request, stating, 'Inspecting ships to stop the entry of illegal weapons into Houthi-controlled areas while maintaining the flow of goods to Yemen is essential.' The UN verification and inspection mechanism was established in 2016 to meet Saudi Arabia's demands to prevent arms smuggling within humanitarian supplies destined for Yemen. According to The Guardian, while US and UK officials at the UN called for direct intervention by the organization to control Houthi attacks, representatives from China and Russia insisted that the US and UK lacked the necessary authorization for repeated attacks on Houthi missile sites. US forces recently seized a ship in the Gulf of Aden, confiscating missile parts and other Iranian-made weapons intended for the Houthis. Iranian officials confirmed their support for proxy groups in the Middle East, including the Houthis, but denied any involvement in their military actions, claiming these Islamist groups act independently. The Houthi leader threatened that their attacks would also expand to the Indian Ocean. The White House told Voice of America that reports about the Houthis possessing hypersonic missiles are incorrect, while Russian state media claimed the Houthis currently have 'hypersonic missiles.' An explosion occurred near a ship in southeastern Aden, and the Houthis launched an anti-ship ballistic missile; CENTCOM reported that four drones were destroyed. The US intelligence community categorized the Islamic Republic as a 'regional threat' and 'a factor in widespread destructive activities.' Reuters reported that the European Union intends to respond to Iran's military support for Russia with 'new and significant measures.' The legitimate Yemeni government confirmed the deaths of at least 11 people in US and UK attacks on Houthi positions. US intelligence agencies noted that the country faces a 'fragile global order' amid international threats, while the continued insecurity of the Red Sea by Iran-backed Houthis led to the destruction of several drones and missiles by the coalition.