Bombing of the Houthi forces in Yemen in response to the attacks on international shipping has begun.
US President Joe Biden said: “Today [January 11], at my direction, U.S. military forces—together with the United Kingdom and with support from Australia, Bahrain, Canada, and the Netherlands—successfully conducted strikes against a number of targets in Yemen used by Houthi rebels to endanger freedom of navigation in one of the world’s most vital waterways.
“These strikes are in direct response to unprecedented Houthi attacks against international maritime vessels in the Red Sea—including the use of anti-ship ballistic missiles for the first time in history. These attacks have endangered U.S. personnel, civilian mariners, and our partners, jeopardized trade, and threatened freedom of navigation. More than 50 nations have been affected in 27 attacks on international commercial shipping. Crews from more than 20 countries have been threatened or taken hostage in acts of piracy. More than 2,000 ships have been forced to divert thousands of miles to avoid the Red Sea—which can cause weeks of delays in product shipping times.
“The response of the international community to these reckless attacks has been united and resolute. Last month, the United States launched Operation Prosperity Guardian—a coalition of more than 20 nations committed to defending international shipping and deterring Houthi attacks in the Red Sea. We also joined more than 40 nations in condemning Houthi threats.
“Last week, together with 13 allies and partners, we issued an unequivocal warning that Houthi rebels would bear the consequences if their attacks did not cease. And yesterday, the United Nations Security Council passed a resolution demanding the Houthis end attacks on merchant and commercial vessels.
“Today’s defensive action follows this extensive diplomatic campaign and Houthi rebels’ escalating attacks against commercial vessels. These targeted strikes are a clear message that the United States and our partners will not tolerate attacks on our personnel or allow hostile actors to imperil freedom of navigation in one of the world’s most critical commercial routes. I will not hesitate to direct further measures to protect our people and the free flow of international commerce as necessary.”
UN Resolution
A resolution condemning the attacks on shipping in the Red Sea by Houthi forces has been adopted by the UN Security Council on 11 January.
Expressing concern for the unlawful acts against the safety of navigation posed to seafarers, and underscoring the importance of navigational rights and freedoms of vessels of all States in the Red Sea, including merchant and commercial vessels, the UN Security Council has:
- Condemned the Houthi attacks on merchant shipping
- Demands that the Houthis immediately cease all such attacks and release the Galaxy Leader (a car carrier attacked in mid-November last year)
- Affirms the navigational rights and freedoms by merchant and commercial vessels
- Commends the efforts of Member States of the IMO to enhance safety and secure transit of merchant and commercial vessels
- Encourages Member States to support the capacity building of the Yemeni Coast Guard
- Encourages Member States to continue building support for coastal and port States of the Red Sea and the Bab-Al-Mandeb, including providing technical assistance
- Emphasise the need to address the root causes of maritime insecurity
- Condemns the provision of arms and related materiel to the Houthis
- Urges caution and restraint to avoid the further escalation of the situation in the Red Sea
- Request the UN Secretary General to provide written monthly reports to the UN Security Council.
There are 15 members of the UN Security Council, five of which (the UK, China, France, Russia, the United States) are permanent members. A vote to adopt the resolution was passed with 11 in favour, none against and four abstentions (Algeria, China, Mozambique, the Russian Federation).
Reaction from members of the UN Security Council
Speaking after the vote, Yamazaki Kazuyuki (Japan), recalled that the Houthis continue to hold the Japanese-operated Galaxy Leader and its crew hostage. Demanding that the group release the vessel and its crew immediately and unconditionally, he stressed that the Council must speak in a unified voice on this matter to protect maritime security and navigational rights in the Red Sea. He welcomed the resolution’s adoption, stating that the text is a strong pronouncement that the Council cannot accept the Houthis’ irresponsible actions in the Red Sea.
Zhang Jun (China), while recognizing the penholders’ efforts to improve the draft resolution based on changes proposed by other Council members, noted that certain revisions were not incorporated. As a result, the text remains ambiguous on several key issues, and he expressed concern that it might not achieve its intended effect — or might even lead to negative consequences and further escalate regional tensions. Stating that his delegation therefore had to abstain, he called on the Houthis to abide by the resolution and on relevant parties to play a constructive role to ease tensions in the Red Sea.
Pascale Christine Baeriswyl (Switzerland), thanking the United States and Japan for their efforts to find consensus within the Council, welcomed the inclusion of language regarding the threat that illicit acts against maritime navigation pose to the safety of seafarers specifically and the protection of civilians generally. Underscoring that the rights mentioned in operative paragraph 3 are linked to military measures to intercept attacks against merchant ships, she reaffirmed the importance of Council unity for maintaining international peace and security.
Comments from the IMO Secretary-General, Arsenio Dominguez
Following the adoption of the resolution, the IMO Secretary-General, Arsenio Dominguez, said:
“I welcome and support the United Nations Security Council’s resolution affirming the exercise of navigational rights and freedom by merchant vessels, in accordance with international law, must be respected.
The entire world depends on international shipping. Seafarers, ships and cargoes should not be the subject of attacks. We must all work together to ensure safety of seafarers, freedom of navigation and stability of supply chains. And I join the calls for caution and restraint to avoid further escalation of the situation in the Red Sea and the broader region.
I wholeheartedly reiterate my strong support for the immediate release of the Galaxy Leader and its crew.
IMO will continue to enhance the safety and secure transit of vessels of all States through the Red Sea and will closely monitor the situation, in collaboration with Member States and partners from the industry.”
A few days earlier, while addressing the UN Security Council, the IMO Secretary General had strongly condemned attacks against international shipping in the Red Sea.
Mr. Dominguez underscored that ships must be allowed to trade worldwide unhindered and in accordance with international law.
He highlighted the importance of this vital shipping lane, which records around 15% of international shipping trade.
“I would like to take this opportunity to reiterate the call for de-escalation to ensure safety of our seafarers, freedom of navigation and stability of supply chains,” he said.
Since the beginning of November 2023, a number of attacks have been launched against commercial vessels in the Red Sea area. While initial target ships were linked to Israel, this is no longer the case. At least 18 shipping companies have already decided to re-route their vessels around South Africa, adding 10 days to the journey, negatively affecting trade and increasing freight rates.
IMO continues to closely monitor the situation, in collaboration with Member States, partners from the industry and navies.
Mr. Dominguez commended the work of the members of the Djibouti Code of Conduct (DCoC), which held an Extraordinary Meeting on 18 December to discuss how to deal with increasing threats against international shipping in the Red Sea Area. He encouraged Member States to use it as a forum to ensure communication among all countries in the region.
In addition, IMO has an EU-funded regional programme for maritime security in the Red Sea area, which aims to develop capacity in the southern Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden.
Under this initiative, IMO, INTERPOL, UNODC, and the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), continue to coordinate actions to promote adequate security and safety standards for maritime, port and land-based law-enforcement authorities across Djibouti, Ethiopia, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen.
As a practical measure, Mr. Dominguez encouraged ships to continue sending initial reports when clearing Suez or when crossing boundaries in the Indian Ocean, which is covered under the Voluntary Reporting Area (VRA) to the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operation Centre and other relevant centres in the region.
