A senior UN official appealed on Monday for an end to the hostilities between Israel and Houthi rebels in Yemen which have taken “an escalatory turn” in recent weeks.
Briefing the Security Council in New York, Assistant Secretary-General for Middle East, Asia and the Pacific, Khaled Khiari, warned the Middle East was witnessing another dangerous escalation.
He said that attacks in Israel and Yemen, as well as in the Red Sea, are of grave concern, and warned that further military escalation could jeopardize regional stability, with adverse political, security, economic and humanitarian repercussions.
“We must do our utmost to reverse this negative trajectory and support comprehensive efforts to end conflicts in the Middle East,” he said.
“We must preserve a path toward sustainable peace and stability that benefits all the peoples of the region.”
Mr. Khiari reiterated the UN Secretary-General’s grave concern about intensified escalation.
“I also echo his calls that international law, including humanitarian law as applicable, must be respected by all parties,” he added. “We appeal to all to respect and protect civilians and civilian infrastructure. Humanitarian workers must be protected at all times.”
Speaking for the United States of America, Dorothy Shea, Deputy Permanent Representative to the United Nations said the US was thankful that Tedros Ghebreyesus, the head of the World Health Organization, and his team were safe, after the Israeli strike that hit Sana’a airport on Thursday, destroying the air traffic control tower, adding ““It is past time for the Houthis to cease their reckless and destabilizing behaviour, and this Council should ensure that there are consequences for their actions”.
Referring to the Israeli attack on Sana’a airport, Dorothy Shea, Deputy Permanent Representative to the United Nations declared that Israeli action must be consistent with their obligations under international humanitarian law, including the protection of civilians.
Russia’s Ambassador, Vassily Nebenzia, condemned the Houthi missile attacks against Israel on 19 and 20 December and emphasized that threats to civilians and civilian infrastructure are “unacceptable”.
However, Mr. Nebenzia described the Israeli military response as “clearly not proportional” and also worthy of condemnation, and he called on all parties involved in actions against Yemen to exercise restraint and to avoid escalatory action.