U.S. Envoy Accuses Houthis of Undermining Yemen Stability

"The Houthis continue to threaten regional peace and stability and the well-being of the Yemeni people,” Ambassador Dorothy Shea, Acting U.S. Representative to the United Nations warned.

“However,There have been no ceasefire violations since the United States successfully defended freedom of navigation in the Red Sea and surrounding waterways, said Ambassador Dorothy Shea, Acting U.S. Representative to the United Nations. “However, the Houthis continue to threaten regional peace and stability and the well-being of the Yemeni people,” she warned.

“The Houthis bear overwhelming responsibility for the deterioration in the well-being and safety of the Yemeni people. The Houthis terrorize their fellow Yemenis, impede the work of humanitarian organizations, and take advantage of innocent civilians through predatory commercial and financial practices. They profiteer from petroleum imports and harass civil society members who dare speak out against them.”

The Houthis continue to unjustly detain a large number of staff of the UN, non-governmental organizations, and diplomatic missions. This includes staff of the U.S. mission. “The United States calls on the Houthis to immediately and unconditionally release all of those detained by the Houthis,” said Ambassador Shea.

The Houthis have launched missile attacks against Israel, including Ben Gurion airport. These attacks targeting civilians are accompanied by threats to impose an air blockade and a naval blockade against Israel’s Haifa port. “The Houthis would not be able to conduct such attacks without Iran’s assistance,” stressed Ambassador Shea.

“The United States also sees evidence that the Houthis are acquiring China-origin dual use components and imagery from sources such as the Chang Guang Satellite Technology Company Limited,” said Ambassador Shea.

“This company is directly financed by provincial and central authorities, derives most of its revenue from sales to the People’s Liberation Army, and has the direct backing of senior leadership of the Communist Party of China. The Houthis are also deepening their relationship with al-Shabaab.”

A critical tool in preventing arms from reaching the Houthis is the UN Verification and Inspection Mechanism, or UNVIM, said Ambassador Shea.

“In fact, last month, UNVIM increased its screening and successfully interdicted four shipping containers of illicit materials bound for Houthi-controlled ports. This interdiction clearly demonstrates the effectiveness of this mechanism; we all need to continue supporting its operations and ensure 100 percent screening.”

The United States, said Ambassador Shea, “is vigorously pursuing all possible sanctions against relevant individuals and entities in order to deprive the Houthis of the resources that sustain their terrorist network.”