The UN Security Council is poised to consider extending a mechanism tasked with monitoring Houthi attacks on commercial shipping in the Red Sea. The decision, expected in July, aims to maintain maritime security amid ongoing concerns, despite a recent lull in hostilities.
The likely course of action involves renewing the reporting requirement stipulated in Resolution 2722, adopted in January 2024 and subsequently extended until July 15, 2026. This mechanism mandates the UN Secretary-General to provide monthly reports on Houthi actions impacting maritime navigation.
Although no new attacks on commercial vessels have been recorded since early 2026, the report highlights that Houthi threats to target Israel-linked ships and warnings from Iran of potential regional escalation mean the conditions necessitating the reporting mechanism persist. Continued monitoring is therefore deemed essential.
Discussions may also encompass incorporating references to the importance of a comprehensive UN-led political process in Yemen and reaffirming the necessity of ensuring freedom of navigation in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden. However, divisions among Council members could prevent amendments beyond a technical extension of the mechanism.
The UN Secretary-General's latest briefing, issued on June 9, confirmed no new maritime incidents between May 9 and June 9, according to the International Maritime Organization. The last confirmed attack on commercial vessels occurred in October 2025, targeting the Scarlet Ray and Minervagracht, with the Houthis claiming responsibility.
The report notes that the group suspended its attacks on shipping following a ceasefire agreement in Gaza in 2025. Threats escalated concurrently with the US-Israel conflict with Iran, only to subside again after the announcement of a memorandum of understanding between Washington and Tehran on June 14.
The report indicates persistent divisions among Security Council members regarding the approach to the Red Sea and Houthi issue. The United States, United Kingdom, and France advocate for increased pressure and enhanced sanctions against the group. Conversely, Russia and China argue that expanded sanctions or maintaining the issue at the forefront of the Council's agenda could escalate tensions and undermine prospects for a political settlement in Yemen.
