Security Council members rally behind Saudi Arabia, denounce Iran’s role in Houthi escalations
NEW YORK CITY: The UN Security Council held an emergency meeting on Monday to address escalations in and around Yemen, with member states lining up to condemn Iran’s alleged support for the Houthis, and to express solidarity with Saudi Arabia after the militia launched ballistic missiles at the Kingdom.
The session was requested by the Yemeni prime minister, Shaya Mohsen Al-Zindani, in a letter on July 7, with the support of Bahrain and the UK, the “penholder” that takes the lead on Yemen at the Security Council.
It came after an Iranian aircraft flew from Tehran to Sanaa International Airport on July 3 and then returned home, reportedly transporting Houthi officials to attend the funeral of Iran’s formersupreme leader, Ali Khamenei. Yemen’s government protested against the flight as a violation of its sovereignty and airspace.
On Monday, another Iranian flight carrying a Houthi delegation landed at Hodeidah Airport, hours after airstrikes reportedly hit the runway at Sanaa International Airport. According to Yemen’s government, the strikes were intended to prevent the Iranian aircraft from landing.
