Houthi attacks in Red Sea 'must stop,' says UN

By Diyar Guldogan

WASHINGTON (AA) - Attacks originating from Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen on merchant vessels navigating through the Red Sea "must stop," said a UN official on Wednesday.

"No cause or grievance can justify continuation of these attacks against the freedom of navigation," Khaled Khiari, Assistant Secretary-General for the Middle East and Asia and the Pacific, told a UN Security Council meeting.

"The UN continues to warn against the adverse political, security, economic and humanitarian repercussions of military escalation in the Red Sea and the risk of exacerbating regional tensions," Khiari said.

"Continued Houthi threats to maritime navigation coupled with the risk of further military escalation remains of serious concern and could potentially impact millions in Yemen, the region and globally," he cautioned.