NEW YORK: In a United Nations Security Council meeting, Russia’s envoy to the UN, Vassily Nebenzia, has declared that the recent strikes by the United States and its allies on Yemen are a clear violation of the UN Charter and cannot be justified. The urgent meeting of the UNSC was convened by Moscow after the US and UK conducted attacks against alleged Houthi positions in Yemen without authorization from the UN body.
The US and UK defended their actions, citing Houthi attacks on shipping routes in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden as the primary motive. US Central Command confirmed an additional strike on Saturday morning, targeting a Houthi radar site in Yemen.
Nebenzia, however, characterized the coalition’s actions as disproportionate and illegal, asserting that while protecting commercial shipping is important, bombing another state in such a manner contradicts Article 2 of the UN Charter. He argued that there is no legitimate mandate for bombing Yemen, and the concept of the right to self-defense doesn’t apply when actions are taken thousands of miles away from one’s borders.
Russia Criticizes US Strikes on Yemen
Nebenzia also criticized the application of Article 51 of the UN Charter in cases involving commercial vessels, stating that the right of self-defense is not invoked for the purpose of ensuring freedom of navigation.
He predicted that the US is unlikely to halt its actions and will continue to assess threats and plan responses without regard for international law, potentially exacerbating the already volatile situation in the Middle East.
US President Joe Biden’s comments indicating an unyielding response to the Houthis have faced criticism, with some lawmakers accusing him of violating the constitution by not seeking congressional approval for the military operation. The joint attack on Yemen has resulted in a divided stance among Western nations, with only a handful, including Australia, Bahrain, Canada, Denmark, Germany, the Netherlands, New Zealand, and South Korea, supporting the military actions.
