The UN Security Council has unanimously decided to extend until January 28, 2026 the mandate of the mission overseeing the cease-fire in the port city of Hodeida, Yemen. This mission, known as the United Nations Mission in support of the Hodeida Agreement (UNMHA), aims to maintain stability in a region that has experienced substantial upheaval and human suffering.
The resolution, promoted by the United Kingdom, received the support of all 15 council members, emphasizing a united front in addressing this pressing humanitarian crisis. Established in January 2019 by Resolution 2452, the UNMHA was created with the objective of supporting the implementation of the agreement reached regarding Hodeida, as well as the strategic ports of Salif and Ras Isa. The mission includes unarmed observers tasked with verifying compliance with the ceasefire and facilitating the essential flow of humanitarian aid into the region.
The extension of the mandate occurs amid rising tensions in the area. Recent weeks have witnessed the Houthi rebels significantly intensifying their attacks on civil vessels navigating the Red Sea. Notable incidents include assaults on ships such as the MV Magic Seas and the MV Eternity. These aggressive actions have drawn condemnation from UN Secretary-General António Guterres, who characterized the ongoing threat posed by Houthi attacks as “unacceptable“, underscoring the danger they present to sailors and the principle of freedom of navigation.
The Houthis have maintained control over Sanaa—Yemen’s capital—and vast regions in the north and west since 2015. Their recent attacks have even extended to Israeli territory, as well as vessels linked to Israel, in direct retaliation for military operations initiated in the Gaza Strip following the October 7 assaults perpetrated by Hamas and other Palestinian factions.
In a recent speech, Houthi leader Abdulmalik Badredin al-Huthi declared that his forces will persist in targeting any ship affiliated with Israel that enters the waterways of the Red Sea, the Gulf of Aden, or the Arabian Sea. He emphasized that the recent naval assaults serve as a “clear lesson for all shipping companies transporting goods for Israel.”
The UNMHA comprises civil, military, and police personnel, with the primary goal of supporting Yemeni parties in fulfilling their commitments outlined in the Stockholm Agreement. Since its inception, the mission has focused on ensuring compliance while adapting to the challenging operational environment in order to uphold peace efforts and promote humanitarian access.
Despite the multifaceted challenges stemming from Yemen’s political and military conditions, the UNMHA has continually evolved its strategies to meet its objectives. A significant aspect of their efforts has been to enhance the functionality of the Relocation Coordination Committee (CCR), a critical mechanism for executing and monitoring the agreement. Through persistent dedication and adaptive planning, the UNMHA seeks to establish a more stable and peaceful Yemen, promoting hope in a region characterized by conflict.
(With information from Europa Press)