UN Security Council Convenes Emergency Session on Houthi Red Sea Advance

The United Nations Security Council will hold an emergency session on September 15 to address the escalating situation around the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, initiated by France, which holds the council's presidency this month. Bahrain and the United Kingdom had previously requested an urgent meeting on September 10. The catalyst for the Security Council's convocation is the rapid military operation by the Ansar Allah group, also known as the Yemeni Houthis, who last week seized control of the entire Red Sea coastline in Yemen. The session is expected to focus on threats to freedom of navigation and the implications of the Houthi advance for regional security, with particular attention to risks for commercial shipping and energy supplies. According to Reuters, vessel traffic through the Bab el-Mandeb has decreased from 28 to 21 passages in the past 24 hours alone. This meeting occurs amidst ongoing Houthi attacks against Saudi Arabia. On the day of the session, Ansar Allah launched drone and missile strikes targeting multiple sites within the Kingdom. Saudi authorities are seeking support from Western powers to defend their territory from these attacks. Following the United States' refusal to retaliate against the Houthis, Saudi Arabia has reportedly approached Israel and the United Kingdom for assistance.