The United Arab Emirates denounced Thursday (January 13th) a "
dangerous escalation
" in the Red Sea, calling on the UN to take a firm position after the seizure by the Houthi rebels of Yemen of a ship flying the Emirati flag.
On January 3, the rebels, who control much of Yemen's territory, captured the boat "
Rwabee
" off the coast of Hodeida, in the west of the war-torn country, claiming it was carrying military equipment.
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Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates denounced an act of "
piracy
" against a civilian ship, these two Gulf countries intervening militarily in Yemen since 2015 to support pro-government forces against the Houthis, insurgents close to Iran.
"
This is a dangerous escalation against the safety of maritime navigation in the Red Sea
," said Lana Nusseibeh, permanent representative of the Emirates to the United Nations.
UAE calls for a "firm position" from the UN
The Emirati diplomat called for "
the adoption of a firm position
" of the UN Security Council, to which she was speaking and of which her country is currently a non-permanent member. This is the first official reaction of Abu Dhabi, ten days after the seizure of the Rwabee which had provoked the ire of the military coalition in Yemen led by Saudi Arabia, and of which the Emirates are a part.
The coalition threatened to target the ports of Hodeidah, from where the rebels are, according to it, organizing military or piracy activities with the help of Iran, Saudi Arabia's great regional rival.
The ports of Hodeida are subject to a demilitarization agreement, this southern region being essential for imports and the entry of international aid into a country facing one of the worst humanitarian crises in the world.
The Red Sea is also an important sea route for international trade, in particular for the transport of oil from several Gulf countries.
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The seizure of the Emirati ship comes amid an upsurge in violence in Yemen, as the coalition has stepped up raids targeting Houthi rebels and pro-government forces leading a ground offensive to retake territory raided by insurgents.
The UN, which has repeatedly called for " de-
escalation
", is trying unsuccessfully to end a war that has killed 377,000 people, a large majority victims of the indirect consequences of the fighting, such as hunger, disease and human deprivation. drinking water.