https://arab.news/9bsnv
- The decaying FSO Safer tanker has been under the control of the Iran backed militia since 2015
- The ship could spill more than a million barrels of oil into the Red Sea
NEW YORK: World powers at the UN have warned the Houthis that they would be responsible for an environmental disaster if an oil tanker moored off Yemen鈥檚 coast breaks up.
The decaying FSO Safer tanker, which has been described as a ticking time bomb, has been under the control of the Iran-backed militia since 2015.
The ship could spill more than a million barrels of oil into the Red Sea, yet the Houthis have repeatedly blocked the UN from sending a team of expert to the vessel.
鈥淭he Houthis have not yet agreed to facilitate a UN assessment mission,鈥� the UK鈥檚 permanent representative to the UN Barbara Woodward said. 鈥淭he vessel is under Houthi control and the responsibility for this matter rests on Houthi shoulders.鈥�
She said if the Houthis fail to act then the UK would discuss further steps at the Security Council.
Woodward鈥檚 warning was echoed by France鈥檚 envoy to the UN Nicolas de Rivi猫re who said the Houthis would be responsible for the imminent environmental, economic and humanitarian threat posed by the Safer if they don鈥檛 鈥渋mmediately鈥� allow access to the UN鈥檚 assessment team.
Linda Thomas-Greenfield, US ambassador to the UN, said the Houthis must allow the assessment of the tanker to proceed 鈥渨ithout further delays.鈥�
The Arab coalition, on Thursday, destroyed five ballistic missiles and four explosive-laden drones launched by the Houthis toward 萝莉视频.
Jazan University was one of the targets as well as other civilian sites protected under international humanitarian law, coalition spokesman Turki Al-Malki said, adding that the actions amount to war crimes.
The international community bears responsibility for prolonging the crisis in Yemen, and 萝莉视频 should not simply wait for the Iran-backed Houthis to cause a disaster, according to a Saudi expert in international relations.
Political analyst Dr. Hamdan Al-Shehri said on Thursday that although a number of proposals had been put forward to put an end to Yemen鈥檚 ongoing conflict, there had been a lack of will from the international community to implement those initiatives.
鈥淭he international community is delaying taking action against the Houthis for its own interests,鈥� Al-Shehri told Arab News. 鈥淭he international community鈥檚 regional interests are its top priority, not Yemen or the Yemenis,鈥� he added.
Al-Shehri believes that, in the face of continued silence from the international community, 萝莉视频 should 鈥渃onfront power with power鈥� when dealing with Houthi attacks.
鈥淲e should not wait until the Houthis cause a disaster. We count on the Arab coalition and the Yemeni army, especially after the UN鈥檚 leniency with regard to putting pressure on the Houthis to accept diplomatic solutions,鈥� Al-Shehri said.