New York [US], July 15 (ANI): The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) on Tuesday (local time) voted to extend the UN Secretary-General’s mandate to provide monthly intelligence briefs on Houthi offensive operations in the Red Sea for another six months, ensuring continuous oversight until January 15, 2027.Resolution 2826 (2026) was cleared with 13 votes in favour and zero against, while China and Russia chose to abstain. Council members emphasised that the continuous reporting mechanism remains vital to safeguarding global trade corridors, critical maritime shipping routes, and international supply chains passing through the highly volatile Red Sea corridor.Defending the renewal of the reporting framework, US Ambassador to the UN Mike Waltz delivered a scathing assessment of the regional security architecture, asserting that freedom of navigation is a cornerstone of international stability.US Ambassador to the UN Mike Waltz defended the continuation of the reporting mechanism, saying freedom of navigation remained central to international peace and security.”Yet, ‘regimes are willing to trample that freedom’ to shield themselves from the consequences of their own aggression,” Waltz said.Referring to the Houthis and Iran, he argued, “The Houthis, a declared terrorist organisation, are Tehran’s acolytes.” He added, “When Iran kidnaps civilians or hides behind human shields, the Houthis do, too.”He further warned, “If Iran is willing to threaten the Strait of Hormuz, how long before the Houthis decide to mirror their Tehran benefactor and shut down the Red Sea?”The UN Panel of Experts’ June 30, 2026, report detailed how international arms embargoes are continuously bypassed. According to the report, the Houthis in Yemen exploit global supply chains by procuring unregulated, commercial dual-use components and technologies to fuel and advance their drone, missile, and surveillance programs.Directly targeting the axis between the Yemeni rebel faction and their regional backers, Waltz remarked, “The Houthis, a declared terrorist organisation, are Tehran’s acolytes. When Iran kidnaps civilians or hides behind human shields, the Houthis do, too.”The American envoy cautioned that the current crisis could mutate into a total chokehold over global waterways. “If Iran is willing to threaten the Strait of Hormuz, how long before the Houthis decide to mirror their Tehran benefactor and shut down the Red Sea?” Waltz asked, pointing out that Houthi operations had expanded to launching missiles and drones targeting Saudi Arabia’s civilian Abha airport and threatening commercial airlines while operating inside Saudi airspace.Demanding concrete enforcement rather than bureaucratic inertia, Waltz added, “This reporting mechanism cannot and should not become just another United Nations paper exercise,” urging the council to immediately enforce the arms and technology restrictions outlined in the UN experts’ June 30 report on dual-use items.The Security Council vote came as Iran rejected US accusations linking Tehran to Houthi operations.In a letter addressed to UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and the President of the Security Council, Ambassador Amir Saeid Iravani, Iran’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, said, “The claim that Ansar Allah (Houthis) is acting on behalf of Iran is completely baseless.”He added, “The authorities in Sanaa represent a significant portion of the Yemeni people and make their decisions independently and in accordance with what they perceive to be the interests of the Yemeni people. Attempts to portray their actions as being at the behest of Iran are misleading, politically motivated, and without any evidence.”The Security Council is chaired in July by the Democratic Republic of the Congo, represented by Ambassador Zenon Mukongo Ngay, while Antonio Guterres serves as the Secretary-General.The Houthis began attacking commercial shipping in the Red Sea in late 2023, saying they were targeting vessels linked to Israel in response to Israel’s war in Gaza. The continued UN reporting mandate is intended to keep the Security Council informed about developments affecting maritime security in one of the world’s busiest shipping lanes. (ANI)(This content is sourced from a syndicated feed and is published as received. The Tribune assumes no responsibility or liability for its accuracy, completeness, or content.)