Yemen..US stresses importance of UN inspection mechanism’s role in combating Houthi arms smuggling

The United States of America stressed the importance of the role of the United Nations Verification and Inspection Mechanism for Yemen ( UNVIM ) in combating arms smuggling to the Iranian-backed Houthis.

The US State Department's Near East Bureau quoted the UN envoy to Yemen, Tim Lenderking, in a series of tweets on its X account on Wednesday, saying: "The UN mechanism remains necessary to confront the Houthis' violations of UN Security Council resolutions on the arms embargo on Yemen."

During his visit to the headquarters of the UN inspection mechanism in Djibouti, as part of a tour of the region that began last Thursday, Lenderking confirmed that “the Houthis are using land and sea networks to smuggle weapons and illegal components into Yemen with the help of the Iranian regime.”

#USEnvoyYemen Tim Lenderking met with partners and officials from the @UN Verification and Inspection Mechanism for Yemen (UNVIM) in Djibouti. pic.twitter.com/H5ni7Yr74i

— US State Dept - Near Eastern Affairs (@StateDept_NEA) December 11, 2024

In parallel, the US Ambassador to the United Nations, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, confirmed in her speech before the regular meeting of the Security Council on Yemen, on Wednesday, that her country will continue to work with the Coast Guard of the recognized Yemeni government to combat illegal activities along the country's coast.

Greenfield stressed that the United States will work to enhance the capacity of the United Nations Verification and Inspection Mechanism ( UNVIM).) to inspect all ships heading to ports under Houthi control, which would help limit the flow of weapons from Iran to the group, and ensure that multiple violations of Security Council resolutions in this regard are reduced.