NEW YORK — UN Assistant Secretary General for the Middle East, Europe, the Americas, Asia and the Pacific Khaled Khiari emphasized the need to restore and respect navigation rights and freedoms in the Red Sea and the Bab al-Mandab Strait in line with international law and the UN Security Council resolutions, including resolution 2722. He also warned that ongoing disruptions in these maritime corridors could affect international peace and security, global energy markets, food security, and the economies of the most vulnerable countries. Khiari made the remarks while addressing an emergency session of the UN Security Council held on Wednesday to discuss developments in the Bab al-Mandab Strait. He specially referred to the recent attacks on Saudi Arabia. Khiari expressed condemnation of the United Nations over attacks by the Houthi militia targeting civilian infrastructure and the energy sector in Saudi Arabia. He emphasized the importance of protecting maritime security in the Red Sea and restoring and respecting navigation rights and freedoms in the Bab al-Mandab Strait in accordance with international law and relevant Security Council resolutions.
