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UN Security Council adopts resolution banning arms supplies to rebels in Yemen

The draft resolution, proposed by Jordan, US and UK, was supported by 14 member-countries, Russia abstained from voting

UNITED NATIONS, April 14. /TASS/. UN Security Council has adopted a resolution Tuesday that envisages introducing sanctions against Houthi rebels in Yemen and banning arms supplies to them.

The draft resolution, proposed by Jordan, US and UK, was supported by 14 member-countries. Russia abstained from voting.

The document was prepared in coordination with the Persian Gulf countries that launched a military operation against Houthi rebels in March on the request of deposed President Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi. The resolution envisages introducing sanctions against rebel leader Abdul-Malik al-Houthi and Ahmed Abdullah Saleh, son of Yemen’s former president.

Russia also proposed its draft resolution on Yemen that stipulates establishing obligatory regular pauses in air strikes to evacuate people and provide humanitarian assistance to the population. Jordan’s draft resolution calls on all sides in conflict to "observe its commitments in the framework of international humanitarian law."

UN Security Council’s resolution on Yemen does not include Russia’s constructive proposals

Russia has not supported the resolution on Yemen in the UN Security Council because Moscow’s "constructive proposals" were not considered properly while preparing the draft document, Russia’s Ambassador to the UN Vitaly Churkin said on Tuesday.

"The Russian delegation’s constructive proposals were not properly considered in the process of coordinating the draft," Churkin said.

Russia, in particular, insisted on introducing an arms embargo on all sides of conflict in Yemen, not only on Houthi rebels, as the adopted resolution stipulates.

Crisis in Yemen

Since August 2014, Yemen has been hit by a severe political and security crisis. In late January, the armed groups of Ansar Allah (Houthi rebels) forced the president and the government to announce resignation.

The rebels later took control of the country’s capital and several northern provinces. They also announced the adoption of the so-called constitutional declaration.

Overnight to March 26, Saudi Arabia launched a military operation in the neighboring country and delivered air strikes at several Houthi positions. The coalition was later joined by Bahrein, Qatar, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, Egypt, Jordan, Morocco, Pakistan and Sudan.

Yemeni President Abd Rabbah Mansur Hadi fled the country to Saudi Arabia.

Houthi rebels are currently fighting pro-government forces over control of Yemen’s second-largest city of Aden. The coalition is currently considering launching a ground operation in Yemen to oust Houthis.

The humanitarian situation in Yemen continues to deteriorate. The World Health Organization said that 643 people were killed in the conflict and 2,226 more injured as of April 6. The crisis in the Persian Gulf country has affected around 15.9 million people. More than 254,000 people fled the country, while 334,000 were internally displaced. According to UN, around 25 million of Yemenis need humanitarian aid.