Security Council Extends Secretary-General’s Reporting Mandate on Houthi Attacks in Red Sea for Six Months, Adopting Resolution 2826 (2026)

Security Council Extends Secretary-General's Reporting Mandate on Houthi Attacks in Red Sea for Six Months, Adopting Resolution 2826 (2026)

As the Security Council adopted a resolution extending the Secretary-General's monthly reporting mandate concerning Houthi attacks in the Red Sea for six additional months, the representatives of United States and China exchanged words about the causes and solutions for the current volatility in the Middle East.

The 15-member Council adopted resolution 2826 (2026) (to be issued as document S/RES/2826(2026)) by a vote of 13 in favour to none against, with 2 abstentions (China, Russian Federation).

By its terms, the Council recalled its previous resolutions on the situation in Yemen and the Red Sea and extended the reporting request in paragraph 10 of resolution 2722 (2024) through 15 January 2027.

The reporting was first mandated in January 2024 and most recently renewed in January 2026. The current adoption takes place in an atmosphere of heightened regional tensions after the 28 February attack by Israel and the United States on Iran, and retaliatory attacks by that country, as well as restrictions it placed on maritime freedom in the Strait of Hormuz. During an emergency meeting held on 13 July, Yemen's delegate detailed recent unauthorized flights in his country's airspace by Iran and the Houthis.

After the vote, the representative of the United States said that Iran's attempt to hold hostage the Strait of Hormuz has made it clear that freedom of navigation is essential to international peace and prosperity. It also shows that "there are regimes willing to trample that freedom to score political points, to try to win an argument or to shield themselves from the consequences of their own aggression", he said.

United States Links China to Houthi Dual-Use Supplies, Beijing Denies Claim, Accuses Washington, D.C., of 'Creating New Conflicts'

Adding that the Houthis are "Tehran's acolytes", he asked: "If Iran is willing to threaten the Strait of Hormuz, how long before the Houthis decide to once again mirror their benefactor - their mentors, their idols in Tehran - and try to shut down the Red Sea?"

The Houthis "seem to believe that a missile launcher gives them jurisdiction over the world's most important waterway", he said, stating that every time the Houthis fire another missile after the Council tells them to stop, "they are betting that our words are empty". The reporting mechanism provided for by today's resolution "cannot, and should not, become just another United Nations paper exercise", he said. He also added that Iran - "and, to some degree, companies and entities in China" - have violated resolution 2216 (2015) "with little consequence".

However, China's delegate, dismissed that as a "completely baseless" accusation, adding that his country "persistently and strictly" implements Council resolutions and has maintained a "cautious and responsible attitude" regarding the export of military and dual-use items.

"The priority now is for the US to stop creating new conflicts and turmoil in the Middle East," he added. Noting that he abstained on today's text, he stressed that resolving this situation requires respect for Yemen's sovereignty and territorial integrity. He recalled that, following the adoption of resolution 2722 (2024), the United States launched military operations against Yemen, severely undermining that country's peace process and exacerbating tensions in the Red Sea.

Neither that resolution, nor subsequent ones extending the reporting mandate, authorized the use of force against Yemen. He also said that the Palestinian issue "remains at the core of the Middle East situation", observing that the ceasefire in Gaza has yet to bring genuine peace.

Responding, the representative of the United States said his earlier comments about dual-use items from China fueling Houthi attacks is referenced in UN data and has been reported by the UN's verification and inspection mechanism.

China's representative replied that "the US should reflect upon its own actions" and pointed out that it - without Council authorization and in the middle of negotiations - again launched "major attacks" against Iran. He called on the United States to make constructive efforts towards lasting peace in Yemen and the Red Sea "instead of trying to smear other countries and shifting blame".

Moscow, Explaining Abstention, Says Text 'Adds No Value', While Others Argue Houthi Strikes against Saudi Arabia Justify Its Relevance

Also abstaining was the Russian Federation whose speaker did not see any added value to this resolution. Since September 2025, no incidents involving commercial vessels in the Red Sea have been recorded, she said, adding that the Council should devote greater attention to pressing issues such as revitalizing the stalled intra-Yemeni settlement process. Further, it should support the diplomatic process between the United States and Iran, especially against the backdrop of the recent escalation.

Several speakers, however, welcomed the text, with Panama's delegate noting that the resolution should not be seen as a response to a specific scenario, but as a response to a "broader difficulty which is affecting not only maritime navigation but also all global supply chains". The international community must not allow the use of force to condition transit through essential maritime routes, he said.

Denmark's representative said that the recent escalations in Yemen and the region - including reported Houthi strikes against Saudi Arabia - "underscores the continued relevance of this resolution". The Houthis must not drag Yemen into the broader conflict, and the international community must continue to uphold the free flow of commerce in one of the world's most critical waterways. "Neither State nor non-State actor can be allowed to take this freedom away," she stressed.

Developments on the ground "underscore the need for UN reports", emphasized the representative of Bahrain, as he noted documented, repeated Houthi violations of Council resolutions. He condemned their recent use of ballistic missiles against Saudi Arabia and described Houthi threats to the security of navigation in the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait and the Red Sea, as well as Iranian attacks doing the same in the Strait of Hormuz as "a form of blackmail".

Latvia's delegate said that extending the monthly reporting mandate "is both prudent and necessary". Preventing the flow of weapons remains a key factor in reducing the risk of escalation, she said, adding that Member States must follow up on the findings of the 2140 Panel of Experts to enable the embargo to achieve its intended purpose.

Red Sea Must Remain Corridor of Commerce Speakers Stress, as Somalia Warns against 'Growing Securitization'

Many speakers highlighted the critical role of the Red Sea. Greece's delegate - who co-authored the text - said it is one of the most vital maritime corridors for international shipping, global supply chains and international trade. "The Red Sea remains a critical source of livelihood also for the coastal communities and the countries in the region," she added, as she voiced support for the European Union's Operation ASPIDES.

Echoing that, France's delegate also welcomed the adoption, and reaffirmed support for ASPIDES. Regular reporting informs and supports the Council's actions in this area, he said, adding that freedom of navigation is crucial in the Red Sea as it is in the Strait of Hormuz.

Somalia's delegate expressed alarm about "the growing securitization of the Red Sea". What has long been a corridor of commerce and connection "risks becoming a theatre of foreign rivalry and foreign interest with little regard for the sovereignty of the region's own coastal States". He rejected all external actors seeking to exploit instability in the Horn of Africa for their own strategic gain and condemned Israel's recognition of the secessionist entity in his country's territory.

"For millennia, Somali ports and Somali sailors have linked Africa to the wider world, carrying goods, culture and people across this waterway," he pointed out. "As a littoral nation with deep and abiding ties to the Red Sea", he said, his country is committed to safety and freedom of navigation in the Red Sea waters. "The success of this resolution will depend on the matter in which it is implemented," he underscored, adding that the way forward requires "patience, wisdom" and a dedication to diplomacy.