S/PV.10033 Security Council

I should like to take this opportunity to pay tribute, on behalf of the Council, to His Excellency Mr. Vassily Nebenzia, Permanent Representative of the Russian Federation, for his service as President of the Council for the month of October. I am sure I speak for all members of the Council in expressing deep appreciation to Ambassador Nebenzia and his team for the great diplomatic skill with which they conducted the Council’s business last month. Adoption of the agenda

The Security Council will now begin its consideration of the item on its agenda. I wish to draw the attention of Council members to document S/2025/650, which contains a letter dated 15 October 2025 from the Panel of Experts on Yemen addressed to the President of the Security Council. At this meeting, the Security Council will hear a briefing by Ambassador Sangjin Kim, Deputy Permanent Representative of the Republic of Korea, in his capacity as Chair of the Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolution 2140 (2014). I now give the floor to Ambassador Sangjin Kim. Mr. Sangjin Kim: I have the honour to report to the Security Council on the work of the Committee established pursuant to resolution 2140 (2014), paragraph 19 (e). The most recent such briefing was provided on 5 November 2024 (see S/PV.9776). Accordingly, this report covers the period from 5 November 2024 to 5 November 2025. The annual report on the work of this Committee for 2024 was issued on 31 December as document S/2024/935. In the present year, the Committee has met three times in informal consultations — on 17 June, 3 October and 31 October — in addition to conducting its work through written procedures. During the informal consultations held on 17 June, the Committee heard a presentation by the Panel of Experts on Yemen on its programme of work, followed by a presentation on its midterm update submitted in accordance with paragraph 3 of resolution 2758 (2024). On 3 October, the Committee heard a presentation by the Panel of Experts on its final report submitted in accordance with paragraph 3 of resolution 2758 (2024). The members of the Committee discussed the recommendations contained therein, and they are currently considering follow-up actions in relation to the recommendations addressed to the Committee. The final report was issued as document S/2025/650. During the informal consultations held on 31 October, the Committee received a briefing from the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs pursuant to resolution 2664 (2022), paragraph 5. Following the informal consultations on 17 June, 3 October and 31 October, the Committee issued or is considering issuing press releases containing summaries of those meetings. As of today, there are 10 individuals and one entity on the sanctions list of the Committee.

I thank Ambassador Sangjin Kim for his briefing. I shall now give the floor to those members of the Council who wish to make statements.

We thank the Chair of the Committee established pursuant to resolution 2140 (2014), the Panel of Experts on Yemen and the Security Council Affairs Division for their tireless work in implementing resolution 2758 (2024) during the reporting period. The most recent report of the Panel of Experts on Yemen (see S/2025/650) has highlighted the complexity of Houthi smuggling and financing. The United Kingdom, as penholder, looks forward to working with all members of the Council to update the text of resolution 2140 (2014) to reflect those observations, to better disrupt those activities and to maintain a pathway to peace in Yemen. As ever, we will continue to work with all Council members to ensure that our collective approach is carefully calibrated so that aid delivery and broader humanitarian efforts remain protected and that sanctions do not inadvertently harm the Yemeni population.

I want to express our appreciation to the Panel of Experts on Yemen for its thorough reporting and helpful recommendations. The Panel’s 2025 final report (see S/2025/650) is a wake-up call for the Security Council and for the world. The evidence is clear: systematic violations of Security Council sanctions continue, allowing the Houthis to acquire arms and related materiel, dual-use components and advanced electronics to fuel weapons programmes that enable the Houthis to menace their neighbours and restrict international commerce in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden. These transfers fuel Houthi attacks with drones and missiles that endanger commercial shipping, destabilize the region and put innocent lives at risk. These transfers enable deadly Houthi terrorist attacks on civilians in Israel, including the September drone attacks on a commercial centre and an airport in Eilat. Such violations, unaddressed, have emboldened the Houthis to threaten their neighbours, including recent threats to renew attacks against Saudi critical infrastructure and civilians. In addition to arms transfers enabling the Houthi war machine, the Panel has exposed the Houthis’ sophisticated financial support networks underwriting the group’s ability to conduct attacks. If we want to end the conflict, we must disrupt those illicit transfers of financial and material resources. The list of Houthi attacks on international shipping in recent months helps illustrate the threat posed to international peace and security and the need for actions to address it. In July, the MV Magic Seas was attacked and sank off the coast of Hudaydah days later. The MV Eternity C was struck by unmanned vehicles and rockets, leaving crew dead, wounded or missing, and some in Houthi custody. In September, the Houthis also attacked the MV Minervagracht, injuring crew members. As the Council engages in negotiations to renew the Yemen sanctions regime, we call on other members of the Council to support efforts to strengthen measures to address these threats and stem the flow of arms and funds to the Houthis. These measures are necessary to protect the global economy, defend freedom of navigation and create space for diplomacy. The call by the Panel of Experts on Yemen established As the Panel noted, law enforcement coordination and information-sharing are essential, especially with the United Nations Verification and Inspection Mechanism. We applaud the Malta-based MUSE project for its formal arrangement of support to the Mechanism and look forward to its upcoming December meeting for flag registry compliance directors, at which the Panel’s expertise will provide an invaluable contribution. The Panel’s report is not just a document; it is a call to action. The Council must uphold its mandate and resolutions to ensure peace and security, including in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden. The people of Yemen deserve a future free from violence.

I would like to thank Ambassador Sangjin Kim for his briefing and for his dedicated work as the Chair of the Committee established pursuant to resolution 2140 (2014). Greece commends the Republic of Korea for its leadership in advancing the Committee’s efforts towards the implementation of resolution 2140 (2014) and subsequent resolutions reinforcing the sanctions regime established, including resolutions 2216 (2015) and 2624 (2022). We also reiterate the importance of the Panel of Experts on Yemen established pursuant to Security Council resolution 2140 (2014) and commend it on its most recent report (see S/2025/650). The Houthis continue to pose a persistent and growing threat to the Yemeni people and to the stability of the broader region, including the Red Sea. Against this backdrop, the Committee plays an indispensable role in advancing full respect of the sanctions regime in a comprehensive and systematic manner, especially towards the effective implementation of the targeted arms embargo and the prevention of illicit transfers of weaponry to the Houthis. Greece reaffirms its support for advancing the Committee’s role in ensuring the full implementation of its mandate.

I have the honour of delivering this statement on behalf of the three African members of the Security Council plus (A3+), namely, Algeria, Guyana, Sierra Leone and my own country, Somalia. The A3+ would like to congratulate Ambassador Kanu and Sierra Leone on assuming the presidency of the Council for the month of November. Sierra Leone can count on the full support of the A3+ during its presidency. The A3+ would also like to commend the leadership of the Russian presidency for the able manner in which they guided the work of the Council last month. We also want to thank the Chair of the Committee established pursuant to resolution 2140 (2014), the Republic of Korea, for the comprehensive briefing on the Committee’s activity covering the period from 5 November 2024 to 5 November 2025. The A3+ attaches the utmost importance to the work of the Committee and overall efforts to hold accountable those individuals or entities that engage in or provide support for actors that threaten the peace, security and stability of Yemen. The A3+ reaffirms its commitment to Yemen’s unity, sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity. We urge all Yemeni parties to engage constructively under The A3+ is deeply concerned about the ongoing detention of United Nations personnel by the Houthis. Such actions are unacceptable and directly undermine the ability of the United Nations to carry out its vital mandate in Yemen. In this regard, the A3+ calls for the immediate and unconditional release of all detained United Nations staff. We welcome the continued investigation by the Panel of Experts on Yemen into all violations of the sanctions measures. Lastly, the A3+ looks forward to the renewal of this resolution and renews its commitment to ensuring the security of Yemen and the Yemeni people.

China commends the Chair of the Committee established pursuant to resolution 2140 (2014), Ambassador Sangjin Kim, for his work. In response to what the United States just said, mentioning China, I would like to mention the following. China has always taken a prudent and responsible approach to military exports, strictly controlling the export of dual-use items, including drones. Chinese enterprises carry out their normal economic and trade cooperation with other countries, in accordance with World Trade Organization rules and market principles. They should not be subjected to unreasonable accusations. I wish to draw the attention of our American colleagues to the fact that there is not a single word in this report (see S/2025/650) that alleges that China has violated the Security Council’s resolutions or sanctions. I also wish to remind all our colleagues here that this report clearly and unambiguously states that on 28 April, the United States military carried out an air strike on a detention facility for migrants in Sa‘dah governorate in Yemen, resulting in at least 68 deaths and 47 injuries. The United States military action against Yemen is in violation of international law and causing innocent people indelible pain and suffering.