Aden (South24) 

The United Nations (UN) Security Council on Monday unanimously adopted a resolution to extend the mandate of the United Nations Mission to support the Hudaydah Agreement (UNMHA) until July 14, 2025.

Resolution 2742 requires the UN Secretary-General to submit monthly progress reports and mandates a comprehensive review of UNMHA at least one month before the end of its term.

#BREAKING

UN Security Council unanimously ADOPTS resolution extending mandate of the UN Mission to Support the Hudaydah Agreement (UNMHA), which inter alia monitors compliance with the ceasefire in the Yemeni governorate, for a further 12 months

All 15 members voted in favor pic.twitter.com/6jfy0dCbsR

— UN News (@UN_News_Centre) July 8, 2024

The resolution affirmed the Council's intention to review and amend the mandate of UNMHA based on developments on the ground, including achieving a permanent nationwide ceasefire.

Speaking after the vote, the Council’s UK representative, Barbara Woodward, stressed the mission’s important role in maintaining vital trade and humanitarian routes to the ports of Hodeidah, Saleef and Ras Isa, and in supporting their demilitarization.

She praised the Council's "show of unity" in renewing the mandate for another year, stating: "This sends a clear message on the continued importance of the ceasefire in Hodeidah and the work to preserve it."

However, she stressed that ongoing Houthi restrictions on the mission's movement - as well as the proliferation of weapons in Hodeidah - must end.

The US representative, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, said the extension would allow UNMHA to continue its patrols of the Red Sea ports, noting the need to monitor the Hodeidah Governorate districts affected by the conflict.

She condemned the Houthis' "malicious" attacks on international shipping, stressed the importance of implementing Resolution 2722, and expressed her concern about the Houthis using weapons sourced from Iran.

“While Iran denies these violations, its own State-affiliated media has touted the country’s supply of prohibited ballistic-missile technology to the Houthis,” Thomas-Greenfield said, adding that UN experts have confirmed it.

The US representative called on Iran to cease illegal arms transfers and voiced concern over the Houthis’ detention of 45 UN and NGO employees.

Established in January 2019 following the December 2018 Stockholm Agreement between the Yemeni government and the Houthi movement, UNMHA monitors the cessation of military activities in the Hodeidah region on Yemen's western coast.

The internationally recognized Yemeni government accuses the Houthis of receiving Iranian missiles and weapons through the port of Hodeidah. Despite the Stockholm Agreement, the Houthis continue to conduct military parades in this region.