NEW YORK, April 14 (UPI) — The United Nations Security Council will vote on Tuesday on an Arab-backed resolution imposing a weapons embargo on Yemen’s Houthi rebels.
The draft resolution would halt arms shipments to the rebels and force rebels to withdraw from seized territory.
It would also impose sanctions on Houthi leadership and specifically mentions Houthi leader Abdul-Malek al-Houthi and former president Ali Abdullah Saleh, who is accused of aiding Houtins capture Yemen’s capital, Sanaa.
Russia may veto the resolution, as the country argues an embargo should be issued on all sides of the conflict.
Iran is accused of backing the Houthi Shiite militants, a claim denied by both the Iranians and the Houthis. People in Yemen fear that the conflict could turn into a proxy battle between Iran and Saudi Arabia.
Saudi Arabia is the leader of a 10-member coalition in Yemen combating the Houthi rebels. Airstrikes on rebel targets have been conducted, which have displaced more than 100,000 people. The strategic port city of Aden and Sanaa have both received heavy damage.
Russia has also argued for a “humanitarian pause” in the airstrikes led by Saudi Arabia. The air campaign has not significantly driven back the rebels and has sunk Yemen into a humanitarian crisis.
The U.N. estimates more than 600 people have been killed and 2,000 injured since late last month when fighting intensified and the airstrikes began.
Russia is a permanent member of the U.N. Security Council alongside China, France, the United Kingdon and the United States.
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