Russia condemns US and British attacks in Yemen.

According to the US Central Command, the attacks on dozens of targets in Yemen were carried out by the US and UK with support from the Netherlands, Australia, Bahrain, and Canada. Washington stated that the attacks were "defensive" in nature and aimed at de-escalating tensions in the Middle East.

"We condemn these attacks," Peskov said when asked about the US-UK actions during a press briefing. "UN Security Council resolutions do not permit airstrikes, therefore, they are illegal under international law."

The Russian president's spokesperson was referring to a January 10 UN document calling on the Houthi movement to cease attacks on merchant ships. Western attacks on several locations in Yemen are believed to be targeting the rebel group's military assets.

Earlier that day, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova presented Russia's position. She stated that Moscow's concerns that US activities at the UN Security Council "are merely a pretext for further escalation in the region" were confirmed by the attacks. She warned: "A major military escalation in the Red Sea region could neutralize all the positive developments that have recently emerged in the reconciliation process in Yemen and destabilize the entire Middle East."
Russia was among four Security Council members, along with Algeria, China, and Mozambique, who abstained from voting on Resolution 2722 on January 10.
Furthermore, Zakharova accused the US of frequently manipulating UN decisions to justify its military adventures. Citing NATO's 2011 bombing of Libya and the 2003 invasion of Iraq as examples, the Russian diplomat stated: “The people of those countries and the entire region still feel the consequences of the illegal military intervention from Washington and its accomplices.” Moscow considers these attacks a threat to global peace, and therefore, a matter for the Security Council to address. The Houthi forces have begun targeting civilian traffic across the Red Sea with the intention of disrupting Israeli trade. This action is retaliation for the siege of the Gaza Strip, which has lasted for more than three months and is believed to have claimed the lives of over 20,000 people in the Palestinian territory. Israel claims its goal is to eliminate Hamas, the militant group responsible for the deadly attacks in early October last year, but critics accuse Israel of seeking ethnic cleansing in Gaza.

Russia has criticized Hamas for the terrorist attacks and Israel for its handling of the operation in Gaza. Russia has also accused the US of derailing international efforts to secure a ceasefire. Peskov stressed that the Houthi targeting of civilian vessels was also a “deeply wrong” act.