January 13, 2024

Japanese Communist Party Chair Shii Kazuo on January 12 issued the following statement.

The Japanese Communist Party deplores the bombings by the U.S. and U.K. against targets in Yemen and calls for diplomatic efforts to prevent a further escalation of the Middle East situation

January 12, 2024
Japanese Communist Party Executive Committee Chair Shii Kazuo

U.S. and British forces launched a wide-ranging airstrike on January 11 against the Houthis, an armed rebel group in Yemen. They said it was because the Houthis have been attacking civilian ships and capturing crew members since October last year in support of Hamas, an Islamist group in the Gaza Strip in Palestine, and in opposition to Israel. The Houthi action cannot be justified. However, the U.S. and U.K. bombings trample on the UN Charter and international law. The Japanese Communist Party deplores their military action.

A UN Security Council resolution adopted on January 10, while condemning the actions of the Houthis, urges restraint to avoid further escalation of the situation in the region and calls for full respect for Yemen's sovereignty and territorial integrity. The main concern at the moment is that the attacks against the Houthis backing Hamas could further raise tensions in the entire region and trigger a chain of violence. The JCP calls for further diplomatic efforts at the UN and elsewhere to achieve peace in the civil war in Yemen and a ceasefire in the Gaza crisis as soon as possible.