The United Nations Security Council members have condemned the Houthis" seizure and holding of the UAE flagged ship "Rawabi" off the Yemen coast and urged de-escalation and a return to comprehensive political talks. In a statement early on Saturday, the council demanded immediately release of the ship and its crew, stressing necessity to ensure safety of the crew members until their release. It called on all concerned parties to resolve the issue quickly, noting the importance of navigation freedom in Aden Gulf and the Red Sea in accordance with international law. The council members also urged all stakeholders to engage constructively with the United Nations Special Envoy in order to return to inclusive political talks. Earlier, the US condemned Yemen’s Houthi militia’s seizure of the Emirati vessel “Rawabi”, the State Department had said soon after the incident. “These actions interfere with freedom of navigation in the Red Sea and threaten international trade and regional security,” the statement read. It added: “These Houthi actions come at a time when all parties should be de-escalating and returning to inclusive political talks. We urge the Houthis to immediately release the ship and crew unharmed and to cease all violence that sets back the political process to end the war in Yemen.” The UAE flagged ship “Rawabi” was hijacked early January on its way to the port of Jazan in Saudi Arabia. The Arab Coalition demanded the Houthis immediately release the vessel with its full cargo, adding that it was carrying medical field equipment and supplies for the Saudi field hospital on Socotra Island. Coalition spokesman Brig. Gen. Turki Al-Maliki, at that time, had warned the Houthis that any port used for maritime piracy and armed robbery would become a legitimate military target. — Agencies