UN, NEW YORK: The UN Security Council approved a resolution on Tuesday extending targeted sanctions in Yemen following contentious negotiations including on whether to refer to UN experts’ findings that Yemen’s Houthi militia are receiving parts for drones and weapons, some with technical characteristics similar to arms manufactured in Iran.

The UK, which drafted the resolution, along with the US and other Western nations supported including the experts' findings, but Russia and China objected.

The much-revised British draft voted on Tuesday afternoon eliminated all references to the Houthis and Iran, but Russia and China said their demands were not fully met and abstained.

That appeared to be a surprise to the UK and its Western allies who thought after negotiations into the early afternoon that all 15 council members would vote “yes.”

The resolution does ask the UN panel of experts, whose mandate was renewed, to report on commercially available components used by individuals and entities under UN sanctions, without referring to any party.

The panel of experts reported in late January that the Houthis had acquired such weapons which were used to assemble drones, water-borne explosive devices and other weapons systems.

Saudi Arabia’s Ambassador to Yemen Mohammed bin Saeed Al-Jaber said the resolution stresses on the continuous rejection of the international community on the coup led by Iran-backed Houthis and their attacks against the Yemenis.