UN Envoy Warns of Dangerous Escalation in Yemen, Urges Restraint

United Nations Special Envoy for Yemen, Hans Grundberg, has expressed grave concern over recent Houthi militia attacks on the city of Mokha, which reportedly resulted in civilian and military casualties and damage to infrastructure, including the city's port.

Grundberg described the attacks as an unprecedented escalation in military operations since the UN-brokered truce in 2022. He cautioned that the continuation of this escalation significantly increases the risks of Yemen sliding back into a large-scale conflict.

The UN envoy highlighted that the recent Houthi attacks have placed civilians in grave danger in Mokha, Marib, and other areas. He emphasized the imperative to halt the escalation and to work towards protecting civilians and civilian facilities and infrastructure.

Grundberg called on all parties to exercise maximum restraint and to collaborate with his office in taking concrete steps to de-escalate tensions and prevent further erosion of the gains achieved by the truce for Yemeni civilians.

He stressed that a sustainable end to the conflict in Yemen can only be achieved through an inclusive political process. He warned that the ongoing military escalation is pushing the country in the opposite direction and undermining prospects for a political settlement.

The Special Envoy's statements come amid increasing military escalation on several Yemeni fronts, raising UN and international concerns about the repercussions on civilians and the chances of resuming the peace process.