UN Security Council Condemns Houthi Escalation, Warns of Threats to International Navigation

The UN Security Council has strongly condemned the military escalation by the Houthi militia in Yemen, warning of its repercussions on civilians, regional security, and international navigation. Council members also demanded an immediate and unconditional release of detainees, including 73 UN staff.

In a statement issued Friday evening, Council members emphasized their support for the internationally recognized Yemeni government and their commitment to Yemen's unity, sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity. They underscored the necessity of full implementation of Security Council Resolution 2216 (2015) and subsequent resolutions concerning Yemen.

The statement unequivocally condemned the ongoing Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia, including those that caused damage to civilians and energy infrastructure, resulting in civilian casualties, including women and children. Council members reiterated their condemnation of Houthi missile attacks on Saudi Arabia and attacks and threats targeting commercial vessels in the Red Sea and the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, stressing the importance of protecting commercial ships and their crews and ensuring maritime navigation safety.

They affirmed the significance of adhering to international law, including the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, and respecting maritime rights and freedoms. Council members cautioned that the continued Houthi escalation in Yemen, attacks on Saudi Arabia, threats to international shipping, and advances in the Bab el-Mandeb region portend a widening of the conflict, threaten maritime security and international trade, and undermine efforts towards peace in Yemen.

The Security Council members urged the Houthi militia to immediately cease its military escalation and attacks on civilians and civilian objects, expressing solidarity with Saudi Arabia in confronting attacks on its territory and affirming its inherent right to self-defense in accordance with international law. The statement conveyed deep concern over reports of civilian deaths and injuries, and the displacement of at least 125,000 people across Yemen since the beginning of September, according to data from the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, in addition to the destruction of civilian objects and infrastructure due to Houthi attacks.

Council members warned that continued escalation would exacerbate the dire humanitarian situation in Yemen and could lead to further waves of displacement. They renewed their call for all parties to the conflict to facilitate full, rapid, and unimpeded access of humanitarian assistance to civilians in need and to ensure the safety and security of humanitarian workers, UN staff, and their partners. The statement reiterated the demand for the safe, immediate, and unconditional release of all detainees, including 73 UN staff, as well as staff from local and international non-governmental organizations, civil society organizations, and diplomatic missions.

The Security Council members affirmed that sustainable peace in Yemen cannot be achieved through coercion or the use of force. They reiterated their support for the efforts of the UN Special Envoy to Yemen, Hans Grundberg, aimed at reaching a comprehensive, negotiated political settlement, led and owned by Yemenis, based on agreed-upon references and Security Council resolutions. The Council called on the parties to the conflict to engage constructively in UN efforts to achieve a political settlement that ends the war and halts the escalation. This statement follows a prior condemnation by Council members on August 7th, which denounced Houthi missile attacks on Saudi Arabia and attacks targeting commercial vessels, amidst ongoing international concerns about the widening confrontation and its implications for Yemen, maritime navigation, and global trade.