Yemen: Yemen's UN envoy Abdullah al-Saadi warned that the Houthi group is continuing its military escalation and attempting to impose a 'new reality' in the Red Sea. Speaking during an emergency UN Security Council session on Houthi attacks against Saudi Arabia on Thursday, Saadi said the group's actions threaten shipping in the strategic waterway.
According to Anadolu Agency, Saadi emphasized the threat posed by the Houthi militia to navigation in the Red Sea and highlighted the dangers if the group gains control of the Bab al-Mandeb Strait. He urged the Security Council to condemn the group's military activities and enforce its arms embargo. The Yemeni envoy stressed that while the internationally recognized government has prioritized peace and exercised restraint over the years, it remains committed to protecting its people and institutions.
The remarks from Saadi come amid ongoing clashes between government forces and the Houthis along Yemen's western coast, near the Red Sea and the Bab al-Mandeb Strait. Recent reports indicate that the Houthis have made advances along the western coast and have reportedly seized strategic Zuqar Island. However, there has been no official confirmation from either the Houthis or government forces regarding these developments.
Further warnings were issued by Yemeni Presidential Leadership Council Chairman Rashad al-Alimi, who previously cautioned about the consequences of military activities near Bab al-Mandeb. Additionally, Foreign Minister Afrah al-Zouba called for the Security Council to adopt a definitive stance on the Houthi escalation and its potential risks to Yemen, the region, and the Red Sea.
The conflict between government forces and the Houthis has intensified across multiple fronts since early July, following years of relative calm. The ongoing turmoil in Yemen began in September 2014 when the Houthis seized the capital Sanaa along with several provinces, prompting a Saudi-led Arab coalition intervention in March 2015 in support of the internationally recognized government.