NEW YORK: The United Nations Security Council has strongly condemned continued attacks by Yemen’s Houthi group against Saudi Arabia, including strikes affecting civilian and energy infrastructure that have resulted in civilian casualties.
In a statement issued on September 18, Security Council members demanded that the Houthis immediately halt their military escalation and attacks affecting civilians and civilian infrastructure. The council also expressed concern over the broader impact of the conflict on regional security and international trade.
The council reaffirmed Saudi Arabia’s right to defend itself under international law and condemned attacks and threats against commercial shipping in the Red Sea and Bab el-Mandeb Strait.
Members also stressed the importance of protecting commercial vessels and their crews, warning that continued attacks could further threaten maritime security, international trade and efforts to achieve a political settlement in Yemen.
UN Reports Mass Displacement in Yemen
The renewed fighting has also triggered a major displacement crisis inside Yemen.
According to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), at least 125,000 people, or around 18,000 families, have been displaced across Yemen since the beginning of September as fighting intensified.
The UN has also reported civilian casualties during the latest escalation. The UN Human Rights Office documented 40 civilian casualties between September 1 and 14, including eight deaths and 32 injuries, with women and children accounting for a significant proportion of those affected.
The humanitarian situation is unfolding as more than 22 million people across Yemen already require humanitarian assistance, according to the United Nations. Aid operations are facing additional pressure as fighting restricts access to affected communities.
Security Council Calls for Release of UN Personnel
The Security Council also called for the immediate and unconditional release of people being held by the Houthi de facto authorities.
The UN said 73 UN personnel remain arbitrarily detained, with some having been held since 2021. The organisation has repeatedly called for their release and warned that the detention of humanitarian personnel is further restricting the delivery of aid in Houthi-controlled areas.
The latest escalation comes amid intensified fighting along Yemen’s western coast and around the Bab el-Mandeb Strait. UN officials have urged all parties to protect civilians, comply with international humanitarian law and facilitate safe and unhindered humanitarian access.
The Security Council’s latest statement adds to international calls for an end to the escalation and renewed efforts toward a political resolution of Yemen’s prolonged conflict.