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The United Nations Security Council issued a statement Friday condemning continued Houthi attacks against Saudi Arabia, including those that struck civilian areas and energy infrastructure resulting in civilian injuries. Council members expressed solidarity with the kingdom in the face of these assaults on its territory and explicitly affirmed Saudi Arabia’s right to self-defense under international law. The position reflects a unified response to recent escalations that have drawn regional concern.
The statement highlighted injuries to civilians including women and children from the strikes on Saudi facilities. It comes after a series of missile and drone attacks on southern Saudi targets that disrupted operations at energy sites and caused dozens of casualties according to earlier UN briefings. Council members stressed that such actions violate international norms and demanded an immediate halt to the military escalation.
Council members separately condemned Houthi attacks and threats targeting commercial shipping in the Red Sea and Bab al-Mandab strait. They called on the group to fully respect the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and to uphold freedom of navigation in these vital waterways. This element of the statement addresses wider maritime security risks that have affected global trade routes.
The council urged greater practical cooperation with Yemen’s government to enforce the arms embargo under resolution 2216 and block further supplies of weapons training or financing to the Houthis. Such steps are intended to prevent additional attacks and support de-escalation efforts across the border. Members reiterated their commitment to Yemen’s sovereignty unity independence and territorial integrity in line with the UN Charter.
A UN assessment found that at least 125,000 people have been displaced in Yemen since the start of September amid the intensified Houthi offensive and related clashes. This surge has compounded an existing humanitarian crisis in which nearly half the population requires aid and acute hunger is rising. The council warned that further deterioration could undermine prospects for a negotiated settlement.
The statement follows emergency sessions earlier in the month where UN envoy Hans Grundberg briefed members on the risk of wider conflict after Houthi advances along Yemen’s western coast. Grundberg has repeatedly called for restraint and a return to dialogue to revive the 2022 truce. The council’s latest position reinforces support for his mediation while placing clear responsibility on the Houthis to cease cross-border strikes.
