UN official warns Yemen is entering a "more dangerous" new phase of conflict
New York, September 10 (KUNA) -- UN Special Envoy to Yemen Hans Grundberg warned on Thursday evening that Yemen is entering a “more dangerous” phase of the conflict amid escalating fighting on multiple fronts and the Houthi group’s (Ansar Allah) takeover of the coastal city of Al-Mukha. This warning came during a briefing Grundberg delivered via video link at an emergency session of the UN Security Council, convened at the request of Bahrain and the United Kingdom, to discuss recent developments in Yemen and reports of Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia.
Grundberg stated that his warning to the Council last month that Yemen faced the greatest risk of a return to large-scale fighting since the 2022 truce “has now become a harsh reality,” pointing to intensified combat over the past 24 hours on several fronts, particularly the strategic western coast. He added that the Houthis launched a broad offensive targeting Al-Mukha, located approximately 75 kilometers from the Bab al-Mandab strait, and have now established control over it, granting them a direct presence at the entrance to one of the world’s most critical waterways. He cautioned that this development raises serious concerns within the international community regarding threats to freedom of navigation.
Grundberg explained that fighting has spread over recent weeks to Taiz, Al-Hudaydah, Marib, Al-Jawf, and Al-Bayda, with reports of civilian casualties and damage to sites housing displaced persons. He noted that more than 11,400 families have recently been displaced across Yemen since September 3, mostly in Taiz and southern Al-Hudaydah, while ongoing fighting continues to drive more residents from their homes.
The envoy also highlighted Houthi attacks on civilian infrastructure and energy facilities in Saudi Arabia, which again injured dozens of civilians. He reiterated his call to halt attacks within Yemen and across borders, as well as threats against commercial shipping. He warned that the resumption of war effectively marks the end of the relative calm that Yemen has experienced for over four years since the UN-brokered truce, emphasizing that the repercussions of the escalation could spill beyond Yemen’s borders and drag the country back into a broader regional confrontation.
He stressed that the escalation “was not inevitable” and that Yemeni grievances could be addressed at the negotiating table, noting his continued engagement with the Yemeni government, the Houthis, and regional parties to find practical ways to de-escalate tensions and preserve opportunities for a political settlement. Grundberg outlined three urgent priorities: keeping communication channels open, respecting international humanitarian law, and protecting civilians, alongside maintaining the path toward a political resolution.
He concluded his briefing by calling on the Security Council to demonstrate unity and continue its engagement on the Yemen file, warning that the consequences of this new phase of conflict “if left unchecked, will not remain within Yemen’s borders.” (End) A.S.T. / M.M.J.
