UN Security Council Condemns Houthi Military Escalation, Reaffirms Support for Yemen's Gov’t
- 2026-10-16
- 17:21:51
NEW YORK – Members of the United Nations Security Council have strongly condemned the recent military escalation by Yemen's Houthi movement, calling on the group to immediately halt its military operations and attacks targeting civilians and civilian infrastructure.
In a presidential statement addressing attacks against Saudi Arabia, Security Council members reiterated their firm support for the internationally recognized Yemeni government and reaffirmed their commitment to Yemen's unity, sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity.
The Council stressed the importance of fully implementing Resolution 2216 and related resolutions, urging practical international cooperation, including with the Yemeni government, to prevent the Houthis from acquiring weapons, related materiel, technical assistance, training, financing, and other forms of support linked to military activities that could enable further attacks.
Security Council members also recalled their previous press statements issued on August 7 and emphasized that a sustainable peace in Yemen cannot be achieved through violence, coercion, or the use of force.
They reiterated their support for the efforts of UN Special Envoy for Yemen, Hans Grundberg, aimed at securing a comprehensive and negotiated political settlement that is Yemeni-led and Yemeni-owned, based on agreed references and consistent with relevant Security Council resolutions.
The Council further renewed its condemnation in the strongest terms of continuing Houthi attacks and threats against commercial shipping in the Red Sea and the Bab al-Mandab Strait, describing maritime security as essential for international trade and regional stability.
Members underscored the importance of ensuring the safety and security of commercial vessels and their crews and stressed the need for all parties to act in accordance with international law, including the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.
The statement reflects growing international concern over the impact of the conflict on regional security, freedom of navigation, and ongoing efforts to revive a political process aimed at ending more than a decade of conflict in Yemen.