UN Warns of a Dangerous New Phase in Yemen Conflict as Truce Collapses and Fighting Spreads

Yemen's Houthi rebels march during a mobilisation campaign in Sanaa, Yemen, on September 10, 2026. United Nations Special Envoy for Yemen Hans Grundberg announced that the nation faces a new and increasingly perilous phase of warfare following the collapse of its fragile four-year truce.

The United Nations Security Council convened a session regarding Yemen after Houthi rebels captured the strategic port city of Mocha, located near the Bab al-Mandeb strait, on Thursday. This territorial seizure establishes a direct presence for the group near the Bab al-Mandeb, intensifying international concerns over freedom of navigation along this critical trade and energy corridor.

According to Grundberg, military engagements have expanded across the provinces of Taiz, Hodeidah, Marib, al-Jawf, and al-Bayda. These clashes have resulted in civilian casualties and the displacement of over 11,400 households since September 3. Furthermore, the Houthis have targeted civilian and energy infrastructure within Saudi Arabia.

Grundberg strongly urged the Houthis to cease their attacks and threats directed at commercial vessels. He advocated for sustained diplomatic engagement, the protection of civilians, and the preservation of a political settlement, cautioning that the fallout from the conflict will extend far beyond Yemen's borders.

Abdullah Ali Fadhel Al-Saadi, the UN ambassador for Yemen’s internationally recognised government, condemned the Houthi assaults against Saudi Arabia while reaffirming the kingdom's right to self-defence. He firmly rejected the utilization of Yemeni territory to launch strikes against neighbouring nations. Al-Saadi informed the council that the escalation has displaced at least 6,145 families, translating to approximately 44,000 individuals, and reiterated that Red Sea attacks and advances toward Bab al-Mandeb pose a significant threat to international navigation.

He called upon the international community to rigorously enforce restrictions targeting arms, components, and military expertise flowing to the Houthis, moving beyond isolated containment efforts. Saudi Arabia’s ambassador, Abdulaziz al-Wasil, similarly condemned the September 8 Houthi strikes across the kingdom, which wounded 73 civilians, labeling them part of a broader regional threat to security and international shipping. He pressed the council to enforce resolutions 2216 and 2722 to halt support fueling these operations.

The United States, which initiated military action against Iran in late February alongside Israel, joined in the condemnation. Washington accused Tehran of facilitating the Houthi movement, demanding an immediate halt to the attacks alongside the unconditional release of detained UN, humanitarian, and diplomatic personnel.

Representing the Gulf Cooperation Council, Bahraini Ambassador Jamal Fares Alrowaiei stated that the seizure of Mocha has worsened civilian suffering and imperiled navigation in the Bab al-Mandeb. He called for accountability for those responsible and stricter enforcement of existing arms embargoes and sanctions.

Meanwhile, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reported that deteriorating access to food and rising malnutrition are deepening across Yemen, designating the country a hunger hotspot of the highest concern. OCHA estimates that 18.3 million people currently face acute food insecurity, with more than 2.2 million children under the age of five suffering from acute malnutrition, over half a million of whom are classified as severe cases.