UN Envoy Warns Yemen Slips Back into Full-Scale War Amid Escalating Clashes

Supporters of the Houthi authorities gathered during a protest against the Saudi intervention in Yemen, in Sanaa on Friday [AFP]. United Nations Special Envoy to Yemen Hans Grundberg stated that the country has slid back into “full-scale war” as fighting between the Houthis and internationally recognised government forces persists.

During a United Nations Security Council meeting on Friday addressing the situation in Yemen, Grundberg highlighted that civilians, including women and children, are bearing the brunt of the escalating violence. “Ongoing instability in the Middle East continues to impact dynamics in Yemen, while developments in Yemen, in turn, reverberate across the region,” he noted.

Grundberg emphasized that regional security, freedom of navigation, and international trade protection are legitimate concerns requiring attention. He urged that international engagement must align with the realities of Yemen and the aspirations of its people, stressing that political strategies must be considered immediately to prevent war from becoming permanent.

According to UN figures, at least 46 civilians have been killed and more than 130 injured since August, with children heavily impacted by the ongoing clashes. Addressing the council, Abdullah Ali Fadhel al-Saadi, the UN representative for Yemen’s internationally recognised government, stated that the Houthi threat extends beyond internal Yemeni affairs and called for decisive measures to curb weapon and funding flows.

Al-Saadi thanked Riyadh for supporting the Yemeni people and state institutions. Meanwhile, the Saudi Civil Aviation Authority reported that King Khalid International Airport, located north of Riyadh, faced two attacks on Thursday, resulting in three civilian deaths. Saudi Arabia’s UN representative, Abdulaziz al-Wasil, called on the council to address the dangerous escalation and stated that Riyadh will not permit Yemen to become a threat to regional security or navigation.