UN Special Envoy for Yemen Hans Grundberg expressed great concern over the Houthis’ continued attacks on commercial ships in the Red Sea. Grundberg stressed that these actions have again disrupted maritime traffic and signal a dangerous escalation.
In a written statement, the UN envoy said, “I am deeply concerned by the continued attacks by the Ansarullah (Houthi) movement targeting commercial vessels and the renewed disruption of maritime traffic in the Red Sea.” He noted that he had held intensive discussions with Yemeni parties as well as regional and international actors in recent weeks.
Grundberg said his priority is to preserve the gains of the 2022 truce, prevent a wider conflict, and create conditions for an inclusive political process. He warned that the escalating actions could drag Yemen into further conflict, deepen the unstable regional environment, and increase the suffering of the Yemeni people.
At the same time, Grundberg stated that it is still possible to change course and move toward negotiations that center on Yemen’s interests, adding that a negotiated political solution in Yemen would also contribute to regional stability.
The UN envoy’s statement came after the Houthis announced Wednesday evening that they had targeted two Saudi oil tankers in the Red Sea with ballistic missiles and drones. Saudi Arabia’s official news agency WAS reported Thursday that a Riyadh-owned vessel was targeted while sailing in the Red Sea, causing a fire at the front of the ship but no casualties.
Two days before the attack, the Houthis had declared a “naval blockade” against Riyadh in retaliation for what they claim is a Saudi blockade on Houthi-controlled areas in Yemen.
Despite the truce in Yemen that has been in place since April 2022, occasional clashes occur between government forces and the Houthis, who have controlled the capital Sanaa and several other provinces since September 2014, in a war that has lasted over 11 years. Saudi Arabia leads the coalition supporting the legitimate government, while Iran is accused of backing the Houthis.
