Saudi Arabia warns UN of Houthi threats to global shipping

During an emergency session of the United Nations Security Council, Saudi Arabia’s permanent representative, Ambassador Abdulaziz Al-Wasil, condemned the Houthi militia’s actions as “criminal behavior” that threatens international navigation and the global economy. Al-Wasil highlighted that Houthi attacks on commercial vessels in the Red Sea and the Bab al-Mandab Strait jeopardize freedom of navigation and warned that the international community cannot call for de-escalation while allowing the continued flow of support that enables these hostilities.

Saudi officials emphasized that the Houthi group has repeatedly rejected peace initiatives and has targeted civilian objectives within Saudi Arabia. The representative stated that Saudi Arabia maintains its legitimate right to defend its sovereignty and will take all necessary measures to deter such aggression.

In the same session, the Yemeni representative warned that Houthi control over the Bab al-Mandab Strait is a matter of international and regional security rather than a purely domestic issue. UN Special Envoy Hans Grundberg reported that Houthi attacks have resulted in civilian casualties, including children, and caused the displacement of approximately 11,400 families across Yemen. Grundberg urged the group to cease attacks, noting that the consequences of the current escalation may not remain confined within Yemen’s borders.