Yemen warns UN of Houthi military expansion toward Bab al-Mandab

The Republic of Yemen has issued an urgent warning to the United Nations regarding the continued military expansion of Houthi militias along Yemen’s western coast and toward the Bab al-Mandab Strait. During a high-level meeting at the UN General Assembly in New York, Yemen’s Deputy Permanent Representative, Ambassador Ahmed Al-Sharabi, stated that these activities are supported by Iran and pose a direct threat to regional stability and maritime freedom.

Al-Sharabi emphasized that the Red Sea, Bab al-Mandab, and the Gulf of Aden are vital arteries for global trade and supply chains. He noted a strategic link between the Bab al-Mandab and Strait of Hormuz straits, warning that disruptions in these waterways could cause severe shocks to global energy markets and the international economy, particularly affecting trade between Asia and Europe via the Suez Canal.

The Yemeni government stressed that maritime security cannot be achieved without a capable and effective Yemeni state. The administration called on the international community to support Yemen in securing its territorial waters, protecting its maritime infrastructure, and regaining full control over its coasts to ensure these waters remain open to international navigation.