UN warns of risk of regional escalation after Iranian flights and defends Yemeni sovereignty

The United Nations has alerted to the risk of a wider regional escalation after Yemeni forces acted to prevent an Iranian plane from landing in Sanaa. The incident occurred when Yemeni forces bombed the runway of Sanaa airport, controlled by Houthi rebels, to stop the plane carrying a Houthi delegation from landing. The plane eventually landed in Al Hudaydah, another Houthi-controlled city on the Red Sea coast.

UN Under-Secretary-General Khaled Khiari expressed deep concern over the potential for further escalation, stating that neither Yemen nor the region can afford another cycle of conflict. Tensions have resurfaced between the Iran-aligned Houthi rebels and the internationally recognized Yemeni government, backed by Saudi Arabia. The conflict has been largely stagnant since 2022, but the incident involving the Iranian plane, en route to Tehran for a delegation to attend the funeral of Iran's former supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has heightened regional sensitivities.

Khiari reiterated that the Yemeni government had previously warned Iran against unauthorized flights. He stressed that these incidents underscore the necessity of an inclusive, Yemeni-led political process. The UN official believes that a negotiated political solution, facilitated by the UN through dialogue, is the only path to a lasting and sustainable resolution to the conflict.

Meanwhile, Indrika Ratwatte, the acting UN Assistant Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, warned that the humanitarian crisis in Yemen is worsening. He highlighted that over 18 million people across the country are facing hunger, underscoring the dire situation on the ground amidst the ongoing political and military tensions.