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Yemen faces highest risk of returning to war since 2022 truce, UN warns

From Al Jazeera · () English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

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  • Yemen is on the brink of renewed all-out war, closer than at any point since the 2022 truce, according to a UN envoy.
  • Fighting has intensified along front lines, causing civilian and military casualties, with clashes reported in multiple regions.
  • Renewed Houthi attacks on Red Sea shipping also risk drawing Yemen into the wider regional conflict, the envoy warned.

Yemen stands precariously close to a full-scale return to war, a situation more dangerous than at any time since a 2022 truce, UN Special Envoy for Yemen Hans Grundberg warned the UN Security Council. Recent days have seen intensified military activity across the country's dormant front lines, resulting in both civilian and military casualties.

Yemen is now closer to renewed all-out war than it has been at any point since the 2022 truce was struck.

— Hans GrundbergWarning the UN Security Council about the escalating conflict.

Clashes have erupted between Iran-aligned Houthi fighters and government forces in key areas including Marib, Hadramout, and al-Makha. Government forces reported repelling a Houthi assault on Taiz, while also carrying out artillery and drone strikes. The head of Yemen’s Presidential Leadership Council vowed a "comprehensive response or deterrence" to any Houthi actions.

Renewed Houthi attacks on shipping in the Red Sea also risk drawing Yemen into the wider ongoing regional confrontation between the US and Iran.

— Hans GrundbergHighlighting the regional implications of the conflict.

Grundberg urged all parties to de-escalate immediately and work toward a stable ceasefire. He also highlighted the escalating risk of Yemen being drawn into the broader regional confrontation between the U.S. and Iran, fueled by recent Houthi attacks on shipping in the Red Sea. The conflict, which began when Houthis seized the capital Sanaa in 2014, has devastated Yemen's economy and deepened its humanitarian crisis.

On these issues, both sides in the conflict “have more to gain from cooperation than confrontation”.

— Hans GrundbergUrging parties to work together on economic de-escalation.

The UN envoy stressed the need for "economic de-escalation," calling on warring parties to cooperate on ensuring commercial vessels reach Yemeni ports, resuming oil exports, and restarting flights from Sanaa airport. He noted that cooperation offers greater mutual benefit than continued confrontation. The 2022 truce had largely held until tensions escalated regionally in 2023, stalling progress toward a lasting peace agreement. The ongoing fighting exacerbates the humanitarian crisis, with over half the population lacking reliable access to food and millions facing emergency levels of deprivation.

every action undertaken by the Houthis will be met with “a comprehensive response or deterrence”.

— Head of Yemen’s Presidential Leadership CouncilVowing a strong reaction to Houthi actions.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Al Jazeera. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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