UN envoy warns Yemen entering a more dangerous phase as Mocha falls to Houthis

At a UN Security Council meeting, Special Envoy for Yemen Hans Grundberg described the situation as entering a new, more dangerous phase after the Houthis took the strategic port of Mocha, giving them a foothold near the Bab al-Mandeb strait. He highlighted that hostilities have spread across the provinces of Taiz, Hodeidah, Marib, al-Jawf and al-Bayda, causing civilian deaths and displacing more than 11,400 households since September 3.

Grundberg called on the Houthis to cease attacks on commercial shipping and to protect civilians, warning that the conflict’s repercussions will not stay within Yemen. Abdullah Ali Fadhel Al-Saadi, the UN ambassador for Yemen’s recognized government, condemned the attacks on Saudi Arabia and said at least 6,145 families, about 44,000 people, have been displaced. Saudi ambassador Abdulaziz al-Wasil denounced recent strikes that wounded 73 civilians and urged enforcement of UN resolutions. The United States and Gulf states also blamed Iran for enabling the Houthis and demanded an end to the attacks.