Key facts
- Yemen's foreign minister Afrah Alzouba met with UN special envoy Hans Grundberg.
- The discussion focused on Houthi attacks on commercial vessels in the Red Sea.
- Grundberg warned that further confrontation risks escalating the conflict in Yemen and the region.
- The Houthis claimed responsibility for striking two Saudi oil tankers.
- The maritime disruptions have already caused at least five tankers to change course.
- Brent crude oil prices have risen above $100 a barrel due to the shipping bottlenecks.
Yemen's internationally recognised government foreign minister, Afrah Alzouba, met with UN special envoy Hans Grundberg to discuss the escalating Houthi attacks on Red Sea shipping. Alzouba stated that these attacks threaten international navigation and risk wider regional escalation.
Grundberg expressed alarm over the resumption of attacks by the Houthis, also known as Ansar Allah, on commercial vessels. He warned that further confrontation could drag Yemen back into full-scale war, deepen the suffering of the Yemeni people, and draw the country into a volatile regional environment. He emphasized that a negotiated political settlement is still possible and would contribute to regional stability.
The Houthis claimed responsibility for striking two Saudi oil tankers, the Encelia and the Layla, with missiles and drones, stating it was in response to violations of their blockade decision. This maritime campaign has already forced at least five tankers to change course to avoid the Bab al-Mandeb Strait, contributing to pushing Brent crude oil prices above $100 a barrel. Shipping companies are re-evaluating routes, with some opting for longer journeys around Africa.
US President Donald Trump warned that Iran would be held responsible for further Houthi attacks and threatened significant military retaliation against both Iran and the Houthis. The UN estimates that 22 million Yemenis require aid, with 18.3 million suffering acute food insecurity, highlighting the severe humanitarian toll of the ongoing conflict.