RIYADH: A top UN official said on Monday that renewed threats by the Houthis against Saudi Arabia and freedom of navigation in the Red Sea were concerning and called for an immediate deescalation.
Stephane Dujarric, spokesperson for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, told reporters at a briefing: “We reiterate that Security Council Resolution 2722 (2024) and subsequent resolutions related to Houthi attacks against merchant and commercial vessels must be fully respected.”
Dujarric said the UN’s Special Envoy for Yemen Hans Grundberg had arrived in Muscat for discussions, after meetings in Riyadh on Sunday with Presidential Leadership Council President Rashad Al-Alimi; Saudi Arabia’s Ambassador to Yemen Mohammed Al-Jaber; and representatives of the five permanent members of the Security Council.
“The discussions focused on the need for deescalation and for the parties to agree on a way forward to preserve the gains of the 2022 UN-brokered truce,” he said.
Dujarric said Grundberg stressed the importance of insulating Yemen from the wider regional escalation and for safeguarding the space for an inclusive, Yemeni-led political process to end the conflict comprehensively.
Separately, Qatar on Tuesday condemned statements by the Houthi military spokesman accusing Saudi Arabia of besieging the Yemeni people and imposing a maritime blockade, reaffirming its full solidarity with the Kingdom.
In a statement, Qatar's Ministry of Foreign Affairs called on the international community to implement relevant UN Security Council resolutions, including Resolution 2216 on Yemen and Resolution 2722 on freedom of navigation in the Red Sea. It also reaffirmed that freedom of navigation in international waterways is a fundamental principle of international law.
Qatar reiterated its support for all measures taken by Saudi Arabia to safeguard its sovereignty and security, saying the Kingdom's security is an integral part of Qatar's security and that of the Gulf Cooperation Council states.
Kuwait also condemned the Houthi militia’s statements targeting Saudi Arabia and freedom of maritime navigation in the Red Sea.
In a statement, Kuwait’s Foreign Ministry said the Kingdom’s security was an integral part of Kuwait’s security, and called on the international community to ensure the implementation of relevant UN Security Council resolutions regarding rights and freedom of navigation in the Red Sea.
Jordan also condemned the Houthi militia’s accusations against Saudi Arabia, describing claims that the Kingdom was imposing a blockade on the Yemeni people as baseless.
In a statement, Jordan expressed full solidarity with Saudi Arabia and affirmed its support for the measures taken by the Kingdom to safeguard its security and sovereignty.
The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Secretary-General also condemned the Houthi militia’s actions, saying they had exacerbated the suffering of the Yemeni people and threatened regional security.
Jasem Mohamed Al-Budaiwi accused the Houthis of attempting to distort facts and evade responsibility for their actions, while stressing that their practices posed a threat to stability in the region.
Saudi Arabia on Monday also rejected the Houthi allegations after the Iran-backed militia announced what it described as a naval blockade against the Kingdom. The Saudi Foreign Ministry described the accusations as false and reiterated its condemnation of the Houthi militia's claims.
Meanwhile, Yemen’s Presidential Leadership Council (PLC) President Rashad Al-Alimi said the country’s armed and security forces were witnessing increased capabilities and greater unity in military and security decision-making.
Al-Alimi said any future agreements or arrangements in Yemen would not be achieved through threats or blackmail, warning that those who interpreted restraint and efforts for peace as weakness were misjudging the will of the Yemeni people.
He also accused the Houthi militia of turning areas under its control into some of the worst places to live.
