2 weeks ago
Yemen closer to all-out war than anytime since 2022 truce
In Yemen, there has been a war for more than ten years.
A group called the Houthis took over a big city in 2014.
In 2022, both sides agreed to stop fighting for a while.
Now, someone from the United Nations says the fighting could start again very soon.
There have been new attacks between the two sides in several places.
The UN person asked everyone to calm down and talk about peace.
Many people in Yemen do not have enough food to eat.
About six million people are very close to going hungry.
The UN also worries that ships in the Red Sea could be attacked again.
They want the fighting to stop so people are safe.
UN Special Envoy Hans Grundberg told the Security Council that Yemen is closer to a return of all-out war than at any point since the 2022 truce.
Clashes have erupted between Houthi fighters and government forces in Marib, Hadramout, and al-Makha, with the government reporting it repelled a Houthi attack on Taiz.
Grundberg urged both sides to de-escalate and warned that renewed Houthi attacks on Red Sea shipping could pull Yemen into the broader US-Iran standoff.
The Houthis claimed a drone strike on an oil refinery in Saudi Arabia's Jazan province, saying it was retaliation for alleged Saudi violations of Yemeni airspace.
UN humanitarian chief Tom Fletcher said more than half of Yemen's population lacks reliable access to enough food and about six million people face emergency-level deprivation.
- Who
- UN Special Envoy Hans Grundberg, UN humanitarian chief Tom Fletcher, Britain's UN representative Sarah MacIntosh, Yemen's Presidential Leadership Council, Houthi fighters, and Yemeni government forces.
- What
- A stark UN warning that Yemen is closer to all-out war than at any point since the 2022 truce, amid a sharp rise in military activity and mutual attacks.
- Where
- Across Yemen, including Marib, Hadramout, al-Makha, Taiz, and Sanaa, as well as the Red Sea and Saudi Arabia's Jazan province.
- When
- The warning was delivered to the UN Security Council on a Thursday, with clashes reported over the past several days.
- Why
- Progress toward a lasting peace deal stalled in 2023, and hostilities escalated after the Houthis announced a blockade on Saudi shipping in the Red Sea on July 20.
Houthi perspective
Saudi-led coalition and UK perspective
Blame for the escalation
Houthi perspective
Houthis say their strike on the Jazan refinery was retaliation for Saudi violations of Yemeni airspace in Saada and Hajjah provinces.
Saudi-led coalition and UK perspective
The UK and allied forces say reckless Houthi actions, including attacks on international shipping and on Saudi Arabia directly, have driven the escalation.
Red Sea blockade
Houthi perspective
Houthis announced a blockade on Saudi shipping in the Red Sea on July 20 as part of their campaign.
Saudi-led coalition and UK perspective
UN envoy Grundberg warns renewed Red Sea shipping attacks could pull Yemen further into the broader standoff between the US and Iran.
Key facts
- UN Special Envoy
- Hans Grundberg
- UN humanitarian chief
- Tom Fletcher
- Year truce began
- 2022
- Population lacking reliable food access
- More than half of Yemen's population
- People at emergency-level deprivation
- Roughly six million
- Maternal deaths
- Three women per day from preventable pregnancy complications
- Houthi blockade announced
- July 20 (Red Sea blockade on Saudi shipping)
- Houthi attack claimed
- Drone strike on an oil refinery in Jazan, Saudi Arabia
Quotes
UN Special Envoy Hans Grundberg
United Nations’ top envoy for Yemen
“"Yemen is now closer to all‑out war than at any moment since its 2022 truce began."”
thestatesman.com
Sarah MacIntosh
Britain’s UN representative
“"The Houthis’ reckless actions have driven a serious escalation across the region and called on the group to prioritize peace over pulling Yemen into a wider conflict."”
thestatesman.com
Sources
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