Yemen must not be drawn further into war in Gaza: UN envoy

UN Special Envoy for Yemen Hans Grundberg (on screens) speaks via a video link at a Security Council meeting at the UN headquarters in New York, on Aug. 12, 2025. Grundberg said Tuesday that Yemen must not be drawn further into the regional turmoil, including the war in Gaza. (Manuel Elias/UN Photo/Handout via Xinhua)

UNITED NATIONS, Aug. 12 (Xinhua) -- UN Special Envoy for Yemen Hans Grundberg said Tuesday that Yemen must not be drawn further into the regional turmoil, including the war in Gaza.

The regional turmoil continues to erode prospects for peace and stability in Yemen, where the situation remains deeply fragile, he told the Security Council in a monthly briefing on the situation in Yemen.

"For Yemen to have a real chance for peace, it must be protected from being further drawn into the ongoing regional turmoil emanating out of the war in Gaza," said Grundberg. "Therefore, the strikes against civilian ships in the Red Sea must cease. The missile attacks against Israel and the subsequent Israeli strikes on Yemen must also come to an end."

Beyond complicating the mediation space for a long-term settlement of the conflict in Yemen, this escalation has led to the near destruction of Yemen's west coast port facilities, placing immense strain on Yemen's vital infrastructure, he noted.

Unloading at Saleef port took three times as long in July as in June. The increased waiting and unloading times at both Hodeidah and Saleef ports are a major cause for concern, as they serve as critical entry points for essential food commodities, he said.

This trajectory can be stopped, but instead, the situation escalated, notably with the announcement of the Houthis on July 27 to expand the scope of vessels that it would target, he said. "A de-escalation in violence and a renewed focus on diplomacy are urgently needed to protect both the people of Yemen and provide broader regional stability."

On the domestic situation in Yemen, Grundberg stressed the need to continue supporting de-escalation on the front lines and to help the parties build trust.

"There is an urgent need for proactive and pragmatic measures that can pave the way for peace in Yemen. We must remain steadfast in our shared efforts to propel Yemen toward a future where the country is at peace with itself and with the region," said Grundberg. ■