The situation in the Middle East (Yemen) - Security Council, 10222nd meeting Security Council Date: 15 September 2026 Language: English Transcript: https://transcripts.un.org/en/sc/10222 Transcripts available through this tool are created by using automatic speech recognition and are not official records nor official documents of the United Nations. Official records and official documents are available on the Official Document System of the United Nations. --- France · President of the Council [0:01]: The 10,222nd meeting of the Security Council is called to order. The provisional agenda for this meeting is the situation in the Middle East. The agenda is adopted. The representative of Russia has asked for the floor. I give him the floor. Russian Federation [0:31]: Mr. President, We are again compelled to take the floor on a point of order in order to object to yet another unilateral decision by the French Presidency to change the established principle governing the order of speakers at a meeting of the Security Council. This decision was again taken unilaterally, in spite of protests and without any consultation with Council members. We would like to emphasize that the issue is not the particular delegation that the presidency has placed at the top of the list ahead of council members, but rather the selective approach of the Security Council presidency, which has decided that it has some kind of special right to break with long-established practice. We recall that a similar situation arose at the very beginning of September during the council's discussion of the Syrian chemical file, by the way. We did not hear any kind of clear or convincing arguments from our French colleagues then or now. Instead, we were simply told of a certain interpretation of presidential note 507. However, that note in fact states that, quote, "Those who have a direct interest in the outcome of the matter under discussion may speak prior to Council members if this is considered to be appropriate." However, nowhere does it indicate that this kind of decision can be made by the Presidency unilaterally. Our French colleagues pay such close attention to the issue of the Council's working methods, and thus they are keenly aware that the President of the Council does not have special rights, only duties. presidency is required to strictly discharge his or her duties in accordance with the provisional rules of procedure and established practice of this body. In addition, France, as one of the permanent members of the Security Council, bears additional responsibility to safeguard the Council's traditions and to contribute to its smooth functioning. It's strange that France, after its 69th presidency of the Security Council, on the 70th time suddenly forgot about this. In case the French team does not know about this, or I hope not that the Presidency is not aware of this, we are prepared to hold a seminar for our French colleagues on this topic. And we can do it for free as well. We'd like to note that we fully welcome the presence of our Yemeni colleagues at this meeting and are willing to listen to their comments. In keeping with established practice, they will be given the floor under Rule 37 of the Provisional Rules of Procedure of the Security Council. We do not see how changing the speaking order would make their voice carry more weight. In addition, as shown by the discussion on the situation in Yemen last week, the position of the Yemeni colleagues who spoke after Council members was very clearly conveyed. Equally unconvincing are our French colleagues' arguments that such a selective approach would help to optimize the Council's discussions. Colleagues, the speaking order has long been established for specific agenda items and agreed upon by all members of the Council. Any changes to it are not a decision that should be made by the President of the Council automatically, but ought to be the outcome of discussion with all Council members. These kinds of actions simply set a dangerous precedent under which certain delegations are granted the right to speak preferentially at the top of the list of speakers, while others are denied that same right. So we call on the French presidency to think about what they're doing and not to test our patience and that of other delegations with this unilateral and disrespectful attitude toward other Council members. Thank you. France · President of the Council [4:51]: I thank the representative of Russia for that statement and now give the floor to China. China [5:00]: President, inviting the countries concerned to participate in Security Council meetings is an important working method of the Council. China has consistently maintained that when discussing relevant issues, the Council should give due attention to the views of the countries concerned. China also respects the discretion of the President of the Security Council in conducting meetings. At the same time, we believe that making an exception is one thing, and forming an established practice is another. With regard to procedural arrangements such as the order of speakers, the President should respect long-established practice and make decisions by consensus after full consultation with Council members, based on the Rules of Procedure. The fact that a permanent member of the Security Council has repeatedly expressed concerns on this matter warrants serious consideration in order to better preserve the Council's unity and cooperation. I would also like to emphasize that China's remarks above are not directed at the country concerned or at the subject of today's meeting. China welcomes the representative of Yemen to today's meeting and to make remarks. Thank you, President. France · President of the Council [6:38]: I thank China for those remarks, and I thank the two representatives for their explanations. As indicated, after lengthy discussions with Council members, It was important for the Presidency that the representative of Yemen be able to take the floor immediately after the briefing of the ASG Khairi, in accordance with the spirit and letter of paragraph 36 of the Presidential Note, that is S/2024/507, so that the Council has before it the remarks of the country primarily concerned by this issue. In accordance with Article, with Rule 37 of the Council's provisional procedure, I invite the representatives of Saudi Arabia and Yemen to participate in this meeting. It is so decided. In accordance with Rule 39 of the Council's Provisional Rules of Procedure, I invite Mr. Khaled Khairi, Assistant Secretary-General, Departments of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs and Peace Operations, to participate in this meeting. It is so decided. The. Council will now begin its consideration of item 2 of the agenda, and I give the floor to Mr. Khalid Khairi. UN Secretariat · Assistant Secretary-General · Khaled Khairi [8:27]: Mr. President, the situation in and around the Bab el-Mandeb Strait has become increasingly volatile in recent days. Further to the briefing of Special Envoy Grundberg to this Council on 10 September, fighting has intensified along Yemen's west coast. as the Houthis continued their advance toward the Bab el-Mandeb strait, reportedly capturing several islands in the southern Red Sea. According to maritime tracking sites, commercial shipping flows through the Red Sea appears to remain unaffected for the time being. Nevertheless, the Houthi advance has added to market concerns amid continuing disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz. In parallel, the government of Yemen reportedly launched a counteroffensive following the Houthis' advances over the past week, with localized clashes reported across several frontlines in Marib, Lahj, Al-Jawf, Hajjah, Al-Bayda, and Saada. The counteroffensive reportedly includes extensive airstrikes, also extending to Taiz. Unconfirmed estimates indicate hundreds of combatant casualties in recent days. Mr. President, the impact of these hostilities also extends to the civilian population, forcing people to flee their homes, causing civilian casualties, and putting already-stretched humanitarian operations under growing pressure. Our colleagues from the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, OCHA, warn that at least 125,000 people have now been displaced across Yemen since the start of the month. Over the same period, the United Nations Human Rights Office has reported 40 civilian casualties, eight people killed and 32 injured. Women and children account for half of those killed and more than half of those injured. Meanwhile, across the Red Sea in Djibouti, United Nations teams are working closely with the Government of Djibouti in response to the arrival of people fleeing the latest escalation of conflict in Yemen. As of 14 September, approximately 2,300 people had arrived in the Obock region in northern Djibouti. Registration is continuing and further arrivals are expected. We call on all parties to protect civilians, respect international and humanitarian law, and facilitate safe and unimpeded humanitarian access so that urgently needed assistance can reach communities in need. Mr. President, the ongoing escalation is not limited to the Bab el-Mandeb Strait and Yemen. On 14 September, the spokesperson for the Saudi coalition forces said 13 individuals were injured and seven residences were damaged in Houthi missile and drone strike on Abha, Khamis Mushait, and Taif in Saudi Arabia. On 12th of September, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia condemned the targeting of the East-West pipeline in the Riyadh and Medina regions by several drones reportedly launched from an area inside Iraq. The attacks reportedly resulted in injuries and material damage. The strikes caused the pipeline to shut down for repairs, interrupting the crucial arteries Saudi Arabia had been using as an alternative to the Strait of Hormuz. In a statement, the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs indicated it had decided to avoid escalatory countermeasures following a request from Iraq's prime minister. On 12th of September, the office of the Iraqi prime minister released a statement expressing appreciation for the kingdom's response to the efforts made by Iraq to contain the situation. The statement also noted that Prime Minister Al-Zaidi had ordered an urgent investigation into the attacks and the parties behind them. Iraq also reaffirmed that its territory and airspace will not be a launching pad for aggression against any state. Mr. President, on 14th of September, the Houthis claimed to have targeted the King Khalid Air Base in Hamis Mushait. in southern Saudi Arabia with several ballistic missile and drones in response to and I quote 300 Saudi air strikes of the past 5 days end quote this follows an earlier attack on 8th September on civilian and economic targets across Abha Khamis Mushait Jizan and Najran in southern Saudi Arabia reportedly injuring 73 civilians including women and children we reiterate our firm condemnation of Houthi cross-border attacks on civilian and energy infrastructure in Saudi Arabia. Navigational rights and freedoms in and around the Red Sea and the Bab el-Mandeb strait must be fully restored and respected by all in accordance with international law and consistent with the relevant resolution of this Council, including resolution 2722. We remain concerned by the continued intensification of military clashes across multiple frontlines in Yemen, and call upon all parties to exercise restraint, prevent further escalation, and engage constructively with United Nations-led political efforts. Mr. President, we remain deeply concerned by the continued instability affecting another critical maritime waterway in the region, the Strait of Hormuz. Navigational rights and freedoms in and around international maritime corridors must be fully restored and respected in accordance with international law. The longer the Strait remains choked, the higher the cost globally. Further escalation risks grave consequences for international peace and security, global energy markets, food security, and the economies of countries that beyond the region, particularly the most vulnerable. All parties must take every feasible precaution to protect civilian vessels, crews, and infrastructure. Mr. President, developments around the Bab el-Mandeb underline the urgent need to prevent Yemen's conflict from further threatening the security of the Red Sea and this vital international maritime route. What is needed now is sustained engagement that reduces tensions prevents further escalation and safeguards freedom of navigation. The parties in Yemen should prioritize dialogue and engage constructively with United Nations-led efforts toward a negotiated political solution. France · President of the Council [15:24]: I thank Mr. Kerry for that briefing, and now give the floor to the representative of Yemen. Yemen [15:37]: At the outset, I would like to thank you, Mr. President, for convening this emergency session. And I would like to thank the members of the Council for responding at a time when Houthi escalation has ceased to be a national affair. nor a crisis that can be contained within the borders of our country, but rather a growing threat to the security of the region, freedom of navigation, energy supplies, and one of the most important arteries of global trade. I thank Mr. Khalid Khayri for his valuable briefing. A few days ago, Mr. President, on the 10th of September, the Republic of Yemen stood before this esteemed council and presented before you a clear picture of the military escalation carried out by the terrorist Houthi militia. Yemen warned of the risks of treating any Houthi aggression as a temporary threat and then returning to the policy of containment and waiting for the next attack. We specifically warned against Houthi militias' attempts to impose military action by force on the western coast of Yemen and Bab al-Mandab. We said that Yemenis, as they defend their land, waters, and sea corridors, are in fact defending a common international interest. Today, we are no longer warning of this danger. We see it taking shape before our eyes. Mr. President, the Yemeni government is addressing the recent developments in the West Coast and Bab al-Mandab with responsibility and determination, and with full confidence in its ability to absorb the repercussions, regain control, and turn these developments into an opportunity to strengthen our national unity, reorganize our capabilities, and redirect them towards the Yemeni people's overarching goal of restoring state institutions and ending the Houthi threat. We assure our partners in the region and the world that these developments, no matter how grave they become, will not change the course or the objective of our battle, nor will a new reality be imposed by force, these conditions will only make the government and national forces more determined to protect Yemen's sovereignty and the security of its water corridors. The militias had previously believed that their capture of the capital and state institutions by force had become a final reality. That was before Yemenis retook Aden, other cities, and more than 70 percent of the country's territory. Today, this extremist terrorist group will once again fail to turn any battleground gains into a reality. Our armed forces are regrouping, regaining control and working to prevent militias from turning their presence on the coast into a permanent platform to threaten Bab el-Mandeb and international navigation. The concern of our armed forces for the lives of Somalians and their commitment to the rules of engagement and international humanitarian law is neither helplessness nor hesitance. It is the difference between a state that protects its citizens and a militia that throws them into the battlefield and uses their areas of residence as cover for its subversive project. The Republic of Yemen will continue to exercise its sovereign right and constitutional duty to liberate its entire territory, protect its territorial waters and sea corridors, prevent their use to threaten Yemenis or their neighbors, and prevent their use to threaten international peace and security. Mr. President, Bab al-Mandab Strait is Yemeni land and water, but its interests and the interests it protects, rather, extend to affect all countries of this planet. Every ship that crosses this strait, every shipment, every energy shipment, and every supply chain that depends on it makes its security part of the economic security of countries thousands of kilometers away from Yemen. Therefore, Yemenis who are defending their coasts, waters, and the Bab al-Mandab Strait today are not only fulfilling a national duty, they are standing on the front lines of defense of an international corridor on which the entire world's interests hinge. There is a fact that should not be lost on this Council. Yemen is not asking the world to defend it. Yemen is already defending the interests of the world. The question is whether the world will recognize that protecting this interest is a shared responsibility, or whether the world will leave Yemenis standing alone to bear the cost of protecting a corridor that everyone needs. The question is no longer who controls a few kilometers of the coast. The question is whether the international community will accept for one of the world's most important gateways for trade and energy to become a blackmail card in the hands of a transnational terrorist group. The ongoing Houthi attacks on the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the targeting of cities, civilian facilities, and energy sources are not separate events from the escalation in Yemen and Bab al-Mandab. They are part and parcel of a single architecture of violent threats that use Yemeni territory, missiles, drone, and sand and sea corridors to serve a regional agenda that far surpasses the interests of Yemen and its people. We see the targeting of energy facilities and their supply chains as an attempt to expand the cost of the pressure on the Iranian regime to blame the region and the global economy on part of it and to turn energy and sea corridors into tools of pressure as an extension of the equation of threat and blackmail in the Strait of Hormuz. We stand firmly by the brotherly Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and its inherent right to defend its territory, citizens, and national capabilities in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations. Yemenis will long remember the Kingdom's fraternal and unwavering stance alongside their state and people, and standing alongside the Yemenis in the battle to restore state institutions and protect security and stability in Yemen and the region. We also appreciate the clear positions on the part of the countries that have condemned Houthi escalation, refused to condone the targeting of the Kingdom, affirmed the rights of Yemen and Saudi Arabia to protect their security and sovereignty, and warned of the gravity of the threat to Bab al-Mandab and international navigation. But this new phase calls for more than condemnation. What is required today is to build a deterrent system that prevents militias from turning Yemeni land into an open threat platform that threatens the region and the world. This must be done through the effective implementation of the arms embargo, putting an end to financing and smuggling networks, preventing the flow of military personnel, technology, and expertise, and strengthening the abilities of the Yemeni state and its partners to protect coasts, ports, territorial waters, and sea corridors. You must trust, Your Excellencies, that the Yemeni government will not abandon its responsibility to protect its citizens and the sovereignty of its territory. Yemen's armed forces are doing their utmost to deter the threat and to reach full liberation and to end the protracted suffering of the Yemeni people. But the security of Bab al-Mandab and the Red Sea is a responsibility that goes beyond Yemen, because the threat emanating from it does not ask about the ship's nationality or the state that will pay the bill when trade is disrupted and energy prices rise. There is another dimension to this danger that we should not overlook. The Yemeni coast and Bab al-Mandab Strait are at the confluence of a highly fragile security environment that extends into the Horn of Africa, where terrorist groups and organized networks for illicit trafficking and smuggling of arms, drugs, and human beings are active. Therefore, allowing an armed militia to establish its presence on this strategic corridor along coasts already plagued by the activity of terrorist groups and smuggling networks, threatens to turn the two banks of Bab al-Mandeb into an interconnected operating environment for extremist groups and organized crime networks. This danger may go far beyond missiles and drones, as it relates to threats to global interests, the smuggling of arms, drugs, fighters, military personnel, human trafficking, and the creation of areas where terrorist groups and criminal networks can exchange illicit interests, services, and resources. Here, the world should not wait for this environment to form and only then start looking at how to dismantle it. Preventing its formation today will cost us much less than trying to counter it tomorrow. The Houthi militias began with an armed coup against the national consensus and state institutions in September of 2014. Then they directed their missiles and drones at neighboring countries. Then commercial ships and international corridors became part of the scope of the threat. Today, Bab al-Mandeb is at the heart of the equation. Thus, every time terrorist groups did not find a real cost to escalation, they elevated the threat level. Therefore, the belief that this threat will stop on its own accord at the borders of the Red Sea is not a realistic expectation, because the undeterred threat is expanding. This non-state party weapon is looking for a new target, and any extortion that it carries out that is rewarded today will return tomorrow much more dangerous. Amid these strategic and security calculations, there is a simpler and more painful truth. Yemenis are the ones who pay the price first. We see the dead and wounded. We see families forcibly displaced from their homes and tens of thousands of displaced people, some of whom found themselves facing a second or third displacement after years of hoping that the war had begun to subside. But I don't want to turn the suffering of Yemenis into a series of numbers as I speak before this Council. I will make my point by painting you one picture, a picture of a child called Mohammed Ali Jassar. He was 11 years old. He was in the fifth grade of primary school. Mohammed's natural place was his school, but the Houthi militias threw him into a war he did not choose. He ended up as a child on a battlefield that should have no place for a child. This child, Mohammed, has an older brother who is 16 years old. He has been detained by the Houthis for more than two years because he refused to fight on the battlefield. And the Houthis are asking for a giant ransom of the family in order to release him. Mohammed is no exception. He is one of the tens of thousands of children who are being recruited and mobilized by the Houthi militias. These militias are including huge numbers of children into their programs and camps of mobilization during school holidays. These children are not soldiers, they are children. The natural place for a Yemeni child is family and school, not barricades and cemeteries. This is the picture we present to you today. A militia that threatens a neighboring country, a neighboring country that has always proven to be the most important lever for the security and stability and prosperity of the region. A militia that targets energy facilities, that tries to turn Bab al-Mandab into a tool of extortion, that feeds on weapons and smuggling networks, that moves the world into a regional environment where the interests of terrorist groups and organized crime can intersect, is at home also involving children in war. In contrast, the Yemeni state is upholding its responsibility. The armed forces are fighting to regain lands and institutions, and Yemen is protecting this international corridor and its global interests. Therefore, the equation is not a battle between two parties, a member state of the UN. It is not a fight between two equal parties. It is between a member state of the United Nations that seeks to restore its legitimate monopoly on arms and the decisions of war and peace, and an armed group, on the other hand, that wants to turn arms, geography, and international corridors into a platform for extortion and illegal funding. Therefore, Yemenis are going to restore their national institutions on every inch of their land, because the future of Yemen cannot be left to a state within a state to decide. The decision on war and peace cannot be made outside of its institutions. The question today is not whether Yemenis will restore the institutions of their state. The question is, will the international community stand with them now as they defend their state and a common interest with the world, or will it wait until the cost of restoring security in Yemen, the Red Sea, and Bab al-Mandab becomes greater for everyone? The choice is not between war and peace. The choice is between a country that extends its hand to be the basis for sustainable peace in accordance with the agreed terms of reference for a political solution and the relevant Security Council resolutions, for most of which is Resolution 2216. and, on the other hand, an armed militia that reproduces war and extortion whenever it has the time and resources to do so. The Yemeni people have chosen the state, they have chosen the peace that the state is protecting, and they will move forward to achieve this goal. We hope that the international community has also chosen its decisive position and realized that there is no way to achieve peace and stability in Yemen and the region, except to end this absurdity and this threat, and not to allow armed militias to impose their will on the peoples and blackmail the world and its vital corridors. In this context, we call on the Security Council to do the following: Condemn the ongoing Houthi escalation, including the targeting of civilians, displacement camps, and civilian objects inside Yemen, as well as attacks on Saudi Arabia and ongoing threats and attacks against commercial vessels and international navigation. Hold the Houthi militias responsible for this escalation and its humanitarian and security repercussions, and avoid any language that equates the terrorist Houthi militias with the state that exercises its right and duty to protect its citizens and sovereignty in accordance with international law. Third, ensure the full and effective implementation of Security Council Resolutions 2140, 2216, and 2722. halt the flow of weapons, technology, expertise, and funding that enable the Houthi militias to continue their attacks, and hold accountable those who violate the measures imposed by the Council. support the government of Yemen and its institutions in extending its authority and sovereignty over the territory, coasts, ports, and territorial waters of the Republic of Yemen, along with strengthening the capacities of the armed forces, navy, coast guard, and law enforcement agencies in order to enable the state to protect its citizens, prevent arms smuggling, and secure sea corridors. Fifth, respond urgently to the growing humanitarian needs of displaced people and host communities, and ensure that resources are available to protect civilians and meet their basic needs. In conclusion, Mr. President, we hope that this meeting will be the beginning of a different international position. position which will make this year a year to turn the page on militias and wars and to open a new page for Yemen and the region titled state peace and stability thank you. France · President of the Council [33:10]: I thank the representative of Yemen for that statement I now give the floor to council members who wish to take the floor I give the floor to the Kingdom of Bahrain president. Bahrain [33:25]: We thank the French presidency for its call to convene this emergency meeting. We thank ASG Khaled Khayati for his briefing, and we welcome the participation of the permanent representative of the sisterly Republic of Yemen, and we thank him for his briefing. And we also welcome the permanent representative of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. President, the Kingdom of Bahrain joined the UK, Latvia, Greece, and the Kingdom of Denmark in calling for this meeting to discuss the threats posed by the terrorist Houthi militias to the security of navigation in Bab el-Mandeb Strait and the Red Sea, as well as their ongoing attacks against the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, as well as within the Republic of Yemen. these terrorist Houthi militias have pursued their hostile conduct, namely that of undermining security and stability in the region, entrenching their role as a tool to threaten regional and international peace and security. We wish to recall the statement of the Kingdom of Bahrain In last week's meeting, we condemned the escalation by the terrorist Houthi militia, which constitutes a clear violation of the truce. It constitutes a growing threat to the security of Yemen and the region. This is demonstrated by the seizure by the militia of the coastal city of Mukha and a large part of the Yemeni west coast, including the islands of Mayun, Haneesh, and the Red Sea. This threatens the security and safety of navigation, as well as international waterways in Bab el-Mandeb Strait and the Red Sea. This has had daunting humanitarian consequences within Yemen, compelling many civilians to leave their homes, fleeing hostilities, while the country is facing a daunting humanitarian crisis already. Amid this escalation, the Houthi militias have renewed on the 8th of September their attacks against the KSA, targeting civilians and civilian infrastructure. The Kingdom of Bahrain reiterates its condemnation of these attacks, including the shelling of Tawal Governorate in Jazan, as well as the cities of Khamis Mushait, Abha, and Taif, killing or leading to injuries and damage to civilian infrastructure, including residential homes and mosques. The East-West pipeline in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has also been targeted and thereby disrupted. The Kingdom of Bahrain reiterates its solidarity with the KSA and the legitimate government of the Republic of Yemen. We reiterate our steadfast support to any legitimate measures undertaken to ensure the protection of their security, sovereignty, and territorial integrity against repeated attacks and threats under Article 51 of the United Nations Charter. President, despite the Council's condemnation, the terrorist Houthi militias continue to arbitrarily detain United Nations, civil society, and diplomatic staff. thereby disregarding calls for their immediate release, including by the Security Council. Despite repeated condemnation by the Security Council, the Houthi militias continue to threaten and disrupt navigations and important maritime lifelines, and they continue to attack neighboring countries and targeting civilians and civilian infrastructure. That conduct by the Houthi militias have rendered the souls of Yemeni civilians fodder for conflicts that do not serve Yemen, and their future has become a cost for agendas that are far away from Yemen's territories and interests. The reality that can no longer be ignored is that the international community has failed to impose decisive measures to deter this ongoing conduct by the terrorist Houthi militias. It is high time for the Security Council to undertake a more decisive stance after the fact that these terrorist militias squandered every opportunity for confidence building and have proven over and over that they remain the main impediment against peace that the Yemeni people aspires for. They have proven that they have become a tool for destabilization in the region. And as we reiterated last week, the Kingdom of Bahrain calls for an immediate and strict implementation of the arms embargo under Security Council resolutions, including 2216, as well as the strengthening of enforcement mechanisms to ensure the end of the flow of weapons and its components to the Houthi militias. We call for accountability for those who have committed these violations and the implementation of the listing criteria in Resolution 2801, including the provisions of paragraph 12 regarding transboundary launching of ballistic missiles, as well as the expansion of these criteria to include attacks launched via UAVs. The scope of reporting must also be expanded to include attacks against neighboring countries and their vital infrastructure, including attacks against commercial vessels, so that the entire world understands the full picture of the scale of Houthi violations, thereby documenting and standing as a witness to these crimes and the crimes of the militia's backers. We reiterate our steadfast support to sustainable and comprehensive peace in Yemen. We reiterate our support to the legitimate government of Yemen and the efforts by the Special Envoy to pave the way for a comprehensive and sustainable political solution that safeguards the unity, sovereignty, and independence of Yemen to realize the aspirations of its people for security, stability, and prosperity. I thank you. France · President of the Council [40:43]: I thank the representative of the Kingdom of Bahrain for that statement. I give the floor to the representative of the United Kingdom. United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland [40:49]: Thank you, President, and I thank Assistant Secretary-General Kyari for his briefing, and I welcome the representatives of Yemen and Saudi Arabia to this meeting. The United Kingdom joined the Kingdom of Bahrain, Denmark, France, Greece and Latvia in calling today's meeting because in recent days the Houthis have continued their reckless attacks against Saudi Arabia, escalated military operations inside Yemen and further endangered international shipping and regional stability. The United Kingdom strongly condemns these actions. Overnight, Houthi attacks against Saudi Arabia reportedly injured a further 13 civilians, damaged homes and residential areas, and disrupted commercial aviation. The Houthis have sought to consolidate control along Yemen's Red Sea coast and around the Bab al-Mandab Strait. These actions pose a direct threat to one of the world's most important shipping routes and to the freedom of navigation on which the global economy depends. The impact is felt first and hardest by developing countries. The Houthis bear full responsibility for this escalation. We stand in solidarity with Saudi Arabia and the Government of Yemen in the face of these attacks, and reaffirm their right to defend their security and sovereignty in accordance with international law. President, the humanitarian consequences of Houthi actions are becoming increasingly severe. More than 126,000 people have now been displaced, and that number is likely to grow. Humanitarian agencies have warned around the impact around Marib, which already hosts one of Yemen's largest displaced populations. Alongside displacement, we're seeing signs of rising food insecurity, as well as growing health and protection needs, particularly for women and children. We are deeply concerned by reports of increasing civilian harm, including impacts on displaced people, civilian infrastructure, schools, homes and other protected sites. Humanitarian access has been further disrupted, preventing assistance from reaching extremely vulnerable populations. The Houthis' continued detention of humanitarian, UN and diplomatic mission personnel remains unacceptable. We call for their immediate and unconditional release. Finally, this escalation did not occur in a vacuum. Iran's long-standing support to the Houthis continues to enable attacks that threaten civilians, neighboring states, maritime security and prospects for peace. The Council's resolutions, including resolutions 2140 and 2216, are clear. All member states must fully implement their obligations, including measures to prevent the transfer of arms and military support to the Houthis. President, the United Kingdom remains steadfast in its support for the UN-led peace process and the efforts of Special Envoy Grunberg. But there can be no progress towards peace while the Houthis continue their military offensive, their attacks against Saudi Arabia, their threats to international shipping, and their obstruction of humanitarian action. Today, the council should deliver a simple and united message: the Houthis must cease their attacks, release detained personnel, de-escalate immediately and return towards the pathway to peace. Thank you. France · President of the Council [44:22]: I thank the representative of the United Kingdom for that statement. I now give the floor to Latvia. Latvia [44:29]: Thank you, Mr. President. I thank the French presidency for convening this urgent meeting, and I also thank the SG Kyari for his briefing, and welcome the participation of the representatives of Yemen and Saudi Arabia to this meeting. Latvia condemns in the strongest terms the Houthis' continued attacks against Saudi Arabia and the resumed hostilities in Yemen, including advances that threaten the Bab al-Mandab Strait. The Bab al-Mandab Strait and the Red Sea are vital arteries of global commerce, and their waters must not become a theater for intimidation and hostilities. The security of international maritime navigation is not negotiable. Commercial vessels exercising their rights and freedoms of navigation in accordance with international law, including the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, must be able to transit safely and unhindered. We call on the Houthis to immediately halt all threats and attacks, both within Yemen and beyond its borders, including attacks against commercial shipping, and to respect the fundamental principles governing freedom of navigation. The continued flow of weapons and other support to the Houthis, including from Iran, is further contributing to regional destabilization. Effective implementation of the arms embargo is therefore essential to curbing Houthi's capacity to sustain hostilities and reducing the risk of further escalation. An embargo that is not fully and collectively enforced cannot fulfill its purpose, and we are witnessing the consequences of this today. Let me therefore call for full compliance with the relevant decisions of this Council. Mr. President, the impacts of the renewed fighting extend far beyond the battlefield. Since our urgent briefing last week, continued fighting along Yemen's west coast has led to a manifold increase in displacement. Last week, citing data from IOM, I mentioned that approximately 18,500 people had been displaced in just 72 hours following the escalation of hostilities on 3rd of September. The latest data show that this number has now exceeded 93,000. We're also witnessing the spillover of humanitarian consequences across Yemen's borders into neighboring regions, notably in Africa. More than 2,000 people are fleeing violence and have already reached Djibouti's northern shores. And this movement is a stark warning of the wider regional, humanitarian, and security crisis that this escalation can bring about. Mr. President, renewed hostilities represent another serious setback of efforts to bring Yemen's devastating conflict to a negotiated and lasting end. There is no military path to lasting peace in Yemen. And parties, all parties, must exercise restraint, abide by international humanitarian law, reject further escalation, and return to meaningful negotiations. At the same time, we recognize the right of the government of Yemen and Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to defend themselves. But we continue to stand with the people of Yemen and to uphold the country's unity, sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity. Latvia remains fully committed to a comprehensive, inclusive and sustainable Yemeni-led and Yemeni-owned political process facilitated by the United Nations. In this endeavour, the sustained efforts of the UN Special Envoy, Hans Kronberg, remain of vital importance, and Latvia reiterates its firm support for his tireless efforts at this critical juncture. The Council's engagement will be essential to maintaining international attention on Yemen and, above all, to ensuring that the aspirations of the Yemeni people are not lost amid the political and humanitarian challenges facing this country. I thank. France · President of the Council [48:33]: You. I thank the representative of Latvia for that statement. I now give the floor to Greece. Greece [48:40]: I would like to thank the Presidency for scheduling this urgent meeting. days only after the Council convened on the same issue. I also thank Assistant Secretary General Kyari for his briefing and welcome the presence of the Permanent Representatives of Yemen and Saudi Arabia to this meeting. I will raise four points. First, Greece strongly condemns the expansion of hostilities, including the continuous attacks against civilian population and critical infrastructure in Saudi Arabia, which have led to civilian casualties. Despite the repeated appeals to the contrary, the Houthis continue on the path of military escalation, bringing Yemen to the brink of a full-scale conflict. We urge their immediate and unconditional cessation. We express our solidarity with Saudi Arabia and the Government of Yemen in their efforts to defend their sovereignty and territorial integrity in accordance with international law. Second, these hostilities are compounded by rapid military advancement of the Houthis along the west coast of Yemen, as well as their capture of Al-Mokha port and the islands of Greater and Lesser Haneesh off the coast of the strategically vital Bab al-Mandeb Strait. This signals a dangerous turning point for the security of the Red Sea. These developments, coupled with the prolonged crisis in the Strait of Hormuz, have far-reaching implications for the security and stability of Yemen and the wider region. The consequences extend further still to international maritime security and to global trade and prosperity. For Greece, as one of the world's leading maritime nations, this is a matter of particular importance. Recent attacks against shipping across the wider region, including against Greek-owned vessels, make clear the urgent need to protect those who work at sea and ensure the uninterrupted flow of international commerce. Freedom of navigation and transit passage must be fully respected and safeguarded in accordance with international law, including UNCLOS. Rights of passage through international straits cannot be made subject to unlawful restrictions, discriminatory measures, fees, or prior authorizations. The Bab al-Mandeb Strait remains a critical international waterway in the Gulf region, serving as a vital corridor for international trade and transportation of energy and essential goods. Ensuring freedom of navigation and safe passage through this strategic maritime route is therefore essential for the resilience of global trade and supply chains. Greece will continue its steadfast engagement in safeguarding freedom of navigation and ensuring the safe passage of commercial vessels through its active role in EU naval operation, as with this, in line with its defensive mandate and in accordance with international law. Furthermore, all Member States must fully comply with their obligations under Security Council Resolutions 2140 and 2216 and relevant subsequent resolutions with respect to the implementation of the targeted arms embargo. Alongside the military developments, the humanitarian consequences of the Houthis' continued military actions are gravely concerning, including the further displacement of civilians from their homes and communities, with women and children among those most vulnerable to the devastating effects of the conflict. We urge all parties to fully abide by their obligations under international humanitarian law, including the protection of civilians and infrastructure and to facilitate safe, rapid and unhindered humanitarian access to all those in need. The growing number of internally displaced persons puts an additional burden on an already fragile humanitarian situation. The continued arbitrary detentions by the Houthis of diplomatic staff and numerous humanitarian personnel, including 73 UN staff members, is strongly condemned. We reiterate our call for their immediate and unconditional release. Finally, Mr. President, we must not lose sight of the political process. All parties should immediately de-escalate and work to preserve the necessary space for dialogue and diplomacy. Channels of communication must remain open. We stand by the side of the Special Envoy Grunberg in his efforts towards achieving this objective, in full respect of Yemen's sovereignty, territorial integrity, unity, and political independence. Only through sustained engagement and a genuine commitment to dialogue can the parties find a way back to the negotiating table with a view to a lasting and comprehensive political settlement in Yemen. I thank you. France · President of the Council [54:10]: I thank the representative of Greece for that statement. I think it's for Denmark. Denmark [54:17]: And let me also thank Assistant Secretary-General Riadi for his briefing. Madam President, Denmark condemns the continued attacks by the Houthis in Yemen and against Saudi Arabia. The Houthis are targeting civilian infrastructure and innocent civilians, which is a flagrant violation of international humanitarian law. These attacks undermine efforts to secure peace in Yemen and risk to further destabilize the wider region. We call on the Houthis to immediately end all attacks inside and outside Yemen, including attacks against commercial shipping in the Red Sea. Denmark also condemns Iran's support to the Houthis. Madam President, we are deeply alarmed by the Houthis claiming control of more islands and territory in and along the Bab el-Mandeb strait. This could have significant repercussions for maritime security and global supplies. As a major maritime nation, Denmark remains fully committed to ensuring the freedom of navigation and the stability of global supply chains in the Red Sea and beyond for the benefit of global trade and development. It is essential that the international community continues to uphold freedom of navigation, not least in the world's most critical waterways, in accordance with international law. Neither the Houthis nor Iran can be allowed to take this freedom away. The denial of unhindered passage in the Strait of Hormuz and Bab el-Mandeb is driving up energy and food prices. This has made food insecurity a very real and eminent threat that is severely impacting, in particular, the most vulnerable people, especially in conflict situations. We strongly urge the Houthis to cease their escalatory attacks on commercial vessels and preserve freedom of navigation in accordance with Security Council resolutions. Madam President, more than 125,000 people have been displaced in Yemen during the two weeks of increased fighting. They must be able to move safely and have access to food, water, health care, and other essential services. With more than 22 million people, half the population, across Yemen already in dire need of humanitarian aid, the recent escalation deepens the suffering of Yemenis who have already endured more than a decade of conflict. Any further disruptions and impediments to humanitarian aid could have catastrophic consequences. Madam President, in closing. The Houthi attacks not only threaten maritime security in the Red Sea, but seriously undermine peace efforts in Yemen. Once again, we call on the Houthis to cease their attacks and provocations and engage constructively in Special Envoy Gronberg's efforts to end the conflict, which has had a devastating impact on millions of Yemenis. I thank you. France · President of the Council [57:13]: Thank you, Representative of Denmark, and I'll give the floor to Pakistan. Pakistan [57:19]: Thank you, Madam President. I would like to thank Assistant Secretary General Khaled Khairi for his briefing. We also welcome the participation of the distinguished representatives of Yemen and Saudi Arabia to this meeting. President, the very fact that the Council is meeting again in less than one week speaks to the urgency and gravity of the rapidly deteriorating situation in Yemen. Houthi military escalation inside Yemen and the continued Houthi attacks against the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the latest military developments along Yemen's Red Sea coast have brought the conflict to an extremely dangerous juncture. Pakistan condemns in the strongest terms all Houthi attacks against the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Yesterday, Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif, in his conversation with His Royal Highness Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, reiterated Pakistan's strong condemnation of these attacks and underscored that they threaten regional peace and stability with serious consequences for the global economy and energy security. Pakistan will continue its earnest efforts at the highest levels to help defuse tensions and advance peace and stability in the region. Pakistan reaffirms its unwavering support for the sovereignty, territorial integrity, security, and prosperity of Saudi Arabia, and stands in complete solidarity with its leadership, government, and brotherly people of the kingdom. And consistent with the UN Charter and international law, Pakistan fully supports the kingdom's legitimate right to take all necessary measures to defend its territory, protect its citizens, and safeguard its national assets against any threat. Well, President, the expansion of Houthi attacks in and around Bab al-Mandab, this vital maritime corridor, represents a serious escalation. Combined with continued violations of international law against commercial shipping, these developments pose a growing threat to freedom of navigation and the uninterrupted flow of international maritime commerce. Any attempt to threaten, obstruct, or weaponize the vital waterways will have consequences for international trade and commercial shipping, global supply chains, and energy security. The relative calm painstakingly maintained in Yemen since 2022 has unfortunately collapsed. Continued escalation risks reigniting a full-scale conflict and drawing Yemen deeper into the wider regional confrontation. This must be prevented. The current developments further exacerbate the already dire humanitarian situation in Yemen, compounding the suffering of the Yemeni people. Diplomacy must assume urgency in proportion to the gravity of this situation. We strongly support the resumption of an inclusive, Yemeni-led and Yemeni-owned political process under United Nations auspices And in this regard, appreciate the Special Envoy for his continued engagement. President, Pakistan will continue to support all sincere efforts towards de-escalation, dialogue, and a comprehensive political settlement that can bring lasting peace and stability to Yemen and the wider region. I thank you. France · President of the Council [1:01:21]: I thank the representative of Pakistan. I now give the floor to the Russian Federation. Russian Federation [1:01:28]: Madam President, we think we would like, Madam President, we would like to express that we were surprised by the reaction of your PR to the Chinese hour and the Chinese statements as if they had never heard, that he hadn't heard what we had said. The French presidency would not let that slide. Madam President, we thank ASG Hiari for that briefing. The current multipolitical situation around Yemen is cause for the gravest of concern. The country is undergoing one of its most acute periods of escalation over the past few years. We discussed what has happening there in this room less than a week ago. Unfortunately, since then, the situation has deteriorated. Hostilities between the two sides are intensifying. The Houthi advance along the country's Red Sea coast is encountering fierce resistance by forces affiliated with the official Yemeni authorities. Unfortunately, there is no indication that there is any trend toward calm. The problem also lies in the fact that this initially internal conflict is now spilling beyond national borders and has repercussions affecting the entire Middle East. We're very concerned by the consequent destabilization of navigation in the Red Sea and the Bab al-Mandeb Strait. Trade routes passing through these waters are a key artery for international trade and global economic chains. Free and safe navigation in this part of the world is the key to sustainable shipping, not only of commercial, but also of humanitarian cargo. The latter, in turn, is critically important for providing aid to the many countries that are in difficult socioeconomic situations, including Yemen itself, the majority population of which has been living under severe constraints for years. Russia condemns attacks on civilian vessels, wherever they may take place. These jeopardize the freedom and security of ships, life and health of seafarers, and integrity of cargo. These actions create additional risks for a already destabilized region. We once again call on the leadership of Ansar Allah to stop any actions that may pose a threat to commercial ships and their crews in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden. We hope that they will show restraint, demonstrate responsible behavior, and will strive to resolve the accumulation of disputes with their neighbors, not through threats, but through negotiations. However, we believe that under the current difficult circumstances, cool heads should prevail in the Council as well. The reaction of this body, empowered to prevent threats to international peace and security, ought to be rational, carefully weighed, and most importantly, commensurate with what is happening on the ground. The unfortunate experience of resolution 2722 of the Council, provisions of which were then misconstrued by a number of its members, stands as a warning to us against rash and hasty action. We view this approach to be destructive for what prospects for a settlement remain. Madam President, the problem of navigation in the Red Sea and the Bab el-Mandeb Strait cannot be viewed in isolation from developments within Yemen itself. We would like to recall that the root cause of all of the problems in the waters near Yemen is the long-festering armed conflict with its periodic outbreaks of violence. Attempts to resolve this conflict so far have not produced tangible results. Temporary periods of calm on the ground are regularly replaced by new more dangerous waves of violence. Therefore, Russia calls for the most rapid possible de-escalation in and around Yemen through stepping up efforts to renew inclusive political diplomatic dialogue under UN auspices. All relevant political forces in the country should take part in this process, including Ansar Allah. It's also more important than ever for regional players that have real influence over the parties in Yemen to effectively support this process. Without their coordinated efforts, this process may very well stagnate. We assume that all parties in Yemen will adhere to this logic, including Ansar Allah, as well as regional actors involved. For its part, Russia will continue to provide all possible support to this endeavor. In closing, we would like to express our dedication, our commitment to the unity, sovereignty, and territorial sovereignty of friendly Yemen. Thank you. France · President of the Council [1:06:28]: Thanks, representative of the Russian Federation. I now give the floor to Liberia. Liberia · A3 [1:06:36]: Thank you, Madam President. I have the honor to deliver this statement on behalf of the A3, namely the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Somalia, and my own country, Liberia. We thank Assistant Secretary General Khalid Hary for his briefing, and we welcome the participation of the permanent representatives of Yemen and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in today's meeting. Madam President, the A3 is closely following developments along Yemen's southwestern coast, including reports of changes in territorial control in and around Mayoun Island, Mokhab, Dubab, and neighboring areas. Given the strategic importance of these locations near the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, We are concerned that further changes on the ground could increase tensions, deepen mistrust among the parties, complicate efforts to resume an inclusive political process, and pose risks to regional security and international navigation. The position of the African Union remains absolute. There is no military solution to the conflict in Yemen. Force cannot substitute for statecraft, and unilateral actions will not yield sovereign stability. We reaffirm our uncompromised commitment to the sovereignty, unity, independence, and territorial integrity of Yemen. Furthermore, Any credible political process must address the concerns of all Yemenis and preserve the country's sovereignty, independence, unity, and territorial integrity. It must also respond to the economic and humanitarian pressures that continue to affect millions of Yemenis. Yemen must not become an arena for regional power projection or proxy warfare. We call on all parties to exercise maximum restraint and preserve the diplomatic space required for an inclusive Yemeni-led and Yemeni-owned political process under the auspices of the United Nations. Madam President, For Africa, the security of adjacent waters is neither distant nor abstract. The Red Sea and the Bab el Mandeb are vital lifelines linking our continent to global commerce and food supplies. Freedom of navigation is a legal cornerstone, not an optional privilege. Anchored in the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea and relevant Security Council resolutions, the safety of maritime transit must be respected. Merchant ships and civilian seafarers must never be targeted, seized, or held hostage to armed conflict. Maritime disruption imposes an intolerable tax on developing nations. Diverted routes and soaring freight and insurance rates translate directly into higher prices for imported grain, fuel, and fertilizer across Africa. Safety along vital international straits cannot fluctuate according to the calculations of armed actors. Madam President, beneath the regional geopolitics lies an unbearable humanitarian toll. Over 18 million Yemenis urgently require lifesaving humanitarian assistance. More than 2.2 million children, as we've already heard, suffer from acute malnutrition, an entire generation growing up under the shadow of deprivation and trauma. Civilian infrastructure, hospitals, and water networks cannot remain fully protected under international humanitarian law, rather must remain fully protected under international humanitarian law. The H.E. issues an unequivocal call for the immediate, safe, and unconditional release of all United Nations personnel, NGO staff, and civil society workers arbitrarily detained in Yemen. Humanitarian access must never be impeded, criminalized, or weaponized for tactical advantage. Madam President, the international community cannot remain trapped in a cycle of concern without consequence and condemnation without change. A sustainable path forward requires decisive, confidence-building measures: opening critical transit routes, securing nationwide public sector salary payments, and formalizing a permanent nationwide ceasefire. The choice before this Council is clear. We can either invest the political will required for peace today or pay the compounded price of a wider catastrophe tomorrow. Let us choose resolve over paralysis and afford the people of Yemen the lasting horizon of peace and dignity they deserve. I thank you. France · President of the Council [1:13:34]: I thank Liberia and now give the floor to the United States. United States of America [1:13:40]: Thank you, Madam President, and thank you to the Assistant Secretary General for your briefing. The situation in Yemen has further deteriorated since the Council met just five days ago to discuss the situation. Houthi forces have advanced along Yemen's Red Sea coastline, extending their presence near the Bab al-Mandeb Strait, through which roughly 12% of global trade passes. We are monitoring these developments closely with our regional partners. Houthi escalation has taken a terrible toll on civilians. The Houthis have bombed cities, displaced nearly 100,000 Yemenis, and killed a significant number of civilians. The Houthis have also destroyed tens of millions of dollars in vital port infrastructure, which the region relies on for imports of food and other essential humanitarian goods. The Houthis also continue to unjustly detain at least 20 of our local embassy staff and more than 70 UN local staff. The United States calls for their immediate and unconditional release. Beyond their disregard for Yemeni civilians, Houthi actions threaten regional and global energy security. This includes attacks on multiple tankers and the killing of at least three mariners in the process. As the government of Yemen has noted, threats to shipping raise transportation, insurance, food, fuel, and medicine costs worldwide. The Houthis' acts of terrorism also undermine regional stability. On September 14th and 15th, the Houthis launched missile and drone attacks at multiple Saudi cities, wounding 13 civilians. Thus follows their September 8th attack, which wounded more than 70, including women and children, and ignited fires at critical oil facilities. These attacks are only the latest example of Houthis' blatant disregard of Saudi sovereignty and civilian life. As President Trump has emphasized, freedom of navigation underpins the global economy, and the United States is working with our partners to protect it. The United States supports Yemen's legitimate government as it counters the Iran-backed Houthi militia. We demand that the Houthis halt their advances, withdraw from seized territory, and cease attacks. We likewise demand that the Islamic Republican of Iran cease its support for Houthi terrorist activities. This council must remain clear-eyed about Iran's role in sustaining this conflict through arming, funding, and directing the Houthis. Addressing this external support is essential to eliminating Houthi capabilities. We join the Republic of Yemen in calling on this Council to ensure effective implementation of Resolutions 2140 and 2216 and to halt the flow of arms and related material, as well as related technical assistance, training, and financial or other assistance to the Houthis. The Iranian regime is the principal violator of both resolutions. It has defied the arms embargo under Resolution 2216 and undermined the sanctions regime under Resolution 2140. This Council cannot look away from those facts. The United States will continue to work with our partners to address this situation and support long-term regional stability. Thank you. Panama [1:17:22]: Thank you, Madam President. We welcome the briefing presented by and the update given by Mr. Khaled Khairi, Assistant Secretary-General for the Middle East, Europe and the Americas, at the Departments of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs and Peace Operations, we are particularly grateful for the details provided regarding developments in the situation and recent events. We also warmly welcome to the Chamber the representative of the Republic of Yemen and of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. They honour us with their participation. President, a week ago, we met to assess what was appearing as if it would likely be a worrying state of affairs. Today, regrettably, that is indeed the situation we face. Today, we find ourselves before a situation which demands not only that we understand what happened, but also that we evaluate its possible repercussions and the alternatives that it is within our power to bring about. The possibility of facing, once again, a closure of a critical waterway is of particular concern. After approximately six months of disruptions and pressure on crucial shipping routes. Further stoppages would have significant additional effects on international trade, supply chains and the global economy. Moreover, it would have a direct impact on those who depend on these waterways for access to and the supply of essential commodities. magnitude of these risks demands a clear response now. Actions undertaken by the Houthis against international shipping cannot become a tool for coercion or pressure. No group or actor can use a critical waterway, a waterway that is critical for international trade, as a tool for belligerence, far less when doing so endangers the life and safety of seafarers. What is at stake here transcends the the immediate consequences of the situation in Yemen, the stability of these routes is fundamental for the smooth functioning of global trade and the economic security of millions of people. President, we are also forced to reckon with the dire situation resulting from attacks against energy facilities in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. These are placing additional pressure on international energy markets, and the consequences of these attacks are disproportionately affecting the countries of the Global South. Against this backdrop, it is concerning to note how sanctions and other measures adopted are gradually losing effectiveness as a result of their incomplete implementation or as a result of breaches of them by some Member States. The decisions of this Council cannot effectiveness as a result of a lack of will to enforce them. In this connection, we wish to also express our unstinting and staunch support for the Secretary-General's Special Envoy for Yemen, Mr. Hans Grundberg, as well as for his tireless work to bring about a peaceful and inclusive political solution to the conflict. We are of the view that it is vital to support his good offices and UN mediation efforts, particularly when it is crucial to preserve room for dialogue. As such, it is incumbent upon this Council to act with resolve, a sense of responsibility and caution to prevent greater escalation and to preserve the conditions necessary for a political solution. In view of the rising tide of instability in the region, our responsibility is to preserve the international rules-based order. We must attempt to act before the costs of doing nothing are even higher still. Thank you. France · President of the Council [1:21:12]: I wish to thank the representative of Panama. I now give the floor to the representative of China. China [1:21:21]: President, I thank ASG Kiari for his briefing. I also listened carefully to the Yemeni Permanent Representative's presentation of the latest developments. I welcome the presence of the Permanent Representative of Saudi Arabia at this meeting. The Council's last emergency open meeting on the situation in Yemen was as recent as last Thursday. In a short space of just five days, there have been further dramatic developments in Yemen, Bab el-Mandeb, and the surrounding areas. Extensive fighting between the government of Yemen and the Houthis is continuing. De facto control over the strategic islands in Bab-el-Mandeb has shifted, and Saudi Arabia's vital pipeline has been targeted in drone attacks. Tensions and hostilities are spiraling in intensity. As a consequence of the volatility on the ground, there's been a sharp drop in the number of merchant vessels passing through Bab-el-Mandeb. over the past days, along with the sharp rise in international anxieties over the safety of transiting the strait. China is closely following with concern the developments in Yemen and the surrounding areas and finds the rapid, steady escalation of the conflict deeply worrying. China is consistent in its support for sovereignty, security, and territorial integrity of both Yemen and Saudi Arabia, and firmly opposes any attacks on energy and other civilian infrastructure in armed conflict. We stress that the red line must not be crossed under any circumstances, and this red line is the protection of civilians and civilian objects. The Red Sea waters and Bab el-Mandeb are important international cargo and energy shipping corridors. Maintaining proper shipping order in these waters is the common responsibility of all parties. China firmly opposes any attacks on civilian vessels. The right of merchant vessels of all countries to pass through the waters of the Red Sea, as guaranteed under international law, should be respected by all parties. The situation in Yemen is teetering on the perilous edge of an all-out escalation. To de-risk navigation in the Red Sea and Bab el-Mandeb is to address the underlying cause, which means ending armed conflict on land and securing lasting peace. Whatever the magnitude of the differences, the way out should be sought at the negotiating table, not through battles to decide winners and losers to the salvo of gunshots. Nothing is more urgent now than for the parties to exercise calm and restraint, halt hostilities forthwith, refrain from any action that may heighten the tensions, and return without delay to the right track of diplomatic negotiation. The Gulf countries are uniquely positioned, backed up by a successful track record, to mediate on the Yemeni issue. We support their greater role in mediating a solution to this ongoing conflict. President, this round of escalations in Yemen and surrounding areas is taking place in the context of wider and worsening volatility in the Middle East. China supports the development of good neighborly and friendly relations among regional countries in line with the vision of common, comprehensive, cooperative, and sustainable security. It is imperative to strengthen peace and security dialogue, explore the reshaping of the security architecture within the region, advance the holistic governance of the region's common security, and jointly build a new security architecture for the Middle East. China remains committed to working tirelessly alongside all parties to keep international shipping channels safe and secure, put out the flames of war in the Middle East, and restore the region to security and stability. I thank you, President. President [1:25:32]: I thank the representative of China. I now give the floor to the representative of Colombia. Colombia [1:25:38]: Thank you, Madam President. For Colombia, there is no doubt. As things stand, we have witnessed developments in recent days and have seen a grave, direct and flagrant violation of international humanitarian law, not only of the principles of distinction, humanity, but also and particularly a violation of the most important decisions within international law, including the advisory opinion on the use of nuclear weapons. When it comes to or decisions in connection with the protection of civilians. We've also seen the violations of crucial Security Council resolutions. Here we wish to say and indeed reaffirm our concern at constant violations of that type. They mean that what we now see is a need for action. Colombia wants to make sure that we do not read the facts just as a violation of sovereignty. The conflict is escalating really fast. True, the sovereignty of Yemen and Saudi Arabia has been violated, but nowadays we face a humanitarian situation with more than 22 million people facing needs of humanitarian aid, more than 4.5 million being displaced internally between Yemen alone. This situation, unmistakably, lead us to believe that given the fact that the use of proxies is prohibited by international law, and that the geopolitics situation in the Strait of Ormus, but as well now in the Strait of Bab al-Mandeb, is equal to the third part of this oil supply on the planet. We are facing an international, or potentially an international, conflict that will be felt first in the developing world and then in the developed world. We will believe that the effects of not acting are greater than the conflict we do face today. For the Republic of Colombia, it is clear, Mr. President, that we are seeing violations of resolution 2216 of 2015 and more specifically of resolution 2140, the references made to the sanctions committee and its panel of experts. Of course, we quite naturally support, as we have unwaveringly done, the efforts of the special envoy, Hans Grundberg, and we welcome the report presented by the Assistant Secretary General and the statements given by the distinguished delegates of Yemen and Saudi Arabia. However, we also wish to emphasize the fact that we are also seeing violations of resolution 2801 and 2826 of 2026. These are being particularly heavily violated. We're also seeing sporadic violations that we can't ignore of UN agreements and of the resolution 2730 of 2024 on the protection of UN personnel and diplomatic personnel as well as humanitarian personnel. Colombia once again demands the unconditional release of humanitarian diplomatic personnel and of the 73 members of the UN delegation that are currently in detention following abduction. Moreover, we support the mandate of and the work of Hans Grundberg, Special Envoy of the United Nations and we call for an immediate cessation of hostilities and of the violation of Yemen's sovereignty as well as that of Saudi Arabia. We once again here recall the international repercussions for trade and subsequently for development in other regions of the world. when a third of the oil resources that move through the straits that are crucial at this juncture in a conflict that seemed to be one of national sovereignty. It also appears now to be a regional conflict at one time, but now we're seeing it's an international conflict, not only in view of the consequences for trade and the consequences in terms of the price of oil, but also in view of the humanitarian consequences for the world and for Yemen. There are people, indeed, there are more than 22 million people in a situation of grave humanitarian need here. We must not only refer to international humanitarian law, international public law, but also human rights treaties entered into by several states, and we're seeing violations of those. And these documents must be brought to bear when it comes to solving the conflict. For this reason, the Republic of Colombia also wishes to appeal for us to preserve historic records to ensure accountability is provided at the end of the conflict for grave violations of humanitarian and human rights law. The principle of distinction must also specifically protect civilians and civilians are being affected on both sides of the border in Saudi Arabia and in Yemen. Accountability must be ensured here. There is no justification under international law for such attacks and these attacks must be condemned in the strongest terms. Again, we must preserve historic records for when the conflict is over. to ensure accountability can be done through good offices. Finally, the Republic of Colombia also wishes to appeal to the parties to the conflict to cease an excessive use of force, such as to create excessive damage for the humanitarian, the civilian population. The Carvo-Chanel decision of 1949 was crucial in this regard and must be respected. That is, it enshrined the principle of humanity, and that principle seeks to ensure that when a conflict is raging, parties remember that they must not only protect civilians, but they must also not subject them to an interminable conflict and one which is entirely unnecessary. Protecting state sovereignty is not in question. The protection of civilians is unquestionable and cannot be doubted. Thank you, President. France · President of the Council [1:33:43]: I wish to thank the representative of Colombia for that statement. And I'm now going to make a statement in my capacity as the representative of France. France [1:33:53]: I thank the ASG for Political Affairs, Mr. Khalatbari, for his briefing and welcome the participation of the PRs of Yemen and Saudi Arabia. France, with several partners, requested this urgent meeting due to the threat that the Houthis posed to international peace and security. When they launched an armed offensive on September 3, and they continued their intolerable attacks on the legitimate government of Yemen, as well as against Saudi Arabia, and also against civilians and civilian infrastructure, and when they seized control by force of the Yemeni coast of the Red Sea on September 11, the Houthis chose escalation. We condemn this in the strongest terms. In light of this escalation, France calls on the Houthis to immediately cease all military action in Yemen and in the entire region. We express our solidarity toward the legitimate Yemeni authorities as well as toward Saudi Arabia. We also call upon Iran to stop arming the Houthis in violation of the embargo imposed by Resolution 2216, and more broadly to end its policy of destabilizing the region and people of navigation. Let us recall that oceans and seas are not lawless places. International waters are a common good of humanity, the use of which is protected by the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea. We therefore ought to firmly reiterate that freedom of navigation in the Red Sea and in international straits is non-negotiable. This Council called for respect for this freedom in resolution 2722 on the Red Sea and resolution 2817 on the Strait of Hormuz. The Strait of Hormuz is still closed today. But neither France nor any state committed to international law can accept a worsening of the disruptions already observed in global supply chains, for which the most vulnerable populations are the primary victims. We cannot tolerate the unilateral imposition of restrictions or passage routes in these straits. This would set a dangerous precedent for international law and freedom of navigation. we ought to refuse to allow global trade to be taken hostage in this way and strive for a full and unconditional reopening of the straits. To protect maritime security and restore freedom of navigation in the Red Sea, France will continue its actions. within the European EU NAVFOR ASPIDES operation, and a strictly defensive posture together with its European and international partners. In the Strait of Hormuz, it is ready, when conditions allow, to contribute to restoring freedom of navigation through the Multinational Military Mission, or M3SOH, initiated together with the UK and more than 30 other partners. I'd like to recall the neutral and strictly defensive nature of this mission. In light of the crisis in Yemen, the path to follow is clear. First of all, an immediate end to the escalation of the Houthis, followed by the resumption of an inclusive political process under UN auspices uniting all of Yemeni society. We ought not to forget the urgency of freeing the humanitarian and UN workers that are illegally detained by the Houthis. We fully support the efforts of Special Envoy Mr. Hans Groenberg for making progress in this area toward political settlement, and we call on him to continue this work, and call on all parties to immediately embark upon the path of negotiation. France · President of the Council [1:37:40]: I resume my functions as the President of the Council, and I now give the floor to Saudi Arabia. Saudi Arabia [1:37:48]: Thank you very much, President. In the name of God, most compassionate, most merciful, we thank the French presidency for its request to convene this emergency meeting. We thank the Kingdom of Bahrain, the UK, the Kingdom of Denmark, Greece, and Latvia for joining this call. We thank ASG Khalid Khayati for his briefing and his insights on current developments. President, this meeting convenes amid dangerous developments compelling the Security Council to consider its risks and threats with a great degree of responsibility. These rapid developments in Yemen alongside persistent escalation by the terrorist Houthi militias, have imposed themselves on the agenda of the Council today. They are coupled with threats to the security of navigation in the Red Sea and Bab el-Mandeb, with consequences far exceeding Yemen and the region, adversely impacting international trade, the global economy, and disrupting global supply chains. President, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, throughout the crisis, always supported calm and prioritized political solutions. It has contributed to all efforts to end the crisis and build an environment conducive for the Yemenis to make headway towards sustainable and comprehensive peace. In cooperation with the United Nations and Special Envoy Hans Groenbrog, with neighboring countries, left no stone unturned to help Yemen to realize peace, stability, and prosperity by seeking national, regional, and international political initiatives to end the Houthi hegemony over territories it seized by force and coercion. However, the terrorist Houthi militias, in carrying out their obscurantist, radical, extremist agenda, rejected and continue to reject any settlement that alleviates the stark suffering of the Yemeni people and that stabilizes the region. President, one cannot separate the latest Houthi threats from the escalatory conduct by the Houthi militias against my country. On the 8th of September, they began their attacks targeting civilian and economic infrastructure in Abha, Khams Mushait, killing or injuring many civilians, including women and children. And on the 17th of September, they renewed their attack against Khams Mushait, Taif, and Abha, injuring 13 civilians and leading to damage to seven homes and two vehicles. This is coupled with targeting of vessels as well as navigation in Bab al-Mandab and Red Sea. This demonstrates that escalation this escalation does not target a specific country, but rather threatens one of the most important international waterways with economic consequences far exceeding this region. The conduct by Houthi militias, their sponsors, and master puppeteers has shown that they are now militarizing international straits to blackmail the global economy, and this must be met with a decisive stance by the Security Council. The protection of these waterways should not be a responsibility shouldered by regional states alone, but rather is a common international responsibility which requires a firm stance and commitment to international law and Security Council resolutions, including 2722 and 2216. We believe that the security of maritime waterways is a collective responsibility that requires an active international partnership. Therefore, we launched the multinational Maritime Defense Coalition. Its institutionalization and operationalization began to strengthen maritime security and protect waterways and navigation, including in Bab al-Mandeb. the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden and to ensure the continuity of international trade and the non-disruption of global supply chains. This translated our commitment to the security of maritime waterways and our conviction that addressing these threats requires an organized international cooperation, one that can be sustainable and that can safeguard the freedom of navigation and protect the collective interests of our international community. Excellencies, Ladies and gentlemen, we stress that our approach in support of calm and peace is coupled with our firm determination to safeguard our national security, our territorial integrity, and to protect our citizens and residents and national assets. We reserve the right to undertake any measure to protect our security and counter any threat in accordance with the United Nations Charter and international law. Sustainably addressing threats to navigation in the Red Sea and Bab el-Mandeb hinges on the stability of Yemen and the resolution of its crisis. We reiterate our steadfast stance in support of the unity, sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity of the Republic of Yemen. We stand ready to support the United Nations and the efforts of the Special Envoy to pave the way for a comprehensive and sustainable solution that realizes the aspiration of the Yemeni people. We will continue to work with our partners and the international community to achieve this goal, to safeguard the security of our region and the safety of navigation. I thank you, President. France · President of the Council [1:44:13]: I thank the representative of Saudi Arabia for the statement. There are no more names inscribed on the list of speakers. I wish to thank our briefers and the states that have been with us today. The meeting is adjourned.