UN envoy ‘alarmed’ by Houthi Red Sea attacks, urges negotiations

UN Special Envoy for Yemen Hans Grundberg said on Thursday he was “alarmed” by the resumption of attacks by the Houthis (Ansar Allah) on commercial shipping in the Red Sea and called for negotiations to resolve the country’s crisis.

In a statement, Grundberg warned that further escalation risks dragging Yemen back into full-scale war and deepening the suffering of its people. “It is still possible to change course and move towards negotiations that address Yemen’s political, economic and security challenges,” he said.

The Houthis on Wednesday claimed they struck two Saudi oil tankers, the Encelia and the Layla, with missiles and drones—their first attack since announcing a blockade of Saudi-linked shipping on July 20. Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree said the vessels were hit for violating the blockade.

The blockade was imposed in retaliation for the July 13 bombing of Sanaa airport’s runway, which Yemen’s internationally recognized government said was carried out to prevent an Iranian aircraft from landing. The Houthis blamed Saudi Arabia. The group also fired missiles into Saudi Arabia, targeting an airport.

At least five tankers have changed course to avoid the Bab al-Mandeb Strait off Yemen’s coast since the campaign began. The disruption has helped push Brent crude oil prices above $100 a barrel.

Yemen’s civil war has been largely paused since 2022, but political deadlock persists between the Houthis, who control the capital Sanaa, and the internationally recognized government. The US-Israel war on Iran threatens to reactivate ground fighting.

The UN estimates that 22 million Yemenis need aid this year, with 18.3 million suffering acute food insecurity. Meanwhile, the United States carried out its 12th consecutive night of strikes on Iran. US President Donald Trump said Washington would hold Iran responsible for further Houthi attacks on shipping, threatening “major military punishment”.