Concern at UN over risks of renewed conflict in Yemen

United Nations and Western Security Council representatives sounded alarms over renewed risks of conflict in Yemen on Wednesday, after nearly a year and a half of relative calm in the warring country.

UN special envoy for Yemen Hans Grundberg warned of "public threats to return to war" in the Middle Eastern nation, without offering any specific examples, while the United States and United Kingdom warned of escalating attacks and threats from Houthi rebels.

The poorest country on the Arabian peninsula, Yemen's economy has collapsed in the eight years of war between Iran-backed Houthis and the Saudi coalition-backed government.

The conflict has left hundreds of thousands of people dead and millions displaced, with the UN having accused all parties -- including in Saudi Arabia -- of committing war crimes.

But the violence has largely subsided since an April 2022 UN-negotiated truce, which was set to expire last October but has more or less held.

"I call on the parties to refrain from escalatory rhetoric and to continue to use and build on dialogue channels established under the truce through the Military Coordination Committee to de-escalate incidents," Grundberg told the 15-member UN Security Council and government officials from Yemen and Saudi Arabia.

"This rhetoric is not conducive to maintaining a fruitful mediation environment," he said.

British Ambassador to the UN Barbara Woodward was even more forceful, saying "we urge the Houthis to stop these attacks," referring to "attacks and continued threats to prevent oil exports from Government controlled areas (which) are severely impacting Yemen’s economy."

United States Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield said that "the United States welcomes Saudi Arabia's recent announcement of 1.2 billion dollars in budget support" for Yemen's internationally recognized government.

"But more attention and financial support are needed to address Yemen’s economic and humanitarian crisis," she said.

She also said Washington "strongly" condemns "senseless" maritime attacks by Houthis "on maritime shipping (which) are also exacerbating the humanitarian crisis."

"Only a durable and inclusive political resolution between the parties can ease the suffering of the Yemeni people," she said.