‘Take Steps to De-escalate’, UN Official Urges Parties in Yemen, as Security Council Speakers Condemn Unauthorized Iranian Flights into Sana’a, Hudaydah
Holding an emergency meeting following reports of unauthorized Iranian flights to and from Yemen in recent days, the Security Council today heard, once again, that de-escalation must be the priority so that Yemen is not further entangled in the conflict destabilizing the region.
The Council recently heard from the UN’s Special Envoy for Yemen that the conflict in that country remains unresolved despite relative calm prevailing since the Aden-based Government and Sana’a-based Houthis announced a truce in April 2022. However, fears persist that heightened regional insecurity ignited by Israel and the United States attacking Iran on 28 February will spread to Yemen. This, in turn, implicates maritime security in crucial shipping lanes.
“Recent developments in Yemen are a stark reminder that there is no alternative to an inclusive, Yemeni-owned political process,” said Khaled Khiari, Assistant Secretary-General in the Departments of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs and Peace Operations. He pointed to reports of an Iranian aircraft traveling between Tehran and Sana’a International Airport on 3 July, transporting a Houthi delegation to attend the funeral of Iran’s late supreme leader.
“Today, additional concerning developments took place,” he said, noting reports of another Iranian plane carrying a returning Houthi delegation from Tehran to Hudaydah International Airport. This followed reports of airstrikes at the airport in Sana’a, which the Houthis attributed to Saudi Arabia and the Yemeni Government said were intended to prevent the Iranian flight from landing there. The Houthis then announced the “end of the de-escalation phase” with Saudi Arabia, and reportedly launched ballistic missiles against that country, which were intercepted.
With Political Will, Progress Is Possible
Underscoring that “Yemen and the wider region cannot afford another cycle of escalation”, he called on all actors to constructively engage in negotiations to ensure de-escalation and advance sustainable civilian air access, among other priorities. He pointed out that the UN-brokered truce of April 2022 and recent agreement to release over 1,600 conflict-related detainees demonstrate that practical steps and mutually acceptable agreements are possible.
By contrast, “unilateral measures will not bring Yemen closer to peace”, he stressed, urging all parties to “choose dialogue over violence” and refrain from measures that could “undermine the prospects for peace”. He also observed that regional de-escalation can create a more conducive environment for reviving the political process in Yemen, calling on all parties to “take required steps to de-escalate”.
Providing further reason to do so was Indrika Ratwatte, Acting Assistant Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Deputy Emergency Relief Coordinator, who outlined a humanitarian crisis in Yemen compounded by worsening food insecurity, the expected impact of El Niño on food production and livelihoods and an unprecedented fall in humanitarian funding.
Humanitarian Crisis Unabated: ‘Every Funding Cut Has a Human Face’
Yemen, he said, has the largest population facing emergency levels of food insecurity and, over the past year alone, 450 health facilities — including 76 hospitals — have closed due to a lack of resources. “Families face the excruciating choice [of] whether to buy food or medicine, whether to keep children in school or send them to work, whether to stay where they are or move again in search of safety and opportunity,” he emphasized.
Meanwhile, he reported that limited assistance leaves many with less support than they need — or none at all. “Every funding cut has a human face”, he stressed. Reduced aid translates to fewer children receiving nutrition treatment, fewer health facilities to meet basic needs and fewer protection services for women and girls. He also pointed out that regional tensions reverberate deeply inside Yemen, through increased prices for fuel and food.
“Do not allow Yemen to be drawn further into regional instability,” he urged, also stressing to donors that “this is not the moment to step back”. He also joined Mr. Khiari in calling on the Council to advocate for the immediate and unconditional release of all arbitrarily detained civilian personnel, including 73 from the United Nations.
Speakers Condemn Flights as Breach of International Law, Arms Embargo
As the floor opened for discussion, the representative of the United Kingdom — who supported Yemen’s request for today’s meeting alongside Bahrain, France and the United States — condemned reported unauthorized Iranian flights into Yemen as a “clear breach” of both Yemeni sovereignty and international law. Reports that these flights may have transported military personnel, technical experts and equipment to support Houthi military capabilities would “raise serious concerns” if verified.
“Any support given to the Houthis constitutes a threat to peace and security in [Yemen] and the region,” warned Bahrain’s representative, who joined others in condemning Houthi attacks against Saudi Arabia. He spotlighted Iran’s support for the serious, repeated violations perpetrated by the Houthis, adding that Tehran “spares no effort in escalating tensions in the region” through its attacks on Gulf Cooperation Council member States and Jordan, as well as its continued closure of the Strait of Hormuz.
France’s representative similarly stressed that Iran, by supporting the Houthis, is violating Council measures including the arms embargo imposed by resolution 2216 (2015). This is yet another example of Iran’s destabilizing behaviour in the region. The representative of the United States said that the Houthis’ increasing military sophistication is evidence that they receive external support in violation of that provision. Adding that the purpose of the 3 July flight was to “ferry members of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps”, she said that Houthi leaders celebrated the flight as a “successful evasion” of international efforts to isolate them.
“Attempts to circumvent the arms embargo undermine every diplomatic effort under way,” stressed Greece’s representative, underscoring that “sanctions enforcement is not optional”. The representative of Denmark also underlined the need to fully adhere to Council resolutions, condemning Iran’s support to regional proxies — “including to the Houthis in Yemen”. She declared: “Iran’s destabilizing actions have been negatively impacting the Middle East for too long.” Latvia’s representative agreed, pointing to Tehran’s “deliberate pattern” of undermining international peace and security.
While stating that the 3 July flight should have been agreed upon with the official authorities, the representative of the Russian Federation said Council members should note that “this was a strictly humanitarian flight”. This incident brought about neither human casualties nor material damage; however, she did acknowledge the resulting tensions, which are “particularly dangerous given the escalation we are seeing in the Persian Gulf”. The only path to peace and stability in Yemen lies through dialogue involving all leading political forces in the country — “including the Houthis”.
Yemen Accuses Iran of Turning Civil Aviation into Political Tool
However, Yemen’s representative dismissed the Houthis’ claim that Iran’s operation of the flight was a humanitarian measure. The Government possesses information indicating that the flight carried personnel, know-how and dual-use equipment. Further, the airline involved, Mahan Air, has been linked to logistical support for Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, and the use of Sana’a International Airport — which is outside Government authority — undermines the international order.
He stressed that the issue today “is not only about a Member State’s right to manage its airspace, but the deliberate attempt to impose a fait accompli that bypasses the legitimate Government”, defies Council resolutions and turns civil aviation into a military and political tool. Against that backdrop, he urged the Council to condemn the authorized flight to Sana’a, demand that Iran refrain from similar acts and strengthen mechanisms to prevent the smuggling of arms to the Houthis.
Condemning the “unacceptable” violation of Yemen’s airspace and sovereignty, Panama’s representative added that this incident “compounds a worrisome regional trend” in which countries attack their neighbours and third parties interfere in conflicts. This threatens to “entrench instability and consolidate an increasingly insecure environment across the region”. She joined others in expressing concern over the grave humanitarian crisis facing the country, which could “affect a significant portion of the Yemeni population with starvation”.
Calls for De-escalation, Dialogue
Any further escalation risks deepening Yemeni suffering, said Pakistan’s representative, who was among those underlining the importance of a political process owned and led by Yemenis as the only path to peace. Maximum restraint is needed to avoid escalation, urged China’s representative, adding that the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all countries in the Middle East must be respected. The representative of Somalia — also speaking for Liberia and July Council President Democratic Republic of the Congo — said that Yemen must be insulated from the broader conflict in the region.
“The priority must be to prevent a fresh escalation,” underscored the representative of Colombia. Noting that the 2022 truce “contributed considerably” to curbing violence in Yemen, she urged the parties to refrain from actions that could undermine trust, erode the negotiating environment or reverse the progress made over the last few years. As for the subject of today’s meeting, she noted the need to “shed full light on the circumstances” as any action affecting Yemen’s sovereignty or ability to exercise authority over its territory “warrants close consideration”.
Concluding, she urged: “It is more necessary than ever to act responsibly.”