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U.N. envoy says Ben Gurion, Sana'a and Hudaydah strikes mark a dangerous escalation; calls for restraint
Summary
The U.N. special envoy for Yemen said an Ansar Allah attack on Israel's Ben Gurion Airport and subsequent strikes on Sana'a Airport and Hudaydah Port represent a grave regional escalation and urged all parties to exercise restraint and uphold international law.
Hans Grundberg, the United Nations special envoy for Yemen, told reporters that an aerial attack by Ansar Allah on Ben Gurion Airport in Israel, followed by Israeli strikes on Sana'a Airport and Hudaydah Port in Yemen, “mark a grave escalation in an already fragile and volatile regional context.”
“The special envoy once again urges all stakeholders to exercise the utmost restraint and refrain from escalatory actions that risk inflicting further suffering on civilians,” the U.N. spokesperson read, quoting the envoy. Grundberg said it is “imperative that all actors uphold their obligations under international law to protect civilians and civilian infrastructure.”
The U.N. spokesperson said a return to dialogue is the only sustainable path to lasting safety and security for Yemen and the broader region.
Separately during the briefing, reporters noted breaking news that the Houthis had signalled they would no longer attack international shipping. The U.N. spokesperson said the development was new and that any de‑escalation in Yemen would be welcomed, but cautioned it was hard to assess the circumstances until more information is available.
Why it matters: The U.N. envoy framed the strikes and counterstrikes as raising the risks of wider regional conflict and increased civilian harm, underscoring U.N. calls for restraint and adherence to international humanitarian law.
