Assistant Secretary-General for the Middle East, Europe, Central Asia and the Americas, Asia and the Pacific Khaled Khiari – Remarks to the Security Council on Yemen (New York, 13 July 2026)

Country: Yemen Source: UN Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs ASG Khiari urges de-escalation and renewed engagement in a UN-led political process for Yemen | United Nations Peace Operations Mr. President, Recent developments in Yemen are a stark reminder that there is no alternative to an inclusive, Yemeni-owned political process. A negotiated political settlement reached through dialogue under UN auspices can provide a durable and sustainable resolution to the conflict. On 3 July 2026, an Iranian aircraft reportedly travelled from Tehran to Sana’a International Airport before returning to Tehran. This flight reportedly transported, among others, a Houthi delegation to attend the funeral of the late Supreme Leader of Iran. The Government of Yemen, in its letter dated 6 July addressed to the President of the Security Council and the Secretary-General, viewed, with deep concern, this flight as a violation of its airspace and the sovereignty of Yemen. Today, additional concerning developments took place. Another Iranian plane carrying a Houthi delegation returning from Tehran reportedly landed at Hudaydah Airport. This followed reports of airstrikes at Sana’a International Airport, which the Houthis attributed to Saudi Arabia. According to the Government of Yemen, the strikes hit the airport runway to prevent the Iranian flight from landing there. The Government of Yemen had earlier warned Iran against unauthorized flights to Yemen, and vowed to take all necessary measures. Following the reported airstrikes on Sana’a International Airport, the Houthis announced the “end of the de-escalation phase” with Saudi Arabia, and reportedly launched ballistic missiles against the Kingdom, which were intercepted. Mr. President, We are deeply concerned about the risk of wider escalation. Yemen and the wider region cannot afford another cycle of escalation. We call on all actors to constructively engage in negotiations under UN auspices. Such engagement is essential to ensure de-escalation, advance safe, predictable, and sustainable civilian air access, among other priorities. The UN Special Envoy for Yemen is actively engaging with the parties and has contacted military representatives from all sides to urge de-escalation. Mr. President, The UN-brokered truce of April 2022, which facilitated commercial flights between Sana’a and Amman, Jordan, demonstrated that practical steps are possible when the parties negotiate in good faith and make compromises. This requires political will, constructive engagement, cooperation among the parties, and regional and international support. More recently, the parties negotiated and agreed under UN auspices in May to release over 1, 600 conflict-related detainees, the largest such release agreed since the start of the conflict in Yemen. This demonstrates that mutually acceptable agreements remain achievable even amid complex and challenging circumstances. On 11 July, the Special Envoy for Yemen received renewed assurances from the Government and the Houthis regarding their commitment to the full implementation of the deal. Mr. President, Our message is clear: unilateral measures will not bring Yemen closer to peace. On the contrary, they risk entrenching divisions, accelerating fragmentation and heightening the danger of renewed escalation and military confrontation. We, therefore, continue to urge all parties to reduce tensions and address their differences through dialogue. Specifically, we call on the parties to engage constructively with the efforts of the Special Envoy, to choose dialogue over violence and to refrain from measures that could undermine prospects for peace. We call on all to fully respect international law, including the UN Charter, international humanitarian law, international human rights law and relevant resolutions of this Council, and to uphold and respect the unity, sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of Yemen. The United Nations remains committed to supporting the Yemenis in restarting a political process to end the conflict in Yemen. As noted by the Special Envoy and many members of this Council in previous meetings, regional de-escalation can create a more conducive environment for reviving the Yemeni political process. In this regard, I echo the Secretary-General’s concern about serious escalation and renewed military confrontations in the Gulf and call on all parties to take required steps to de-escalate. Mr. President, 73 UN colleagues, as well as personnel from non-governmental organizations, civil society organizations and diplomatic missions, remain in arbitrary detention by the Houthis. We again call for their immediate, safe and unconditional release and for full respect for international law, including the privileges and immunities of the United Nations and its personnel. Thank you.

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