UN Security Council Condemns Houthi Attacks on Saudi Arabia

Council Condemnation

The United Nations Security Council strongly condemned escalating attacks on Saudi Arabia by Yemeni Houthi fighters on Friday, September 25, 2026. The council demanded an immediate halt to the military escalation and stressed the need to uphold international law and freedom of navigation. French UN envoy Jerome Bonnafont, serving as the council president, delivered the joint statement, noting that the attacks on civilian and energy infrastructure have injured civilians, including women and children.

Humanitarian Crisis

The Houthi ground campaign against Saudi-backed Yemeni forces has displaced 138,000 people across Yemen since August, including 70,000 children, marking the highest displacement level since a 2022 truce. UN refugee agency chief Barham Salih warned that the escalation is worsening the humanitarian crisis, with thousands fleeing across the water to Djibouti. The International Organization for Migration reported that over 3,500 people have made this journey to east Africa. Additionally, the UN stated that more than 2.2 million children under five in Yemen are acutely malnourished, with over half a million suffering from severe acute malnutrition.

Regional Impact and Reactions

The Houthis have imposed a naval blockade on Saudi Arabia, hitting tankers, seizing Red Sea coast areas vital for oil exports, and causing energy prices to rise. Recent Houthi gains have strengthened the hold of Iran and its allies on two major waterways used to ship oil, including the Red Sea coast and the Strait of Hormuz. While Washington, Saudi Arabia, and the Saudi-backed Yemeni government accuse Iran of supporting the militants, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian denied the allegation on Thursday, September 24, 2026, stating that the Houthis act on their own. Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Pakistan plan to hold chief of staff talks following a joint defense agreement signed last month.