Yemen’s internationally recognized government has renewed its appeal to the international community for assistance in confronting the Iran-backed Houthi movement, warning that the group’s growing presence along the Red Sea could create serious risks for international trade and maritime security.
Speaking at the United Nations General Assembly on Thursday, Yemeni Vice President Abdullah Abdulkader al Alimi-Bawzer said the Houthis’ recent territorial gains had given them greater access to strategically important areas near the Bab el-Mandeb Strait.
The narrow waterway connects the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden and is one of the world’s most important maritime routes. Around 12% of global trade normally passes through the region, making any prolonged disruption potentially significant for international supply chains and energy markets.
According to the Yemeni government, Houthi forces have recently expanded along Yemen’s western coast, capturing the port city of Mokha and several strategically located Red Sea islands. The government says these positions could provide the group with improved opportunities to monitor shipping activity through the Bab el-Mandeb.
The Houthis have announced restrictions on Saudi-linked shipping and warned other countries against becoming involved in the conflict. They have also maintained that commercial vessels not connected to their stated targets face no threat.
Al Alimi-Bawzer urged governments not to rely solely on those assurances. He argued that the international community has a broader responsibility to protect freedom of navigation and the security of global supply chains.
He also called for tighter efforts to prevent weapons, military equipment and advanced technology from reaching the Houthis.
Iran’s Role Remains a Major Point of Dispute
The Yemeni government continues to accuse Iran of providing significant military support to the Houthis. Tehran has repeatedly rejected accusations that it supplies weapons to the group.
However, weapons and military components believed to have originated in Iran have previously been intercepted in shipments destined for Yemen. A 2024 report by U.N. experts also described extensive military connections between the Houthis, Iran and other regional allies.
Al Alimi-Bawzer argued that the Houthis’ ability to sustain their military capabilities for many years would not have been possible without Iranian assistance, including weapons, technical expertise and military technology.
The issue remains particularly important because the United Nations has maintained measures targeting the Houthi leadership, including an arms embargo as well as financial and travel restrictions on senior figures.
Missile Attacks Add to Regional Tensions
The latest developments have also raised concerns about a wider escalation between the Houthis and Saudi Arabia.
On Thursday, the Houthis said they had launched ballistic missiles and drones toward Saudi Arabia’s southwestern Jazan region. Saudi military officials later said the kingdom had intercepted six ballistic missiles aimed at locations including the Red Sea port of Yanbu and the city of Taif.
Saudi civil defense authorities issued warnings during the incident before later announcing that the immediate danger had passed.
The exchanges highlight the possibility that fighting in Yemen could once again develop into a broader regional conflict.
Risk of a Renewed Civil War
Yemen has already endured years of devastating conflict. The war that began after the Houthis seized Sanaa and expanded into northern Yemen in 2014 resulted in more than 150,000 deaths, according to estimates cited in the article, while millions of people were forced from their homes.
A ceasefire in 2022 significantly reduced the intensity of fighting, but the underlying political conflict remained unresolved.
The situation deteriorated again after the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas war in 2023. The Houthis began attacking commercial and military-linked vessels in the Red Sea, saying their actions were connected to the wider regional conflict. Those attacks continued until a U.S. military bombing campaign in 2025.
The latest fighting has already displaced roughly 130,000 people and resulted in hundreds of deaths, according to the figures cited by the Yemeni government. Humanitarian conditions are also worsening in a country that has faced one of the world’s most severe humanitarian crises for years.
Saudi Arabia and the United States Face Pressure
Al Alimi-Bawzer used his U.N. address to thank Saudi Arabia for supporting Yemen’s internationally recognized government and praised the United States for what he described as a strong response to the Houthi threat.
Saudi Arabia has again sought military assistance from its international partners as tensions have increased. Washington, however, has not announced a renewed direct military campaign in Yemen.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has said that Washington remains committed to its defense obligations toward Saudi Arabia, although he has not publicly provided details about what additional measures might be taken.
Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan said Thursday that Riyadh was continuing discussions with its American partners about the conflict.
Despite the Houthis’ recent territorial gains, the Saudi foreign minister indicated that Riyadh was not overly concerned about the possibility of the group taking control of southern Yemen. He said the internationally recognized Yemeni government remained capable of defending the areas under its control.
The latest developments have nevertheless placed Yemen back at the center of international concerns over Red Sea security. With the Bab el-Mandeb serving as a major link between international markets and key energy routes, further fighting could have consequences well beyond Yemen’s borders.
For Yemenis, the immediate concern is the prospect of renewed large-scale warfare and worsening humanitarian conditions. For the wider international community, the dispute raises a separate question: how to protect a critical shipping route while avoiding an escalation that could further destabilize an already fragile region.
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