US demands Houthi halt to attacks on Yemen government and Saudi Arabia

• The US urges the Houthis to halt attacks on Yemen’s internationally recognized government and Saudi Arabia, accusing the group of acting on behalf of Iran.
• Yemen’s UN envoy warns that the country has returned to “full-scale war,” as Saudi Arabia reports government forces have retaken control of the Bab al-Mandeb Strait.

The United States has called on the Houthis to stop attacking Yemen’s internationally recognized government and neighboring Saudi Arabia, as renewed fighting raises concerns over regional security and vital shipping routes.

Addressing the UN Security Council on Friday, Jeff Bartos, the US ambassador to the United Nations for management and reform, accused the Houthis of acting on behalf of Iran and urged Tehran to end all support for the group.

The remarks came amid an escalation in Yemen, where renewed hostilities have raised concerns about the prospects for peace and the security of maritime traffic through the Red Sea.

Earlier, Hans Grundberg, the UN special envoy for Yemen, warned that the country had returned to “full-scale war” and urged the Security Council to support diplomatic mediation efforts.

Grundberg’s warning highlighted concerns over the collapse of efforts to contain the conflict and the risk of further escalation across Yemen and the wider region.

The renewed fighting has also heightened concerns about the security of neighboring countries, particularly Saudi Arabia, which has faced attacks attributed to the Houthis.

Three Saudi citizens were killed when the Houthis struck King Khalid International Airport, north of Riyadh, on Thursday.

The attack on the major aviation hub has added to regional tensions and prompted renewed calls for measures to protect civilian infrastructure and prevent further escalation.

Saudi Arabia has condemned the attacks, while Egypt has also denounced the strikes as a violation of international law and expressed solidarity with Riyadh.

Saudi Arabia’s ambassador to the United Nations, Mohammed Al Jaber, said on Friday that Yemeni government forces had retaken control of the Bab al-Mandeb Strait, a strategic maritime passage connecting the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden.

Around 12 percent of global trade passes through the route, making its security critical to international shipping and supply chains.

The strait is also strategically important to Saudi Arabia because it provides an alternative route for oil exports through the Red Sea, reducing reliance on the Strait of Hormuz.

Any disruption to shipping through Bab al-Mandeb could affect international trade, energy shipments and maritime traffic between Europe and Asia.

The latest developments underscore the growing regional implications of Yemen’s renewed conflict, with diplomatic efforts facing mounting pressure as fighting threatens both civilian security and critical maritime routes.