Hans Grundberg states that recent developments suggest that “the threat against international shipping is increasing in scope and precision”.
The UN envoy for Yemen said recent developments in the Red Sea, Israel and inside the country “show the real danger of a devastating escalation across the region”.
In a briefing to the United Nations Security Council on the situation in Yemen on Tuesday, Hans Grundberg warned of the danger of escalation following new Houthi attacks on commercial ships and the first confirmed Israeli airstrikes on Yemen in retaliation for attacks by Houthi drones and missiles. about Israel.
“I remain deeply concerned about the continuation of international shipping in the Red Sea and surrounding waterways,” Grundberg said.
“Recent developments suggest that the threat against international shipping is increasing in scope and precision.”
The Houthi attacks on Israel and the Israeli attacks on Yemen’s Hodeidah port and its oil and energy facilities represent “a new and dangerous level” of violence, he said.
Commercial ships have been sunk and damaged, disrupting commerce, civilians have died, the Houthis still hold the crew of the Galaxy Leader, a cargo ship they hijacked in November, and the United States and United Kingdom continue airstrikes against Houthi military targets controlled areas of Yemen, he said.
“It is alarming that there are no signs of de-escalation, let alone a solution,” continued Grundberg.
The Houthis have launched missiles and drones at Israel and disrupted global trade across the Red Sea in response to Israel’s attack on Gaza.
Israel says the Iran-aligned Houthis have launched 200 attacks against the country since the start of the war, many of them intercepted.
But a rare Houthi drone strike last Friday struck Tel Aviv, killing one person and prompting Israel to announce its first strikes against the group on Saturday.
The airstrikes hit near Hodeidah and killed six people, local doctors said.
Israel said it shot down a missile launched by the Houthis on Sunday.
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