by Emmitt Barry, Worthy News Washington D.C. Bureau Chief
(Worthy News) – The U.N. Security Council met Tuesday for the second time in less than a week as Houthi forces pushed toward the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, the narrow passage connecting the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden. The fighting threatens a vital shipping route and has driven more Yemeni families from their homes.
A U.N. official told the council that the Houthis had reportedly captured several islands in the southern Red Sea. Yemen’s government has launched a counteroffensive, with clashes reported across several parts of the country. The official said commercial shipping through the Red Sea appeared to be continuing, while warning that the advance had raised concern for the route’s security.
The cost to civilians is already severe. According to the U.N., at least 125,000 people have been displaced in Yemen since the start of September. Its human rights office reported eight civilians killed and 32 injured over the same period.
Washington presses Iran over Houthi support
The United States called on the Houthis to stop their advance, leave seized territory and end attacks on Saudi Arabia. Its representative also urged the council to enforce existing arms restrictions and accused Iran of arming, funding and directing the group. Iran’s role, the representative said, must be addressed if the Houthis’ ability to carry out attacks is to be reduced.
The U.N. official reported that Houthi missile and drone strikes had injured 13 people in Saudi Arabia in recent days. He also urged all sides in Yemen to protect civilians and return to U.N.-led negotiations.
The danger now reaches beyond the battlefield. A group that can threaten passage through Bab el-Mandeb can unsettle trade far from Yemen’s shores. For Yemenis, the immediate need is more personal: safety, aid and a chance to live without another widening war.
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