[07/08/2026 06:10]

RIYADH – SABA
Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates Dr. Afrah al-Zouba held a virtual meeting today with the United Nations Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for Yemen Hans Grundberg on Friday.

She discussed with him implications of the recent escalation by the Houthi terrorist militia which has resulted in civilian and military casualties and posed threats to the security of neighboring countries and international maritime navigation.

During the meeting, Minister al-Zouba briefed the UN envoy on the details of the militia’s attacks, which involved ballistic missiles and suicide drones targeting several military camps and units of the Yemeni Armed Forces in the governorates of Marib and Hadramawt.

The attacks left 17 soldiers and officers killed and several others wounded.

She also highlighted the shelling of residential neighborhoods and camps for internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Marib City, which, according to preliminary reports, killed two civilians and injured 14 others.

The minister stressed that these attacks represent a unilateral escalation by the Houthi militia and were not carried out in response to any military action by the government or the armed forces.

Instead, she said, they deliberately targeted military personnel, civilians and displaced people, undermining de-escalation efforts and seeking to drag Yemen and its people into regional conflicts and wars that do not serve their interests.

Al-Zouba further explained that the expansion of the attacks to civilian infrastructure in the Najran region of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, injuring 11 civilians, coincided with the continued Houthi threats against commercial shipping and international maritime routes in the Red Sea, the Bab al-Mandab Strait and the Gulf of Aden.

She said this demonstrates the militia’s efforts to turn Yemeni territory and waters into a platform for targeting neighboring countries and vital international sea lanes.

The minister emphasized the importance of the United Nations and the international community assuming their responsibilities in response to this escalation by taking a clear position that holds the militia accountable for its attacks and prevents further undermining of de-escalation efforts and the dragging of Yemen into additional conflicts.

For his part, the UN Special Envoy reaffirmed his commitment to reducing tensions, preventing Yemen from sliding into further confrontation, and making every effort to resume the political process and advance the path toward peace.

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