The United Kingdom called for this meeting today alongside the US, France, and Bahrain in support of Yemen’s sovereignty and regional security.
I will make three points.
First, the United Kingdom condemns in the strongest terms today’s Houthi attacks against Saudi Arabia.
These attacks are reckless and entirely unacceptable.
They threaten regional security, risk further escalation, and undermine efforts to secure peace in Yemen.
We stand in full solidarity with Saudi Arabia and reaffirm our support for its security.
Second, we are also deeply concerned by reports that two Iranian aircraft landed in Yemen, on 3 July and again today, without permissions and clearances from the relevant Yemeni authorities.
These constitute a clear breach of Yemen’s sovereignty and violation of international law.
The United Kingdom reaffirms its unwavering support for the sovereignty, independence, territorial integrity, and unity of Yemen.
All Member States must respect these principles and act in accordance with their obligations under the UN Charter.
If verified, reports that the flights may have transported military personnel, technical experts, and equipment to support Houthi military capabilities would raise serious concerns and may indicate breaches of relevant Security Council resolutions, including resolutions 2216 and 2140.
Attempts to strengthen Houthi military capabilities are unacceptable and risk destabilising Yemen and undermining regional stability.
We urge further examination of these allegations through the appropriate UN mechanisms, including the UN Panel of Experts, and call on all parties to cooperate fully with those efforts.
Finally, the United Kingdom stands in full solidarity with our Gulf partners following further Iranian attacks across the region over the last 48 hours, including on Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, Oman, and Jordan; as well as on commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz.
We condemn these reckless actions and call for de-escalation and a return to diplomacy.
President, Yemen has already endured more than a decade of conflict.
The Yemeni people deserve progress towards peace, economic recovery, and stability, not actions that deepen regional tensions and increase the risk of renewed conflict.
We urge the Houthis to refrain from further escalation, and we encourage the use of existing channels of dialogue to address concerns and reduce tensions.
The United Kingdom remains committed to working with Council members, regional partners, and the Government of Yemen to support de-escalation, to uphold relevant Security Council resolutions, and advance a durable political settlement to the conflict.