HAMILTON, Canada
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Monday called for the freedom of navigation in the Red Sea amid new wave of escalations.
"The UN is concerned about the continued threats by the Houthis to resume their attacks targeting merchant and commercial vessels in the Red Sea, as well as about their reported attacks against military vessels in the area," said a statement by the UN spokesperson's office.
Saying that Guterres "calls for full freedom of navigation in the Red Sea," the UN further expressed its "concern at the launching of multiple strikes on Houthi-controlled areas in Yemen by the United States in recent days."
The UN also noted that "the airstrikes resulted in 53 deaths and 101 injuries, reported from Sana’a City, Sa’ada and Al Baydah governorates, including reports of civilian casualties, and led to disruptions in the power supply in nearby localities."
Expressing concern over the potential for further escalation, the statement warned that "any additional escalation could exacerbate regional tensions, fuel cycles of retaliation that may further destabilize Yemen and the region and pose grave risks to the already dire humanitarian situation in the country."
"The UN calls for utmost restraint and a cessation of all military activities," it said, emphasizing that "international law, including international humanitarian law as applicable, must be respected by all parties at all times."
It further called for the "UN Security Council resolution 2768 (2025) related to Houthi attacks against merchant and commercial vessels, must be fully respected."
At least 53 people were killed and 98 others injured in US-UK airstrikes on Yemen on Saturday, according to the Houthi-run Health Ministry.
The Houthis warned Israel on March 7 to allow humanitarian aid into the blockaded Gaza Strip within four days or face renewed maritime operations against Israeli-linked vessels.
The Houthis have been attacking Israeli-linked ships passing through the Red and Arabian seas, the Bab al-Mandab Strait, and the Gulf of Aden with missiles and drones since late 2023, disrupting global trade for what it said was a show of solidarity with Gaza.
The group halted attacks when a Gaza ceasefire was declared in January between Israel and the Palestinian group Hamas. But it threatened to resume the attacks when Israel blocked all aid into Gaza on March 2.