Amid rising tensions in West Asia, the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) has condemned recent missile attacks by Yemen's Houthi rebels against Saudi Arabia and attacks targeting commercial vessels in the Red Sea.

Following an emergency meeting on Friday, Security Council members expressed concern over the worsening security situation in Yemen and warned that continued escalation could threaten regional stability and international peace and security.

Saudi Arabia Missile Attacks

The UNSC said Houthi forces had launched missile attacks against Saudi Arabia since July 13. The Council also condemned attacks on commercial vessels since July 22.

Members of the Security Council urged the Houthis to avoid further escalation and called for existing dialogue channels to be used to address concerns and reduce tensions.

The attacks on commercial shipping in the Red Sea have raised fresh concerns over maritime security and international trade. The waterway is a major route for global shipping, and prolonged instability could disrupt regional as well as international commerce.

Support for Yemen’s Sovereignty

The Security Council reaffirmed its strong commitment to Yemen's sovereignty, independence, unity and territorial integrity.

The Council stressed that Yemen's sovereignty over its territory and airspace must be respected. It also called on all parties to comply with international law and relevant UN Security Council resolutions.

The statement comes amid growing concerns over military activity and competing claims of authority in Yemen.

Concern Over Airport Landings

The UNSC also condemned what it described as unauthorised aircraft landings at Yemeni airports.

According to the Council, aircraft landed at Sana'a International Airport on July 3 and Hudaydah Airport on July 13without permission or clearance from the Yemeni government.

The Security Council said such landings violated international civil aviation rules.

It emphasised that flights operating to Yemeni airports should be coordinated with the Yemeni government and receive prior authorisation.

Focus on Humanitarian Access

The Council also highlighted the need for safe, secure and sustainable air access to Yemen for humanitarian and civilian purposes.

It said humanitarian and civilian flights should be coordinated with the Yemeni government and conducted in accordance with international law and applicable civil aviation regulations.

The UNSC stressed that efforts to address Yemen's security crisis should also take into account the needs of civilians and humanitarian organisations.

Reference to Resolution 2216

The Security Council reminded all parties of their obligations under international law and relevant UN resolutions, including Resolution 2216, adopted in 2015.

The resolution includes restrictions on the supply, sale or transfer of arms and related military assistance to individuals and entities designated by the Security Council's 2140 Sanctions Committee, including the Houthis.

The Council urged all sides to comply with the existing sanctions framework and avoid actions that could further destabilise Yemen.

UN Peace Efforts

The UNSC also reiterated its support for UN Special Envoy for Yemen Hans Grundberg and his efforts to find a political solution to the conflict.

The Council backed a negotiated, inclusive and Yemeni-led and Yemeni-owned political settlement, based on agreed references and relevant Security Council resolutions.

The latest developments have heightened concerns over regional security and freedom of navigation, particularly around the Red Sea.

The Security Council urged restraint and called on the Houthis and other concerned parties to avoid further escalation and use dialogue to resolve outstanding issues.

The Council warned that continued military escalation could undermine ongoing peace efforts in Yemen and create wider security risks across the region.

At least 10 people have been killed in intensified Houthi attacks on Yemen's strategic Marib province, according to Yemeni officials and military sources, as fighting escalates and the United Nations warns of a growing risk of renewed large-scale conflict.

The latest violence comes after a fragile 2022 truce between the Iran-backed Houthis and Yemen's Saudi-supported government effectively unravelled last month. The renewed fighting has raised fears that Yemen could once again slide into a broader conflict after years of relative calm along several front lines.

On Thursday, at least 58 government troops were killed in Houthi missile attacks in and around Marib province, according to an army source cited by AFP.

UN Warns of Wider Conflict

UN Special Envoy for Yemen Hans Grundberg warned that the country is facing an increasingly dangerous situation.

"Today faces a greater risk of renewed large-scale conflict than at any point since the UN-brokered truce of April 2022," Grundberg said in a statement.

Against the backdrop of the wider confrontation between the United States and Iran, the UN envoy urged both sides to exercise restraint and return to what he described as good-faith negotiations.

The warning comes as the Houthis, who are backed by Iran, have stepped up military activity against forces aligned with Yemen's internationally recognised government.

Civilians Among Those Killed

A Yemeni military source told AFP that the latest Houthi attacks killed eight members of government forces and wounded 12 others.

Yemen's Health Minister Qasim Buhaibeh separately said Houthi shelling had struck residential neighbourhoods and displacement camps in Marib city.

According to an initial toll cited by the minister, two civilians were killed and 14 others wounded.

The attacks have therefore raised fresh concerns over the safety of civilians and displaced people living in areas close to the front lines.

Houthis Claim Military Targets

The Houthis said their latest strikes targeted a government military camp in Marib province.

Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree claimed that Saudi-backed forces had been mobilising in the area and said the group's fighters had targeted the Sahn al-Jinn camp.

According to a Yemeni military source cited by AFP, the Houthis launched more than 10 missiles and seven one-way attack drones against military positions in Marib.

The source spoke anonymously because of the sensitivity of the military operations.

The Houthis have portrayed the attacks as a response to what they describe as a Saudi-backed military build-up in the province.

Saudi Coalition Issues Warning

A source close to the Saudi military said the Saudi-led coalition supporting Yemen's government since 2015 would not remain passive in the face of the latest Houthi attacks.

The source described Marib as a "red line" and warned that Saudi authorities would not accept a Houthi takeover of the province.

At the same time, the source said the coalition did not seek further escalation.

The statements indicate the possibility of a wider military response if the Houthis continue their offensive in the strategically important region.

Why Marib Matters

Marib is one of Yemen's most strategically important provinces because of its energy resources and location.

The province is divided between the Houthis and forces aligned with the Yemeni government. Government forces retain control of Marib city as well as key oil fields and energy facilities.

The Houthis launched a renewed offensive to capture the energy-rich province in 2021. However, fighting largely subsided following the 2022 truce.

The latest escalation threatens to reopen one of Yemen's most important battlefronts.

Truce Gives Way to Escalation

Yemen has been caught in a devastating conflict for more than a decade, with the Houthis controlling large parts of the country, including the capital, Sanaa.

The group's involvement in the broader US-Iran confrontation has further complicated the situation.

Last month, the Houthis welcomed an Iranian aircraft into Sanaa, triggering a series of retaliatory actions. The group subsequently announced a maritime blockade targeting Saudi Arabia and began attacking tankers, further increasing regional tensions.

Earlier last month, Houthi fighters also killed 16 soldiers in an attack on government-aligned forces south of the port city of Hodeidah, according to medical officials.

With fighting now intensifying around Marib, the UN's warning of a renewed large-scale conflict has added urgency to calls for restraint and a return to negotiations.

For Yemen, the latest escalation raises the prospect of another prolonged period of fighting, with civilians and displaced communities once again facing the greatest risks.