Aden (South24) 

---

On Monday, the UN Envoy to Yemen, Hans Grundberg, said that hostilities in Yemen have escalated, particularly on the Al-Dhalea and Lahj fronts in South Yemen, though also on others.

The declaration came during a briefing by Grundberg to the UN Security Council, in which he addressed the challenges impeding efforts to resolve the crisis in Yemen and the state of the mediation he is leading.

"We meet at a particularly dangerous moment in the Middle East. The need for broader regional de-escalation is acute," Grundberg said.

He added: "While the country-wide military situation remains contained in comparison to the situation before April 2022, we have recently seen an escalation of hostilities on several frontlines, particularly in Al-Dhalea and Lahj."

Related: Southern forces repel largest Houthi attack in two years

Related: Southern forces repel new Houthi attack in Al-Dhalea

He pointed out that "Troop movements, intermittent fighting, and exchanges of fire have also been reported in Hodeidah, Marib, Saada, Shabwa, and Taiz governorates."

Grundberg called on "all parties to refrain from unilateral escalatory measures and engage in good faith dialogue under the auspices of the United Nations".

He touched on the horrific crime carried out by Houthi militants in the city of Radaa in Al-Bayda on March 20, when explosives leveled homes with their residents still inside, killing at least 12 civilians and wounding others.

He also criticized the Houthis' issuance of a new Yemeni riyal coin, asserting that this step "presents a real economic problem for the Yemeni people."

Related: Amid ‘counterfeit’ warning, Houthis issue new 100 riyal coin

"In my recent visits to Washington, Riyadh, Muscat, and Moscow I underlined the need for de-escalation in the Red Sea and to remain focused on the long-term objectives for Yemen," he added.

Grundberg expressed his belief that is important “to ensure that resolving the conflict in Yemen is not made contingent upon the resolution of other issues," adding that "peace in Yemen has intrinsic value."

He warned of the risks of further escalation of Houthi attacks in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, which have continued for six months, and highlighted the recent Iranian attack on Israel as an indication of the urgency of resolving the situation. 

He pointed out that if Yemen’s political process is left “in the waiting room” and the path of escalation continues, “the consequences could be catastrophic, not only for Yemen, but also for the wider region".

Grundberg stressed that without “a ceasefire in Gaza and a complete termination of attacks in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, the threat of further escalation persists".

Today, US Central Command reported in a post on X that the Houthis launched an anti-ship ballistic missile on Saturday evening, targeting the Gulf of Aden but causing no damage.

According to the post, on Sunday US Central Command forces destroyed four UAV drones in areas under Houthi control in Yemen.