New york: The Security Council is holding an emergency session to discuss developments in the Bab al-Mandab Strait. The UN Security Council held an emergency session last night to discuss developments in the Bab al-Mandab Strait, during which it listened to a briefing from Khaled Khiari, Assistant Secretary-General of the United Nations for the Middle East, Asia and Pacific States in the Departments of Political Affairs and Peace Operations.

According to National Iraqi News Agency, in his briefing, Khayari stressed that developments surrounding the Bab al-Mandab Strait underscore the urgent need to prevent the conflict in Yemen from further threatening the security of the Red Sea and this vital international waterway. He called for sustained engagement aimed at reducing tensions, preventing further escalation, and protecting freedom of navigation. He emphasized the need for all parties in Yemen to prioritize dialogue and engage constructively with UN-led efforts to reach a negotiated political settlement.

Khayari noted that the situation in and around the Bab al-Mandab Strait has become increasingly volatile in recent days, with escalating fighting on Yemen’s west coast and growing concerns about the conflict’s impact on civilians, humanitarian operations, and vital shipping lanes. The UN Assistant Secretary-General reiterated the UN’s condemnation of Houthi cross-border attacks on civilian infrastructure and the energy sector in Saudi Arabia. He stressed the need to restore and respect freedom of navigation in the Red Sea and the Bab al-Mandab Strait, in accordance with international law and relevant Security Council resolutions, including Resolution 2722.

Khayari also warned that continued instability around the Strait of Hormuz could have far-reaching consequences, impacting peace and security in the region. International concerns, global energy markets, food security, and the economies of vulnerable countries. He said, “The longer the strait remains blocked, the higher the global cost will be.”