UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has expressed deep concern regarding recent air strikes carried out by the United States in Yemen, which reportedly resulted in significant civilian casualties. According to statements made by Guterres’s spokesman, Stephane Dujarric, the strikes occurred in and around the port of Ras Issa on April 17 and 18, where they reportedly killed approximately 80 individuals and injured around 150 others, including five humanitarian workers.
The U.S. military stated that the strikes aimed to disrupt supplies and funding to the Houthi rebels, who control large areas of Yemen, deemed the poorest country in the Arabian Peninsula. This incident marks the deadliest attack in the U.S. military’s ongoing campaign against the Iran-supported group, which has lasted for over 15 months.
Guterres warned about potential damage to the crucial port and highlighted fears regarding possible oil leaks into the Red Sea, which could have dire environmental implications. In his statement, he also urged the Houthis to cease their missile and drone attacks targeting both Israel and vessels in the Red Sea immediately.
In recent weeks, the U.S. military has intensified its air strikes against the Houthis, with nearly daily operations aimed at curtailing their threats to commercial shipping in strategic waters, including the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden. The Houthis, in turn, have claimed that their attacks are a response to Israel’s ongoing blockade of humanitarian aid to Gaza, where Israel is engaged in a protracted conflict with the militant group Hamas.
Dujarric relayed that Guterres remains “deeply troubled” by the potential for escalating violence in the region and called on all parties involved to exercise the utmost restraint to prevent further deterioration of the situation. The international community watches closely as tensions rise, underscoring the volatility of the region as humanitarian concerns mount amid military actions.
