UN Chief Expresses Deep Concerns over Yemen Airstrikes
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has raised serious concerns regarding recent airstrikes carried out by the United States in Yemen. A statement from his spokesman emerged on Saturday, highlighting that rebel groups in the region reported approximately 80 fatalities and around 150 injuries due to these attacks.
Dujarric noted that Guterres is particularly alarmed by the airstrikes executed on April 17 and 18 around Yemen’s Ras Issa port, where civilians suffered significant casualties, including injuries to five humanitarian workers.
Background on Airstrikes and Their Objectives
The U.S. military conducted these strikes targeting the supply chains and funding routes for the Houthi rebels, who maintain control over substantial regions of Yemen, the poorest nation on the Arabian Peninsula. This operation marks the deadliest incident in Washington’s ongoing campaign against the Iran-backed Houthi forces, which has been active for over 15 months.
Beyond the immediate human toll, Guterres has expressed concern over potential environmental hazards that could arise from the attacks. He specifically pointed out the risk of damage to the port, including the alarming possibility of oil spills entering the Red Sea.
Calls for De-escalation
In addition to condemning the airstrikes, Guterres is urging the Houthis to halt their missile and drone assaults aimed at Israel and naval vessels traversing the Red Sea. The U.S. military has been executing nearly daily airstrikes against the Houthis over the past month, seeking to curb their aggressive actions towards shipping routes in both the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden.
The Houthi leadership contends that their strikes are retaliatory measures against Israel’s blockade of humanitarian aid to Gaza, where an intense conflict is ongoing with Hamas, the Palestinian militant group.
Continued Violence Raising Regional Tensions
Dujarric further emphasized that Guterres remains
