UNITED NATIONS – UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called Wednesday for maximum restraint from all parties in Yemen after southern separatists seized key eastern provinces, threatening to reignite the decade-old civil war following a prolonged truce.
The Southern Transitional Council (STC), previously backed by the United Arab Emirates and allied with Yemen’s internationally recognized government against Iran-aligned Houthis, claimed control over Hadhramaut and Mahra, solidifying its hold across the former South Yemen state. “I urge all parties to exercise maximum restraint, de-escalate tensions, and resolve differences through dialogue,” Guterres said, appealing to regional stakeholders for support in UN mediation.
Guterres, fresh from visits to Saudi Arabia and Oman, slammed the Houthis’ untenable operating environment in Sanaa and the northwest, where they arbitrarily detain 59 UN staff. He demanded the immediate release of three colleagues referred to a special criminal court over official duties, rejecting spying accusations. “We must be allowed to perform our work without interference,” he insisted, pledging continued aid despite challenges.
Nearly two-thirds of Yemen’s population,19.5 million people, require humanitarian assistance amid the crisis.