The United Nations Security Council issued a presidential statement demanding an immediate halt to Houthi attacks against Saudi Arabia, as diplomatic tensions escalated following a series of strikes on civilian infrastructure and oil facilities.
The presidential statement, issued by Council President Evangelos Sekeris, condemned what the 15-member body termed reckless strikes targeting King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh on October 10 and 11, which left 13 people dead and over 300 injured. The council also cited repeated attacks on other airports and Saudi Aramco energy facilities.
Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs welcomed the presidential statement, emphasizing the kingdom’s right to self-defense under international law. In a statement reported by the Saudi Press Agency, the ministry noted that the UN body’s stance reinforces regional security against ongoing threats to commercial navigation in the Red Sea and the Bab el-Mandeb strait.
UN Security Council Demands Full Enforcement of Resolution 2216
Beyond condemning the aerial and missile assaults, the Security Council called for the full implementation of UN Resolution 2216 (2015) and subsequent resolutions. The council urged practical cooperation with the internationally recognized Yemeni government to prevent the Houthi movement from acquiring weapons, military hardware, technical assistance, and funding necessary to mount further attacks.
The council reiterated its strong support for UN Special Envoy Hans Grundberg and his efforts to secure a negotiated, comprehensive political settlement led by Yemenis. Members stressed that sustainable peace in the country cannot be achieved through violence or coercion.
Diplomatic Push in Riyadh and Warning of Severe Consequences
The diplomatic developments at the United Nations coincided with high-level meetings in Riyadh, where Deputy Foreign Minister Waleed bin Abdulkarim Al-Khereiji met with European and African ambassadors. During the briefing, officials characterized the ballistic missile, cruise missile, and drone attacks against civilian infrastructure as complete war crimes that disregard humanitarian and religious norms by targeting holy sites and pilgrims.
Earlier in the week, the Saudi Council of Ministers, chaired by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, warned that the Houthi group will face consequences for repeated attacks on the kingdom’s airports, holy sites, and economic facilities. Officials confirmed that oil flows through the East-West pipeline have been restored.
The Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs told the Saudi Press Agency that the statement's contents are important, specifically the need to fully implement Security Council Resolution 2216 (2015) and subsequent resolutions, and the call for practical cooperation to prevent the terrorist Houthi group from obtaining weapons and other forms of support.
Escalation Across Yemeni Frontlines and Presidential Palace Strike
The friction extended directly into Yemen, where military operations intensified across multiple provinces. Government officials reported that a Houthi missile attack struck the Al-Maasheeq Presidential Palace in Aden, resulting in casualties among security personnel and government staff. Yemeni Health Minister Qasem Buhaibeh stated that the Aden strike and related violence in the Al-Buriqi district left five people dead and 16 others wounded.
Simultaneously, the Saudi-led coalition conducted precautionary evacuation warnings ahead of operations targeting Houthi logistics hubs, including the Al-Sabahah oil facility west of Sana’a.
