UNITED NATIONS (Times Of Ocean)- UN chief Antonio Guterres on Saturday condemned the attacks on civilian facilities in Saudi Arabia. Houthi Iran
In as statement, the Secretary-General of the United Nations, Antonio Guterres, urges all parties to exercise restraint, deescalate, and cease hostilities.
“The Secretary-General strongly condemns the recent escalation of the conflict in Yemen including Friday’s aerial attacks on civilian and energy facilities in Saudi Arabia by the Houthis and the subsequent Coalition airstrikes in Sana’a, reportedly killing eight civilians, including five children and two women,” spokesman Stephane Dujarric said in a statement.
The UN staff residential compound in Sanaa was damaged as a result of the airstrikes.
“The Secretary-General is deeply concerned about reports of ongoing airstrikes in Hudaydah city and the targeting of Hudaydah’s ports, which provide a critical humanitarian lifeline for the Yemeni population. The Secretary-General calls for a swift and transparent investigation into these incidents to ensure accountability,” it said.
In light of the conflict entering its eighth year, Guterres reiterated his call to all parties to exercise maximum restraint, immediately deescalate, cease hostilities, and adhere to their obligations under international humanitarian law, including the principles of distinction, proportionality, and precaution.
He urged all sides to engage constructively without preconditions, with his special envoy to reduce violence and reach a negotiated settlement to end the conflict as soon as possible.
Yemen’s Houthi rebels claimed responsibility for Friday’s drone and missile attacks on Saudi energy facilities.
Aramco’s oil storage facility was targeted by one of the attacks, resulting in the fire of two storage tanks.
After the attacks, the Saudi-led coalition launched a military operation in Yemen, including in rebel-held Sanaa and the Red Sea port city of al-Hudaydah.
During the operation, the coalition said it aimed to prevent attacks on Saudi oil facilities and “protect global energy sources.”
Since 2015, the coalition led by Saudi Arabia has been battling Iran-aligned rebels in Yemen, including Sanaa.
According to the UN, the eight-year conflict has created one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises, with nearly 80% of the country in need of humanitarian assistance and protection, and more than 13 million in danger of starvation.