Yemen risks full-scale war as fighting intensifies, UN envoy warns

YEMEN, RED SEA, BAB AL-MANDEB STRAIT, STRAIT OF HORMUZ, SANAA, WASHINGTON (UN SECURITY COUNCIL), 11 OCTOBER 2026 —

Yemen descends into full-scale war as Houthi offensive and Saudi-led counterstrikes displace 200,000, UN envoy warns

The United Nations Security Council convened an emergency session on Friday to address Yemen’s rapid descent into full-scale war, as a Saudi-backed military offensive launched in September has reignited the 12-year conflict and triggered a humanitarian crisis, with at least 46 civilians killed and over 130 injured since August, according to the UN.

The escalation threatens to destabilise the Red Sea trade corridor, with Saudi-led forces pushing to retake the Bab al-Mandeb Strait—a critical chokepoint for global shipping—from Iran-backed Houthi rebels. The UN’s Special Envoy to Yemen, Hans Grundberg, told the Security Council that Yemen had effectively returned to war after a 2022 ceasefire, with fighting now surpassing levels seen since the conflict’s 2014 onset.

The International Organization for Migration (IOM) reported that over 200,000 people have been displaced since September, while rights groups warn of a return to full-blown civil war.

Saudi-backed Yemeni government forces announced Operation "Dawn of Yemen" on Sunday, aiming to retake all Houthi-held territory, including the capital, Sanaa. The military claimed in a statement carried by the Saba news agency that it conducted 2,750 precision strikes in 24 hours, targeting Houthi fighters and high-value military assets.

Colonel Majid al-Nuzaili, a spokesperson for the armed forces, stated that ground forces had breached Houthi defences, recaptured key positions, and continued advancing according to operational plans. The offensive follows the Houthis’ July declaration of a blockade on ships linked to Saudi Arabia, further complicating Red Sea shipping routes already disrupted by Iranian attacks in the Strait of Hormuz.

The renewed fighting comes as Yemen’s conflict intersects with the broader US-Iran war, with Saudi Arabia increasingly relying on the Bab al-Mandeb for oil exports after the Strait of Hormuz was effectively closed. The UN’s humanitarian chief has warned that the escalation risks worsening an already dire humanitarian situation, with civilian casualties—including children—rising sharply.

The Security Council meeting highlighted deep concerns over the potential for regional spillover, as Yemen’s instability could draw in additional actors amid heightened tensions in the Middle East.

For Malaysia, the crisis poses indirect but significant risks, particularly through disruptions to global trade flows. The Bab al-Mandeb Strait handles 12% of global oil shipments, including crude bound for Asian refineries, while Red Sea shipping delays have already pushed freight costs to record highs. The Malaysian government has yet to issue a formal response, but officials are monitoring the situation closely, given its impact on fuel prices and supply chains.

The next steps will depend on whether the Security Council can broker a ceasefire or whether the war further intensifies, potentially drawing in external powers.

Related: Hans Grundberg