Statement of Latvia at the UN Security Council briefing on the Situation in the Middle East (Yemen)
13 August 2026
Thank you, Madam President,
I thank Special Envoy Hans Grundberg and Under Secretary-General Tom Fletcher for their informative briefings, and I welcome the participation of the Permanent Representative of Yemen in today’s meeting.
Madam President,
Latvia remains deeply concerned by the deteriorating security environment in and around Yemen, which has become an increasingly significant dimension of the broader regional escalation.
We strongly condemn the renewed Houthi threats and attacks against commercial shipping in the Red Sea, as well as attacks directed at the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and condemn Iran for its continued support of the Houthis, which enables and fuels these destabilizing actions.
Moreover, violence is once again intensifying inside Yemen, with Houthi attacks targeting areas under Yemeni government control, resulting in further casualties.
Such actions come at a high cost: they erode the already fragile prospects for peace in Yemen, fuel regional instability, as well as jeopardize global freedom of navigation and maritime security. They also inflict a profound additional humanitarian and economic burden on Yemen and the wider region.
We call on the Houthis to immediately halt all attacks and exercise maximum restraint. At this critical moment, every effort must be made to prevent Yemen from being pulled further into the widening regional conflict and to safeguard the narrow window for peace in Yemen.
Madam President,
At a time when escalating tensions risk further shrinking the space for diplomacy, steps that foster dialogue and confidence become all the more essential.
The agreement on conflict-related detainees reached in May represented this rare opportunity to rebuild confidence between the parties and generate renewed momentum for the broader peace process. However, the process has yet to yield results, and the regional security situation risks further complicating implementation of the agreement. We urge the parties to honour the commitments they have undertaken and implement the agreed exchange without further delay.
The continued arbitrary detention of United Nations, humanitarian, civil society, and diplomatic personnel by the Houthis remains deeply concerning, with many individuals having been held for several years already. These prolonged and unjust detentions inflict unacceptable suffering on the individuals detained and their families, while further impeding the international humanitarian efforts. Latvia reiterates its steadfast call for the immediate and unconditional release of all those who remain arbitrarily detained.
Madam President,
Yemen remains gripped by one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises. As in many crises around the world, women and girls are disproportionately affected. Millions of women and girls face hunger and malnutrition, displacement, preventable maternal deaths, and heightened risks of gender-based violence, while access to even the most basic health services continues to erode.
As needs continue to outpace resources, the cost of underfunding is measured in lives. The international community must step up its support, while all parties must guarantee humanitarian actors safe, independent, and unimpeded access to people in need across Yemen.
Madam President,
In conclusion, I would like to reiterate Latvia’s unwavering commitment to the unity, sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity of Yemen.
A lasting and sustainable peace can only emerge from an inclusive, Yemeni-led and UN-facilitated political process - one that brings together all relevant stakeholders, and guarantees the full, equal, and meaningful participation of women. We welcome the historic appointment of Afrah al-Zouba as Yemen’s first female Foreign Minister as an important step towards this goal.
I would also like to express our strong support for the tireless efforts of the UN Special Envoy, Hans Grundberg, in advancing a peaceful resolution to the conflict, an endeavour that is all the more critical amid the current escalation and heightened risks.
We call on all parties to turn away from further escalation and take a decisive step toward a different path - one that places the Yemeni people’s security, dignity, and needs at the forefront.
I thank you.