THE United Nations on Thursday (August 6) urged Yemen’s warring parties to exercise restraint following reports of expanding Houthi attacks, warning that renewed fighting could reverse years of progress in reducing violence.
At least 30 Yemeni government troops were killed in attacks on military camps in Yemen's Marib and Hadramout provinces on Thursday, government sources said, adding that the death toll could rise.
The Iran-aligned Houthis later claimed responsibility for missile and drone strikes targeting what they described as Saudi military deployments in the two provinces.
The Houthis said they struck what they described as Saudi troop concentrations in the Al Ruwayk, Al Abr and Al Thaniyah areas with ballistic missiles and drones. The group said hundreds of Saudi-aligned fighters were killed or wounded, and that military camps, weapons depots and vehicles were destroyed.
Deputy U.N. spokesperson Farhan Haq called on the Yemeni parties to avoid actions that could trigger further military escalation.
“Renewed fighting risk reversing the hard-won gains made towards reducing violence in the past years,” Haq said.
He urged the parties to prioritize dialogue and engage constructively with U.N.-led attempts to reach a negotiated political settlement.
Haq said restraint was needed to preserve gains made in recent years and keep the parties focused on negotiations rather than renewed conflict.
