European Council voices solidarity with Saudi Arabia and Yemen, condemns Houthi escalation

The European Council has issued a strong condemnation of the ongoing Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia and Yemen, emphasizing the need to cease violence against civilians and infrastructure. In a statement released during the European Union leaders' summit in Brussels, the Council expressed solidarity with Saudi Arabia and the Yemeni government, urging an immediate end to military escalation by the Iran-backed Houthi militia.

The statement highlighted the dire humanitarian situation exacerbated by the conflict and called for increased international aid to alleviate the suffering of the affected populations. Furthermore, the Council urged the Houthi militia to halt all military actions targeting civilian shipping, as these attacks pose a threat to maritime security in the Red Sea and Bab al-Mandab Strait.

The European Council recognized the crucial role of the EU's naval defense mission, EUNAVFOR Atalanta, in promoting regional stability through coordination with existing initiatives. It emphasized the importance of strengthening the mission in accordance with its mandate and stressed the necessity of integrating international efforts to ensure freedom of navigation in the region.