Barbara Woodward, the United Kingdom’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, called on the Houthi group, which is internationally classified as a terrorist organization, to refrain from dragging Yemen into a regional war through attacks on Israel.

During a speech at the UN Security Council meeting on Yemen, Woodward emphasized the necessity of unhindered humanitarian access to provide critical life-saving assistance to Yemenis. She underscored that all humanitarian workers, UN personnel, and diplomats should be free from intimidation and threats to operate safely.

Woodward urged the Houthis to immediately and unconditionally release humanitarian workers who have been detained for 130 days, stating that the use of special political courts would not lead to fair outcomes.

She highlighted the importance of commercial imports for the livelihoods of Yemeni citizens, cautioning that the Houthis' arms imports threaten to undermine humanitarian and commercial entities' ability to import necessary goods.

Regarding attacks on Israel, Woodward implored the Houthis to avoid escalating tensions and dragging Yemen into a regional conflict through their ongoing assaults. She reiterated the urgent need for regional de-escalation and progress toward sustainable peace in Yemen.

Woodward stressed the importance of ending the cycle of violence and prioritizing the needs of the Yemeni people, reiterating the UK’s call for urgent regional de-escalation and a move toward lasting peace in Yemen.