The UN envoy to Yemen, Hans Grundberg, said on Wednesday that the ongoing military escalation in the Red Sea is slowing down the pace of peace efforts in the country.

This came during a briefing presented by Grundberg to the Security Council.

Grundberg added that "the escalation of regional tensions related to the war in Gaza, and in particular the military escalation in the Red Sea, is leading to a slowdown in the pace of peace efforts in Yemen."

He called for "reducing the regional escalation, refraining the Yemeni parties from public incitement, and focusing the concerned parties (the countries sponsoring the peace efforts) on protecting the progress that has been achieved, until an agreement is reached."

Grundberg addressed the members of the Security Council: “Everyone in this Council has influence (..), you have a collective responsibility to protect the (UN) mediation path and ensure that the Yemenis have a real opportunity for peace.”