Speaker of the Yemeni Parliament, Sheikh Yahya Ali Al-Ra’i, addressed a message to United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres, expressing deep dissatisfaction and condemnation of the Security Council statement issued on October 9, 2026, describing it as disappointing and biased in favor of the Saudi regime.
The message refuted the claims contained in the briefing by UN Special Envoy Hans Grundberg regarding threats to commercial vessels in the Red Sea and the Bab al-Mandab Strait. It affirmed that maritime navigation is proceeding normally and safely for all vessels, with the exception of those associated with the Saudi coalition, which Yemen has subjected to a ban under the “blockade for blockade” equation, in response to restrictions imposed since March 2015.
The message held the United Nations and the Security Council responsible for abandoning their humanitarian and moral roles throughout 12 years of aggression and blockade imposed by the Saudi regime on the Yemeni people.
In the message, Sheikh Yahya Ali Al-Ra’i presented statistics issued by the Ministry of Public Health and Population indicating that the total number of civilian martyrs and wounded had exceeded 60,000, “including approximately 24,000 martyrs and 36,000 wounded.” Thousands of children and women have also been killed or injured, more than 1.4 million citizens have died as a result of the repercussions of the blockade, shortages of healthcare and medicines, and the spread of diseases, while more than five million citizens have been displaced and infrastructure and civilian facilities destroyed.
The message noted that Yemen had pursued the path of peace and efforts to reach a roadmap agreement. However, the latest Saudi military escalation, which targeted Sana’a International Airport on July 13, 2026, compelled Yemen to respond in kind and impose the equation of “blockade for blockade and escalation for escalation.” It affirmed that this equation would remain in effect until military operations cease, the comprehensive blockade is lifted, and full sovereignty is attained.
The Speaker of Parliament called on the United Nations and the Security Council to review their biased positions and abandon double standards, holding both bodies responsible for the consequences of the continued repercussions of political support for military operations and their impact on international peace and security.
