United Nations Special Envoy for Yemen Hans Grundberg has warned the Security Council that the country’s conflict has entered a “new and more dangerous phase of war,” as a fragile four-year truce collapses.

The grim assessment came during a UN Security Council session convened after Houthi rebels captured the strategic port city of Mocha on Thursday. The city's proximity to the Bab al-Mandeb strait, a vital global trade and energy route, has heightened international concerns.

Grundberg reported that fighting has intensified across multiple provinces, including Taiz, Hodeidah, Marib, al-Jawf, and al-Bayda. Since September 3, the conflict has displaced over 11,400 households. The Houthis have also been implicated in strikes against civilian and energy infrastructure within Saudi Arabia.

The implications of these developments extend beyond Yemen's borders, with the envoy warning that the conflict's consequences "will not remain within Yemen’s borders." He urged an immediate halt to Houthi attacks on commercial vessels and stressed the need for continued engagement to protect civilians and preserve a political settlement.

Abdullah Ali Fadhel Al-Saadi, the UN ambassador for Yemen’s internationally recognized government, condemned the Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia and reiterated the kingdom's right to self-defense. He stated that the Houthi escalation had displaced at least 6,145 families, affecting approximately 44,000 people, and warned that Red Sea attacks and advances towards Bab al-Mandeb threaten international navigation.

Al-Saadi called for international community enforcement of arms restrictions, components, and expertise reaching the Houthis, suggesting a move beyond merely containing individual attacks. Saudi Arabia’s ambassador, Abdulaziz al-Wasil, echoed these sentiments, condemning Houthi strikes on September 8 that wounded 73 civilians and labeling them part of a broader regional escalation threatening international shipping. He urged the council to enforce resolutions 2216 and 2722 to halt support enabling these attacks.

The United States also condemned the Houthi actions, accusing Iran of enabling the rebels and demanding an immediate cessation of attacks and the unconditional release of detained UN, humanitarian, and diplomatic personnel. The US, along with Israel, launched a war on Iran in late February, according to the report, underscoring the complex regional dynamics at play.

Further details on the specific resolutions mentioned and the extent of Iranian involvement remain subjects of ongoing international scrutiny amidst the escalating crisis in Yemen.