EU Demands End to Taiz Siege, Halt to Houthi Escalation, and Cessation of Iranian Support

Yemen Monitor / Newsroom: The European Union on Monday called on Iran to halt all forms of military support to the Houthi movement, deeming such continued assistance a violation of UN Security Council resolutions, while demanding an immediate end to Houthi military operations. At the same time, the bloc reaffirmed its commitment to Yemen’s unity, sovereignty, and territorial integrity, pledging continued support to the Yemeni government and the Presidential Leadership Council to address political, economic, and security challenges. In a statement issued Monday by the High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, the EU condemned the ongoing military escalation by the Houthis and their attacks targeting the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, particularly strikes on civilians and civilian infrastructure, while expressing solidarity with the governments and peoples of Yemen and Saudi Arabia. The statement characterized recent attacks on the Al-Ma’ashiq Palace in the temporary capital of Aden, the blockade of Taiz, military operations along the western coast, and strikes against Saudi territory as heinous acts, stressing the imperative of an immediate cessation of all Houthi military operations. In a prominent stance, the EU explicitly called on all parties, including Iran, to stop all forms of military assistance to the Houthis in violation of several UN Security Council resolutions, pointing to the regional dimension of the military escalation and the continuous flow of arms to the group. Support for Government and Yemeni Unity The European Union reaffirmed its unwavering commitment to the unity, sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity of Yemen. It emphasized its intention to scale up support for the legitimate Yemeni government and the Presidential Leadership Council to aid their efforts in implementing reforms, improving governance institutions, and addressing economic, humanitarian, and human rights deterioration. The EU maintained that the conflict cannot be resolved militarily, renewing its support for the UN Special Envoy and UN-led efforts to achieve a comprehensive, sustainable, Yemeni-led political settlement in line with relevant Security Council resolutions, notably Resolution 2216. Warning Against Taiz Siege and Humanitarian Crisis The statement warned that Houthi military escalation—compounded by restricted access to and rising costs of essential goods—is deepening Yemen’s humanitarian crisis, where over 22 million people require assistance amid widespread food insecurity and shortages of healthcare and clean drinking water. Noting that Taiz hosts between 800,000 and 950,000 civilians, including displaced persons, the EU cautioned against a renewed blockade amid large-scale Houthi military mobilizations. It emphasized that using civilian starvation as a method of warfare is prohibited under international law, as is using populations as human shields for military aims. The EU called on the Houthis to urgently open a humanitarian corridor to Taiz and ensure safe, rapid, and unhindered access for relief supplies to all those in need. Demand for Release of Detained UN Personnel Turning to rights violations, the EU stressed the necessity of safeguarding humanitarian workers and ensuring their freedom to fulfill their duties. It held all parties accountable under international humanitarian law and human rights law, particularly regarding the protection of civilians and civilian objects. The bloc reiterated its demand for the immediate and unconditional release of all detained humanitarian personnel held by the Houthis, including approximately 70 UN staff members arbitrarily detained in Sana’a. The EU also offered condolences to the family of Mohammed Al-Shami, an employee of the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), who died while in Houthi custody after being detained since June 2024. €110 Million in Assistance for 2026 On the humanitarian front, the European Union announced an additional €25 million in emergency relief for Yemen, bringing its total assistance allocation for 2026 to €110 million. The bloc highlighted that since 2015, it has provided nearly €2 billion to Yemen covering humanitarian relief, development aid, crisis response, and peacebuilding efforts. Safeguarding International Navigation Additionally, the EU underscored the critical importance of protecting maritime security and ensuring freedom of navigation in the Red Sea and the Bab al-Mandab Strait, in compliance with international law and UNCLOS. Condemning all threats and attacks targeting civilian and commercial vessels, the EU warned of their severe impact on regional security and global trade, confirming that the EU naval operation ASPIDES will continue its defensive mandate to safeguard shipping lanes, commercial vessels, and seafarers’ lives. The post EU Demands End to Taiz Siege, Halt to Houthi Escalation, and Cessation of Iranian Support appeared first on Yemen Monitor.