On the escalation of Houthi attacks and implications for regional security

B100479/2026

European Parliament resolution on the escalation of Houthi attacks and implications for regional security

(2026/2939(RSP))

The European Parliament,

– having regard to the Charter of the United Nations and to international humanitarian law and international human rights law,

– having regard to the relevant UN Security Council resolutions on Yemen, in particular resolutions 2722 (2024), 2739 (2024) and 2768 (2025) concerning Houthi attacks on merchant and commercial vessels in the Red Sea,

– having regard to the reports and statements of the UN Secretary-General and the UN Special Envoy for Yemen concerning the situation in Yemen and regional security,

– having regard to the report sent by the UN Secretary-General on 9 July 2025 concerning Houthi attacks on merchant and commercial vessels in the Red Sea (S/2025/455),

– having regard to the reports and findings of the UN Group of Eminent International and Regional Experts on Yemen,

– having regard to the Council conclusions of 25 June 2018 and of 18 February 2019 on Yemen,

– having regard to Council Common Position 2008/944/CFSP of 8 December 2008 defining common rules governing control of exports of military technology and equipment and to the Arms Trade Treaty of 24 December 2014,

– having regard to the reports and statements of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) and the World Food Programme concerning the humanitarian situation in Yemen,

– having regard to the statements by the World Health Organization (WHO) of 29 September 2026 concerning the humanitarian and health consequences of the recent escalation of hostilities in Yemen,

– having regard to its previous resolutions on Yemen, in particular its resolution of 11 February 2021 on the humanitarian and political situation in Yemen,

– having regard to Rule 136(2) of its Rules of Procedure,

A. whereas the recent escalation of attacks by the Houthis has further intensified the conflict in Yemen and increased tensions across the region; whereas, according to Saudi Arabian authorities, a Houthi attack on King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh on 10 October 2026 killed at least 12 people and injured 309, raising serious concerns about the protection of civilians and the risk of further regional escalation; whereas the recent escalation has also involved extensive air strikes by Saudi Arabia and forces supporting the internationally recognised Yemeni Government against Houthi-controlled areas in Yemen, which have caused numerous civilian casualties and destroyed civilian infrastructure;

B. whereas, in July 2026, Saudi Arabia struck Sana’a International Airport in violation of the UN-brokered ceasefire of 2022; whereas this action reignited the conflict and led to the current escalation on the Arabian Peninsula and in the Bab al-Mandab Strait; whereas, since 2015, Saudi Arabia has imposed a blockade on Yemen’s ports and airports, hindering the importation of food and medicine; whereas the humanitarian situation in Yemen remains among the worst in the world and risks deteriorating further as a result of the renewed hostilities; whereas, according to OCHA, more than 22 million people in Yemen require humanitarian assistance and protection in 2026, including 5.2 million internally displaced persons;

C. whereas, since October 2023, the Houthis have launched attacks against Israel and commercial shipping in the Red Sea, claiming to act in solidarity with the Palestinian people in response to Israel’s military offensive in Gaza; whereas the genocide in Gaza and its regional repercussions have contributed to the widening of hostilities and heightened instability across the Middle East; whereas addressing regional insecurity requires taking into account the broader political context, including the situation in Palestine;

D. whereas, according to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), the recent escalation of hostilities in the Middle East is taking a devastating toll on civilians; whereas deaths, displacement and damage to civilian infrastructure are increasing at an alarming rate in Yemen, including in Aden and Sana’a; whereas the ICRC has warned that further escalation could have catastrophic consequences for tens of millions of civilians across the region;

E. whereas the ongoing conflict and the escalation of attacks on shipping routes and energy infrastructure have serious economic consequences extending far beyond the region; whereas disruptions to maritime trade in the Red Sea and the Bab al-Mandab Strait, together with threats to oil production and exports, have contributed to rising energy prices and increased uncertainty in global markets;

F. whereas the Houthis receive military and political support from Iran, contributing to the regionalisation of the conflict; whereas the involvement of regional and international powers, including several Member States, has further complicated efforts to achieve a peaceful resolution and increased the risk of a wider regional confrontation; G. whereas the renewed hostilities and military interventions by regional and international actors risk further destabilising Yemen and the wider Middle East; whereas there can be no sustainable military solution to the conflict, and renewed diplomatic efforts under the auspices of the United Nations are essential to achieving a lasting ceasefire and an inclusive political settlement;

H. whereas several Member States continue to export arms and military equipment to countries involved in the conflict in Yemen, including Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates; whereas such exports risk fuelling the conflict, contributing to violations of international humanitarian law and facilitating the diversion of weapons to other armed groups;

I. whereas, according to the WHO, more than 800 people were killed and thousands more injured in Yemen between 6 August and late September 2026 as a result of the recent escalation of hostilities; whereas the continuing violence is placing further pressure on an already severely weakened healthcare system and increasing the suffering of the civilian population;

1. Strongly condemns the attacks carried out by the Houthis against merchant and commercial vessels in the Red Sea, which threaten the safety of seafarers, undermine freedom of navigation and risk further destabilising the region; calls on the Houthis to immediately cease all attacks against merchant and commercial vessels, to release all persons unlawfully detained in connection with such attacks and to comply fully with international law;

2. Strongly condemns the war waged by Saudi Arabia on the Yemeni people; strongly condemns the blockade of Yemeni ports and airports by Saudi Arabia and the air strikes, which have led to a catastrophic human rights situation; calls on Saudi Arabia to immediately end its blockade and to comply fully with international law;

3. Stresses that the protection of civilians, civilian infrastructure and civilian shipping must remain a fundamental priority; calls on all parties to comply with international law, including international humanitarian law where applicable, and recalls the principles of distinction, proportionality and precaution in the conduct of hostilities;

4. Expresses deep concern about the risk of further military escalation in the Red Sea and the wider Middle East, fuelled in particular by the Israeli genocide in Gaza and the criminal attacks of Israel and the United States against Iran; calls on all relevant actors to exercise restraint, refrain from actions that could widen the conflict and pursue diplomatic solutions; stresses that military responses cannot provide a sustainable solution to the security challenges facing the region;

5. Expresses deep concern over the decision of several Member States to deploy military personnel, radars and air defence systems to Saudi Arabia; warns that deploying military forces in an active conflict zone risks dragging the EU into direct hostilities; stresses that protecting oil infrastructure must not serve as a justification for further military involvement in the conflict; urges all Member States to refrain from any military involvement that could contribute to further regional escalation, and instead prioritise diplomatic efforts towards de-escalation and peace;

6. Reaffirms its support for a Yemeni-led and Yemeni-owned inclusive political process under the auspices of the United Nations; calls for the EU and its Member States to strengthen diplomatic engagement with the relevant Yemeni, regional and international actors in order to address the root causes of the conflict, reduce regional tensions and support a lasting political settlement in Yemen;

7. Underlines that the security of maritime routes cannot be separated from the wider political and humanitarian context; calls for coordinated international efforts to prevent further escalation, protect civilian shipping and address the underlying drivers of insecurity, while ensuring full respect for international law and the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the countries in the region;

8. Expresses grave concern about the continuing humanitarian crisis in Yemen and its devastating consequences for the civilian population; calls on all parties to ensure safe, rapid and unhindered humanitarian access to people in need, to protect humanitarian personnel and infrastructure, and to refrain from actions that obstruct the delivery of essential goods, including food, medicine and fuel; calls for the EU and its Member States to increase humanitarian assistance in line with identified needs and to support international efforts to prevent the further deterioration of living conditions;

9. Notes with concern that, since the war in the Gulf region broke out and the Strait of Hormuz was closed, and because of the regional escalation, the profits of oil and gas companies have surged, while energy bills for households and European businesses have increased sharply; calls on the Commission and the Member States to put forward measures aimed at providing targeted support to households and small and medium-sized enterprises, and at reducing the EU’s dependence on fossil fuels and accelerating the sustainable energy transition;

10. Calls on all states to comply fully with applicable international obligations concerning arms transfers and arms embargoes, including the relevant obligations under UN Security Council Resolution 2216 (2015) and the Arms Trade Treaty; calls for the EU and its Member States to ensure rigorous and transparent assessments of arms exports in accordance with Common Position 2008/944/CFSP, as amended; calls, furthermore, for the EU and the Member States to suspend arms exports to the parties to the conflict in Yemen where there is a clear risk that such weapons could be used to commit serious violations of international humanitarian law;

11. Stresses that all EU action aimed at safeguarding maritime security in the Red Sea, including the EU’s Naval Force (EUNAVFOR) operation ASPIDES, must remain strictly within the mandate thereof and comply fully with international law; calls for transparent reporting on the operation’s objectives, activities and results, including its contribution to the protection of civilian shipping and the prevention of further escalation; underlines that maritime security operations must complement, rather than replace, diplomatic efforts towards a sustainable political settlement;

12. Calls on the Vice-President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy (VP/HR) and the Council to pursue a coherent EU approach that combines maritime security, conflict prevention, humanitarian assistance and diplomatic engagement; stresses that an immediate and permanent ceasefire in Gaza, unhindered humanitarian access and the de-escalation of the confrontation with Iran are essential to any lasting solution to regional insecurity, including in the Red Sea; stresses the importance of close coordination with the United Nations, regional organisations and relevant regional actors, with a view to reducing tensions and supporting a lasting peace;

13. Calls on the VP/HR, the Council and the Member States to launch a diplomatic initiative with a view to establishing negotiated maritime safety arrangement for the Red Sea;

14. Insists that the only lasting solution to the threats to human life and regional stability is an immediate ceasefire and a just and lasting peace, negotiated in accordance with the UN Charter and international law; calls for the EU to finally assume an active role as a mediator and to support all diplomatic efforts in this direction instead of pursuing the logic of military escalation;

15. Calls on the VP/HR to keep Parliament regularly informed of developments concerning the security situation in the Red Sea, the implementation and impact of EU maritime security measures, and diplomatic efforts to de-escalate tensions and bring about a political settlement in Yemen;

16. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the Vice-President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, the governments and parliaments of the Member States, the United Nations Secretary-General, the UN Special Envoy for Yemen and the relevant regional organisations and authorities.