UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has expressed deep concern over the resumption of attacks by Yemen’s Houthi rebels on commercial ships in the Red Sea. UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric conveyed the secretary-general’s position during a regular briefing in New York on Friday local time.

Dujarric said the new Houthi attacks could draw Yemen deeper into regional conflict and seriously damage prospects for peace in the country. He said the situation could also lead to major economic, humanitarian and environmental consequences.

The UN spokesperson stressed the need to fully restore international navigation and freedom of movement through the Bab al-Mandab Strait and nearby sea routes. Guterres called for violence to stop and for the situation to be de-escalated immediately amid the crisis.