Saudi UN Envoy Warns Threats to Kingdom’s Security Are ‘Red Line,’ Urges Dialogue for Yemen Crisis

NEW YORK CITY, Jan 15:  Saudi Arabia’s ambassador to the United Nations, Abdulaziz Alwasil, warned the Security Council on Wednesday that any attempt to threaten the Kingdom’s national security is a “red line” and will be met with decisive action.

Speaking during a council meeting on Yemen, Alwasil emphasized that the situation in southern Yemen is “a just cause with social and historic dimensions” that must be resolved through dialogue.

“We stress that any attempt to threaten our national security is a red line, and we will not hesitate to take the necessary actions and steps to address it and neutralize it,” he said.

Alwasil reaffirmed Saudi support for Yemeni President Rashad Al-Alimi, the Presidential Leadership Council, and the Yemeni government in their efforts to maintain security, stability, development, and peace while preserving national unity.

He condemned the unilateral military actions carried out by Southern Transitional Council (STC) forces in Hadramout and Al-Mahra on Dec. 2, 2025, stating that they were conducted without approval from the Presidential Leadership Council or coordination with the Coalition to Restore Legitimacy in Yemen. The operations, he said, escalated tensions, harmed the Yemeni people’s interests, and undermined efforts to resolve southern issues.

Saudi Arabia, in coordination with its coalition partners, the Yemeni government, and the Presidential Leadership Council, reportedly dispatched military forces to restore order and ensure STC forces returned to their previous positions, with camps handed over to legitimate authorities.

Alwasil expressed concern over the proximity of the military operations to Saudi Arabia’s southern border, describing them as a direct threat to regional security. He also welcomed a prisoner and detainee exchange agreement signed in Muscat on Dec. 23, praising Oman’s role in hosting the consultations and the UN, ICRC, and other stakeholders’ contributions.

Highlighting political efforts, the envoy said Saudi Arabia supports President Al-Alimi’s call for an inclusive conference in Riyadh, aiming to bring all southern stakeholders together to seek a comprehensive and just solution.

“The southern issue is a just cause with social and historic dimensions,” Alwasil said. “The only way to address it is through dialogue that leads to a comprehensive political solution based on nationally and internationally agreed terms of reference.”

He urged all Yemeni forces and stakeholders to cooperate and intensify efforts to reach a lasting political settlement that ensures security and stability in Yemen.