New York — A United Nations report released last month has warned that the situation in Yemen continues to deteriorate, driven by a decade-long war, the expanding influence of the Houthi movement, and the spillover of the Gaza conflict across the Middle East.

The Panel of Experts on Yemen, whose findings were submitted to the UN Security Council in October 2025, detailed that the Houthis have intensified their attacks on vessels in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, threatening international shipping and global trade. Between September 2024 and July 2025, the group conducted at least 25 verified maritime attacks, including the sinking of two vessels that caused multiple fatalities and severe environmental damage.

The Panel noted that these attacks, carried out under the Houthis’ declared “support for Gaza,” have cut Suez Canal traffic by up to 70%, forcing ships to reroute around Africa a shift that has added two weeks to global shipping routes and driven container transport costs up by more than 250 percent.

The report also documents ongoing airstrikes by Israel, the United States, and the United Kingdom against Houthi positions and infrastructure, aimed at reducing the group’s missile and drone capabilities. Despite these operations, the Houthis retained the capacity to launch long-range attacks, including ballistic missile strikes against Israel and commercial vessels.

Inside Yemen, the Panel described worsening humanitarian conditions and systematic human rights abuses. It reported widespread arbitrary detentions, sexual violence, child recruitment, and the use of landmines and sniper fire against civilians. The Houthis’ “internal front” campaign focused on suppressing dissent and reshaping Yemen’s education and judicial systems was highlighted as a key element of their long-term control strategy.

The experts also cited growing cooperation between the Houthis and extremist groups such as Al-Shabaab, including arms smuggling and training exchanges, as well as ongoing violations of the UN arms embargo. A major seizure in June 2025 uncovered 750 tons of illicit materiel, confirming that weapons smuggling remains active.

The report concludes that Yemen’s conflict has become increasingly entangled with broader regional hostilities, drawing in outside powers and worsening one of the world’s most severe humanitarian crises. The Panel urged UN member states to strengthen sanctions enforcement, improve information sharing, and support diplomatic efforts to prevent further escalation.