The UN brokered truce between the Saudi-backed Yemeni government and Iran-affiliated Houthi rebels that had held since April expired on 2 October. The truce had brought welcome relief to Saudi Arabia which had been subject to an increasingly disruptive barrage of Houthi attacks in early 2022, and the Houthis have swiftly warned that they plan renewed attacks.

The UN had been pushing for a six-month extension, and following the truce’s expiry, special envoy Hans Grundberg released a 2 October statement that “as negotiations continue, the UN Special Envoy calls on the parties to maintain calm and refrain from provocations or any actions that could lead to an escalation of violence.” (CONTINUED - 567 WORDS)