UN Security Council alarmed by fighting in Yemen's Marib
UN Security Council condemned the "escalation" of armed clashes around the Yemeni city of Marib.
UNITED NATIONS (AFP) - The United Nations Security Council on Thursday condemned the "escalation" of armed clashes around the Yemeni city of Marib, warning of a worsening humanitarian catastrophe.
Since last month, Huthi rebels have been pushing to seize Marib, the government s last northern stronghold and the capital of an oil-rich region.
The Security Council said the fighting "places one million internally-displaced persons at grave risk and threatens efforts to secure a political settlement when the international community is increasingly united to end the conflict."
In a statement, it "stressed the need for de-escalation by all, including an immediate end to the Huthi escalation in Marib (and) condemned the use of child soldiers in Marib."
The Iran-backed Huthis and the government have been locked in a power struggle since 2014, when the rebels seized control of the capital Sanaa.
The rebels says any ceasefire agreement can only begin after the Saudi-led blockade of Yemen is lifted.
A Saudi-led military coalition intervened in 2015, enforcing a naval and air blockade to prevent the smuggling of weapons to the rebels from Iran -- allegations Tehran denies.
The UN Security Council also condemned cross-border attacks against Saudi Arabia.
