The Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued its response two days after the Security Council members issued their joint statement. It voiced appreciation for the council’s emphasis on compliance with international law and resolutions including Resolution 2216. Kuwait rejected any moves that could threaten regional security or the freedom of maritime navigation in the statement carried by Arab Times. The ministry reaffirmed its complete solidarity with Saudi Arabia and its support for steps taken to defend Saudi sovereignty and security.
According to accounts of the August 7 council action members condemned Houthi missile attacks on Saudi Arabia that began on July 13 and strikes against commercial vessels launched since July 22.[[1]](https://www.arabnews.com/node/2653840/middle-east) The statement further addressed unauthorized aircraft landings at Sana’a International Airport and Hodeidah Airport. Such incidents risk undermining peace efforts in Yemen and destabilising the wider region Arab News reported. Council members urged an immediate halt to further escalation that could complicate the situation.
Resolution 2216 adopted in April 2015 requires the Houthis to withdraw from all areas they seized during the conflict and to return weapons taken from state institutions. It also demands that the group cease unilateral actions reserved for the legitimate Yemeni government. The measure imposed targeted sanctions on those obstructing the political process according to United Nations records. Fourteen council members voted in favour while Russia abstained from the resolution.
Kuwait has long pushed for a negotiated end to the Yemen conflict having hosted UN sponsored peace talks in Kuwait City during 2016. Those negotiations stalled over core disagreements between the warring parties a Middle East Institute publication noted. Although Kuwait joined the Saudi led coalition at its start with a limited contingent of fighter jets it has since prioritised diplomatic initiatives over expanded military involvement.
The latest Kuwaiti statement renewed explicit support for Yemen’s internationally recognised government. It expressed continued backing for the UN Secretary General’s Special Envoy and associated initiatives aimed at restoring peace and stability. This stance fits a pattern of Kuwaiti diplomacy that seeks to reinforce legitimate institutions and encourage dialogue among Yemeni factions.
The Yemen civil war that erupted in 2014 has seen the Houthis take control of large swathes of territory including the capital. A Saudi led coalition intervened in 2015 at the request of the recognised government to counter the rebel advance according to the Council on Foreign Relations global conflict tracker. Houthi attacks on shipping have at times severely disrupted global trade flows through key maritime routes exacerbating humanitarian challenges across the region.
Qatar issued a parallel welcome to the UN Security Council position in a statement released on the same day as Kuwait’s. Other regional partners have similarly expressed full support for Saudi security measures in response to the Houthi actions. The collective diplomatic responses highlight shared concerns over threats to stability in the Arabian Peninsula and beyond.
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