France Calls for More Pressure on Houthis After UN Extends Yemen Sanctions

French foreign ministry spokesman Pascal Confavreux told journalists on Friday that the international community needs to squeeze the Houthis harder. He said the pressure must force the group to stop what he called unacceptable attacks and provocations, naming Saudi territory and adding that the strikes go beyond it. His remarks landed a day after the UN Security Council voted unanimously to extend Yemen-related sanctions, keeping asset freezes and travel bans in place for individuals and entities tied to the militants.

The UK-drafted resolution, passed Thursday, strongly condemned the Houthis' military operations, singling out attacks on Saudi Arabia. It demands the group immediately halt its military escalation and strikes, including those hitting civilians and civilian infrastructure such as commercial airports and international maritime transport.

The Houthis kept firing anyway. Spokesman Yahya Saree said Thursday the group ran two more operations against Saudi Arabia: a ballistic missile at the Yanbu oil facility, which he said hit its target, and a drone strike on Pumping Station No. 7 of the East–West Crude Oil Pipeline, known as Petroline. Saree also dismissed Saudi claims that two missiles were downed over Mecca as blatant lies.

Saudi Arabia's civil defense said debris from two intercepted Houthi missiles fell in the Mecca region, with fragments landing in the village of Sabouha. There was no immediate word on damage or injuries. Saudi forces separately said they intercepted a drone in the country's eastern region.

Coalition spokesman Turki al-Maliki said the Saudi-led coalition intercepted and destroyed a drone in the Eastern Region, calling it the third drone taken out within a span of a few hours. He gave no further details on the operation.