Yemeni Foreign Minister Afrah Al-Zuba has described the Houthis’ siege of Taiz as a war crime, in which the population’s need for food, medicine and fuel is being used as a tool for political pressure and blackmail, Al Jazeera reports, citing Yemeni state media Saba News Agency.

Al-Zuba, who is Yemen’s first female foreign minister, demanded the immediate lifting of the siege and the permanent and safe opening of roads in and out of the city.

Speaking at the third plenary session of the Manama Dialogue 2026 in Bahrain, the minister said that ending the Houthis’ attempted “coup” and restoring Yemeni state institutions is a shared responsibility between the countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council.

“The repercussions of the coup against the state have extended beyond Yemen’s borders, affecting the security of neighbouring countries, navigation, and international interests,” the minister was quoted as saying. “This necessitates translating solidarity into practical steps to address the source of threats and to establish sustainable stability.”