Yemenis hope New Year will bring peace, stability

As the world enters the year 2026, Yemeni people are yearning for the new year to bring an end to over a decade of war and restore calm to the nation facing one of the world's most severe humanitarian crises.

Yemen, situated on the southern edge of the Arabian Peninsula, has been gripped by civil war since September 21, 2014, when Houthi forces captured the capital, Sanaa.

Over the past decade, the country has been ravaged by conflicts, its society weakened, and the peace process remains slow and fraught with challenges. Citizens are hoping tIo live in a nation free from turmoil, and at the turn of the year, that longing has grown even stronger.

"In 2026, we aspire to build a modern civil state, to achieve equality, justice, values, and ethics, and to realize the full sovereignty of our homeland across all its regions -- from east to west, from south to north. We aspire to have complete control over Yemen's sovereignty, dignity, honor, and independence. We look forward to a strong economy, cooperation, and solidarity," said Abdul Razzaq Abdullah, a Yemeni citizen.

"As we approach the new year of 2026, the consistent wish of the Yemeni people remains an end to the war, the reopening of airports and seaports, and a halt to the fighting," added another Yemeni citizen, Abdullah Radman.

In this conflict-torn nation, government institutions have long been fragmented and nearly paralyzed, causing the economy to regress continuously.

The currency keeps depreciating, prices keep rising, and people can buy less and less with the money they have. Millions of families feel the heavy pressure, as life grows harder with each passing day. People long for concrete and effective measures to alleviate the mounting economic strain.

"Our hope for 2026 is that it will be a good year for the Yemeni people -- a year that brings a lasting and sustainable political solution, achieves the unity of the Yemeni people and a unified currency system, and leads to the release of all Yemeni detainees," said Rabi Duba'an, a Yemeni citizen.

Yemenis hope New Year will bring peace, stability

United Nations (UN) Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Thursday reiterated his call for the United States and Israel to stop the war against Iran, and for Iran to stop attacking its neighbors.

Noting that the impacts of the conflict are being felt everywhere, Guterres warned that the world is on the edge of a wider war that would engulf the whole Middle East with dramatic impacts around the globe.

The secretary-general said that "the Middle East crisis has lurched into its second month", and warned that the scale of devastation, indiscriminate attacks, and targeting of civilians and civilian infrastructure are all growing.

"My message is clear. To the United States and Israel, it is high time to stop the war that is inflicting immense human suffering and already triggering devastating economic consequences. To Iran, to stop attacking their neighbors. The Security Council has condemned these attacks and reaffirmed the need to respect navigational rights and freedoms along critical maritime routes, including the Strait of Hormuz. Conflicts do not end on their own. They end when leaders choose dialog over destruction. That choice still exists, and it must be made now," he said.

Guterres said diplomatic efforts are underway to find a peaceful path forward, which "deserve the space and support to succeed -- anchored firmly in international law, including the UN Charter".

UN chief renews call for U.S., Israel to stop war against Iran