The European Union said on Wednesday that recent developments in Yemen’s Hadramout and Al-Mahra provinces pose new risks to stability in the Gulf region.

In a statement, an EU spokesperson called for de-escalation and urged all parties to avoid steps that could increase threats to Yemen’s stability and that of the wider region.

The spokesperson added that the European Union reaffirmed its strong commitment to Yemen’s unity, sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity, as well as its support for the Presidential Leadership Council and the Yemeni government.