U.N. Security Council Hears Yemen Envoy's Final Report

The U.N. Security Council went into closed-door consultations on Monday on the crisis in Yemen and to hear former envoy Jamal Benomar give a final report.

The Moroccan diplomat resigned earlier this month after losing the support of Gulf countries for his mediation efforts as Shiite Huthi rebels pushed their offensive.

Peace talks for Yemen collapsed after the Huthis captured the capital Sanaa and advanced on the southern city of Aden, forcing President Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi into exile.

Benomar will be replaced by Mauritanian diplomat Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed, who worked as the U.N. humanitarian coordinator in Yemen from 2012 to 2014.

The United Nations is working to re-launch peace talks but has run into hurdles over the venue for meetings, with Saudi Arabia insisting that the talks be held in Riyadh.

A Saudi-led coalition launched air strikes on March 26 to push back the Huthi advance and restore Hadi's authority, but the military operation has raised international alarm over the mounting civilian toll.