UNITED NATIONS, Sept. 27 (Xinhua) -- UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres condemns the continuing military escalation between Israel and the Houthis in Yemen, his spokesman said Saturday.

The secretary-general remains deeply troubled about the risk of further escalation in the region and continues to urge all parties to exercise utmost restraint, said Stephane Dujarric, spokesman for the UN chief, in a statement.

Guterres reminds all parties of their obligations to ensure that civilians are respected and protected at all times, in accordance with international law, said the statement.

On Wednesday, the Houthis struck Israel's Eilat city with a drone, reportedly resulting in 20 people injured, and on Thursday, Israel conducted airstrikes on Sanaa, the capital of Yemen, which reportedly killed at least nine people, including children, and injured over 150 others, the statement noted. ■