France welcomes the adoption yesterday by the UN Security Council of resolution 2216 on the situation in Yemen, French Foreign Ministry spokesman Romain Nadal said in a statement on Wednesday.

"This resolution, which was co-sponsored by France together with the United States and the United Kingdom, underscores the need to swiftly resume the dialogue aimed at reaching an inclusive political solution, at a time when the Houthi rebels are continuing their actions to destabilize the country," he added.

Resolution 2216 calls on the parties to ensure the protection of the civilian populations, and to respect humanitarian law and human rights.

It imposes an embargo on the supply of arms to the Houthi group and their allies and provides for individual sanctions against Abdel Malek al Houthi and Ahmed Ali Saleh.