As the Houthi rebels consolidate their grip on power and anti-coup protests escalate, Yemen is being dragged into a perpetual state of turmoil while the country "sits on the brink of collapse," the United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon warned the Security Council on Thursday.Considering the steady humanitarian deterioration, "Yemen is collapsing before our eyes. We cannot stand by and watch," the U.N. chief said, briefing the 15-member council alongside the U.N. Special Advisor on Yemen, Jamal Benomar. "The political, humanitarian and security environments pose serious challenges for U.N. operations. Nevertheless, the U.N. will not leave [Yemen]," Benomar said.Along with violence and mass political demonstrations, the advance of the Iranian-allied Shiite Houthi group raises fears of the possible disintegration of the country. The capital, Sana'a, has been under Houthi rebel control since September 2014, and the country has been facing severe political instability after the takeover of the presidential palace by Houthi militants, which prompted President Abd Rabbuh Mansour Hadi to tender his resignation. Since then, the country has suffered from the absence of political authority.Following the United States, Britain and France announced they closed their embassies in Yemen and evacuated their personnel, Germany and Italy "temporarily" closed their embassies in Sana'a due to security threats posed by Yemen-based al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP), one of al-Qaida's most deadly and innovative affiliates, and Houthi militias. The Saudi Arabian embassy also suspended operations and withdrew its staff on Friday.The closure of the U.S. Embassy in Yemen was criticized by U.S. officials who said that the embassy closure would hurt U.S.-led counterterrorism operations in the country. The operations, including the use of armed drones against al-Qaida targets, were reportedly strained due to the fact that U.S. agencies were having difficulty acquiring intelligence.Despite the pressure of the international community, Shiite militants seemingly will not cede power. "The Yemeni people won't cede power in the face of threats," spokesman Mohammad Abdulsalam said, quoted by the official Saba news agency, which the Shiite Houthi militia now controls. Abdulsalam insisted that Yemenis were "engaged in a process of self-determination free of any [foreign] tutelage."Yemen has strategic importance, as the country is located next to oil-rich Saudi Arabia and on a key-shipping route from the Suez Canal to the Gulf. Additionally, Yemen plays a significant role for Saudi Arabia against Iran's influence over the violence-hit Middle East region and the country is a U.S. ally in Washington's fight against the radical militant group al-Qaida, which poses a significant threat to Western countries. Therefore, a Western-backed centralized and powerful government is crucial for the U.S. to conduct counterterror strikes and operations against radical militants. Yemen is home to al-Qaida's deadliest franchise, the AQAP, which has orchestrated numerous high-profile terrorist attacks, including claiming responsibility for the Jan. 7 Charlie Hebdo massacre in Paris. Moreover, the fall of Hadi's Western-backed government will lead to global fears of further terrorist attacks.The country has long suffered from political instability and insecurity due to threats posed by various militant groups. Since former President Ali Abdullah Saleh stepped down in 2012, ending his 33-year rule, the country has been in a state of constant conflict. In addition to the Houthi rebels, the AQAP also poses a significant security threat to the Yemeni government, as militants have tried to impose control over many cities. In addition to clashes between government forces and Houthi militants, rival militant groups have fought a bloody battle to gain control over several places.