UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said on Thursday that the situation in the Middle East is becoming uncontrollable.

"The situation is getting out of control. We are on the verge of what previously seemed unimaginable," the EFE news agency quoted Guterres as saying during a UN Security Council meeting.

He again called for a settlement through diplomacy rather than military action.

The agency notes that his remarks came amid rising tensions in the Middle East, in particular due to increased activity by the Yemeni Houthis.

Earlier this week, the Houthis announced a naval blockade of Saudi Arabia in response to the blockade of ports in Yemen and the attack on the international airport in Sanaa. On Tuesday, the Houthis said that the naval blockade they had declared applies not only to vessels linked to the kingdom, but to all maritime traffic heading to and from Saudi ports.

Earlier on Thursday, The Wall Street Journal, citing sources familiar with the situation, wrote that the United States is rapidly deploying troops, medical personnel and weapons to the Middle East to provide President Donald Trump with stronger military options in case the conflict with Iran expands.