Gulf states pledge to defend Saudi Arabia as Houthi attacks and Yemen fighting intensify
GCC ministers called an attack on one member an attack on all six. In Taiz, hospitals have four days of fuel left and more than 233,000 people have fled their homes.
At a glance
- GCC foreign ministers meeting in Manama condemned repeated Houthi strikes on Saudi Arabia, including on civilian airports.
- The bloc invoked its joint defence agreement and urged countries to designate the Houthis a terrorist organisation.
- The Saudi-led coalition said it shot down two drones near Riyadh and in the Eastern Province early Sunday.
- The IOM says more than 233,000 Yemenis have been displaced; the WHO warns Taiz's 12 hospitals have fuel for four days.
The six members of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) have closed ranks behind Saudi Arabia after a wave of deadly Houthi attacks on the kingdom.
'An attack on all'
Meeting in Manama, Bahrain, on Sunday, October 18, GCC foreign ministers condemned the Iran-aligned Houthis' repeated strikes on civilian airports and vital facilities in Saudi Arabia. They said an attack on any member state affects all six — Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar and the UAE — invoking their joint defence agreement and backing Riyadh's right to defend itself.
The ministers called for tighter enforcement of the UN arms embargo and urged other countries to designate the Houthis a terrorist organisation. They welcomed a UN Security Council statement on October 15 condemning the strikes and threats to Red Sea shipping.
The Saudi-led coalition said it shot down two drones near Riyadh and in the Eastern Province early on Sunday. The US Embassy issued a security alert urging Americans to be vigilant and to expect flight cancellations and airspace closures, and restricted official travel to Riyadh's airport and areas near the Yemeni border.
Fighting inside Yemen
On the ground, the Houthis fired missiles towards the central city of Marib, while government forces reported gains in Taiz. Yemen's internationally recognised government asked the UN Security Council to act after an attack on the presidential palace in Aden, where it is temporarily based.
A deepening humanitarian crisis
The International Organization for Migration says more than 233,000 people have been displaced, about 121,000 of them in Taiz province. Supply routes into Taiz are cut, cooking gas has run out and food prices have reportedly risen fivefold. The World Health Organization warned that the city's 12 hospitals have fuel for only four more days and have run out of surgical supplies, while a cholera outbreak spreads.
Questions people are asking
Why are the Houthis attacking Saudi Arabia?
Fighting between the Iran-aligned Houthis and Yemen's Saudi-backed government has escalated sharply in recent weeks, alongside the wider regional war involving Iran. The Houthis have struck Saudi airports and energy sites.
Is it safe to travel to Saudi Arabia?
The US Embassy has urged heightened vigilance and warned of flight cancellations and airspace closures. Check your airline and your government's travel advice before travelling.
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