G7 Urges Iran to Halt Support for Houthi Attacks

The Group of Seven (G7) foreign ministers have issued a joint statement calling on Iran to cease its arming and support for the Houthi rebels in Yemen. The ministers strongly condemned the Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia, stating that the recent escalation of fighting in Yemen poses a threat to regional and global energy security.

The statement was released ahead of the annual UN General Assembly in New York, where senior Iranian officials are scheduled to speak. The G7 ministers, representing the United Kingdom, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, and the United States, urged the Houthis to immediately halt all military actions, threats, and attacks against civilian shipping, and to re-engage in political negotiations in good faith.

Thousands of Yemenis have been displaced in recent days following the Iran-backed group's seizure of territory along the Red Sea coastline, including areas near the Bab al-Mandab Strait. This strait is a critical chokepoint for international trade.

Meanwhile, reports indicate that at least six people, including two children and a woman, were killed in Saudi strikes on the city of Mokha. The Houthis, who seized the city from pro-government forces earlier this month, reported that eight others were injured in the attack. Saudi Arabia, which supports Yemen's internationally recognized government, has not yet commented on these reported strikes.

The United Nations estimates that over 120,000 Yemenis have been displaced by the recent surge in fighting along the Red Sea coast. The Houthis, who already controlled most of Yemen's populated areas, took control of the Bab al-Mandab strait earlier this month. The strait connects the southern Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden and the wider Indian Ocean.

In response to the Houthi advances, Saudi Arabia has conducted hundreds of air strikes in the region. The Houthis have also launched numerous drones and missiles targeting cities and infrastructure in southwestern Saudi Arabia, including the capital, Riyadh.

The United Kingdom has pledged defensive air-to-air refueling support for Saudi Arabia, deploying a single British aircraft from Cyprus. This decision followed a request for military support from Saudi Arabia.

Reports also suggest that Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has requested military support from U.S. President Donald Trump. Trump has been deliberating on the request for several weeks, reportedly considering various options. U.S. embassies across the Middle East have issued new security alerts due to the intensified fighting.

The Houthis identify themselves as part of an "axis of resistance" aligned with Iran, opposing Israel, the U.S., and the West, alongside groups like Hamas and Hezbollah. Iran has consistently denied supplying weapons to the Houthis, stating its support is purely political.