GCC foreign ministers call for Houthi militia to be designated a terrorist group

MANAMA: The ministerial council of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) has called for the Houthi militia to be designated a terrorist group. It said the Houthis should be dealt with in the same way as the international system treats terrorist groups that threaten security, peace, development and prosperity.

According to Arab TV, the GCC ministerial council issued a joint statement yesterday after its 168th session in Manama, the capital of Bahrain. The statement also urged an end to the support that helps the Houthi militia obtain missiles and drones.

Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan attended the meeting, which was chaired by Bahraini Foreign Minister Dr Abdullatif Al Zayani.

Condemnation of attacks on Saudi Arabia

The ministerial council strongly condemned the continued Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia. The attacks targeted the Two Holy Mosques and nearby areas, as well as airports and key installations, and civilians were killed and injured. The statement said these actions were a clear violation of international law and humanitarian law.

The joint statement reaffirmed full support for Saudi Arabia’s sovereignty, security and defensive measures. It said the security of member states was interlinked and that, under the joint defence agreement, an attack on any one country would be considered an attack on all members. The council also reaffirmed the right of member states to individual and collective defence under Article 51 of the United Nations Charter.

Implementation of Security Council resolutions

The statement stressed the implementation of Security Council resolutions on Yemen, the Houthi insurgency and attacks on ships in the Red Sea. The council said the United Nations and the international community should ensure that the ban on supplying arms to the Houthis is enforced. It also said the Security Council and its permanent members should fulfil their responsibilities for international peace and security.

The statement welcomed the Security Council presidential statement of 15 October 2026, which condemned the Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia and the threats to commercial shipping in the Red Sea and Bab al-Mandab.

It condemned missile and drone attacks on the Gulf states and Jordan, carried out by Iran directly or through its allies, and demanded compensation for the damage. Free and safe navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, Bab al-Mandab and the Red Sea was described as essential for the global economy and international security.

The ministerial council stressed Yemen’s sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity. It backed efforts to find a political solution to the Yemen crisis through dialogue and mutual understanding. Highlighting the principle of good neighbourliness to reduce tension in the region, it also called for the revival of talks and diplomatic efforts with Iran, based on non-interference in internal affairs.

The joint statement demanded an immediate and unconditional end to all attacks, provocations and threats, along with immediate implementation of Security Council Resolution 2817. The council also stressed the restoration of maritime security and freedom of navigation.