Gulf Foreign Ministers' Council calls for designating Houthi militia as a terrorist group

The foreign ministers of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries affirmed the Council’s full solidarity with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, standing as one united front alongside it, and supporting all measures it takes to safeguard its sovereignty, protect its security, and defend its interests. They stressed that the security of GCC states is indivisible, and that any attack on any member state constitutes a direct attack on all GCC states, in accordance with the Collective Defense Agreement.

In the final statement issued by the Council’s ministerial meeting at its 168th session in Manama, the capital of Bahrain, the foreign ministers emphasized the GCC states’ inherent right to self-defense, individually and collectively, in accordance with Article 51 of the UN Charter, and to take all necessary measures to protect their citizens and residents, and to preserve their sovereignty, security, stability, and interests.

The ministerial council strongly condemned the ongoing attacks launched by the Houthi terrorist militia against the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, including strikes on the Two Holy Mosques and their surrounding areas, as well as attacks on civilian airports and critical infrastructure, which have resulted in civilian casualties and injuries. These acts constitute a blatant violation of international law and international humanitarian law. The council expressed its sincere condolences to the victims’ families and wished the injured a speedy recovery.

The council called for the implementation of UN Security Council resolutions concerning Yemen and the Houthi rebellion, including Resolution 2216 (2015), adopted under Chapter VII of the UN Charter, and Resolution 2722 (2024) regarding attacks on ships in the Red Sea. It urged the United Nations and the international community to ensure strict enforcement of the arms embargo on the Houthi militia as stipulated in those resolutions. It also called on the Security Council, and particularly its permanent members, to fulfill their responsibilities in maintaining international peace and security, enforcing its resolutions, and treating freedom of maritime and air navigation as a shared international interest that brooks no selectivity.

Furthermore, the council called for designating the Houthi militia as a terrorist organization and treating it in line with how the international community deals with terrorist groups that threaten security, peace, development, and prosperity. It also called for halting all support that enables the militia to possess missiles and drones.

The council welcomed the presidential statement adopted by consensus by the UN Security Council on the 15th of this month, which condemned the continuous and escalating Houthi attacks on the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, including strikes on Aramco facilities, and affirmed the Kingdom’s right to self-defense under international law. It also condemned attacks and threats against commercial navigation in the Red Sea and the Bab al-Mandab Strait.