The Gulf Ministerial Council demands that the Houthis be classified as a terrorist group and confirms support for Riyadh’s security measures

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The Ministerial Council of the Gulf Cooperation Council called for classifying the Houthis as a terrorist group, and stopping all forms of support that enable them to possess missiles and drones.

In addition, the Ministerial Council of the Gulf Cooperation Council condemned the ongoing Houthi terrorist attacks on Saudi Arabia, and the Iranian attacks on the GCC states and Jordan, stressing the solidarity of the Gulf states and their standing together in the face of the threats targeting their security and stability.

At the conclusion of its 168th session, which was held in Manama on Sunday, headed by Bahraini Foreign Minister Abdul Latif Al-Zayani, the Council stressed that the security of the GCC countries is an indivisible whole, and that any attack against a member state represents a direct attack on all GCC countries.

The Council condemned in the strongest terms the ongoing attacks launched by the terrorist Houthi militia against Saudi Arabia, including targeting the Two Holy Mosques and their surrounding areas, and attacking civilian airports and vital installations, and the civilian casualties and injuries that these attacks resulted in.

He affirmed his support for all measures taken by the Kingdom to preserve its sovereignty and protect its security and interests, stressing that the GCC states reserve their right to defend themselves, individually and collectively, in accordance with Article 51 of the United Nations Charter, and to take the necessary measures to protect their citizens and residents.

The Council called for the implementation of Security Council resolutions related to Yemen and the Houthis, most notably Resolution 2216 of 2015 and Resolution 2722 of 2024 regarding attacks on ships in the Red Sea, calling on the United Nations and the international community to ensure the strict implementation of the ban on the supply of weapons to the militia.

The Council welcomed the presidential statement adopted by the Security Council by consensus on October 15, 2026, which condemned the Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia, including targeting Aramco facilities, and affirmed the Kingdom’s right to defend itself in accordance with international law, in addition to condemning the attacks and threats targeting commercial navigation in the Red Sea and the Bab al-Mandab Strait.

At the same time, the Council affirmed the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Yemen, and its support for the political solution to the crisis through dialogue and understanding, based on the three terms of reference, represented by the outcomes of the comprehensive Yemeni national dialogue, the Gulf initiative, and the relevant Security Council resolutions.

Regarding the Iranian attacks, the Council condemned the continued attacks with missiles and drones on the Gulf Cooperation Council countries and Jordan, whether directly or through Iranian agents in the region, noting the targeting of civilian facilities, service sites, residential areas, and diplomatic missions.

He held Iran fully responsible for these attacks and their repercussions, rejecting the allegations it raises to justify them, and demanding an immediate and unconditional cessation of all attacks, provocations and threats, and full compliance with Security Council Resolution No. 2817 of 2026.

The Gulf Cooperation Council called on the Security Council and the international community to take the necessary measures to ensure the implementation of the resolution, hold those responsible for the attacks accountable, and oblige Iran to fully compensate for the damages resulting from them, in accordance with Human Rights Council Resolution No. 61/1 of 2026.

The Council stressed the vital importance of the Straits of Hormuz, Bab al-Mandab and the Red Sea, as major waterways for the global economy, stressing that ensuring their security and freedom of navigation represent a common international interest and responsibility.

He warned that closing these lanes or obstructing the movement of ships through them, targeting commercial ships and their crews, planting mines, or imposing illegal fees and restrictions on transit constitute a threat to international peace and security, and expose the supply of energy, food, medicine, and global trade to serious risks.

The Council rejected any attempts to impose prior authorization or specific transit routes in violation of the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and customary international law, calling on the International Maritime Organization to continue its efforts to protect navigation and seafarers.

He stressed the necessity of restoring the security and freedom of navigation, and for conditions in the Strait of Hormuz to return to what they were before February 28, 2026, in accordance with the rules of international law and relevant agreements, while respecting the sovereignty of the riparian countries and the rights of the countries concerned.

The Ministerial Council called for a return to the path of dialogue and diplomacy to overcome the current crisis and preserve the security and stability of the region, expressing its support for the mediation efforts and diplomatic endeavors made by the countries of the region and brotherly and friendly countries to reach a political solution that will spare the region further tension.

He stressed the need for any future understandings to include all outstanding issues, including the Iranian nuclear file, the missile program, drones, and support for proxies, on the basis of respect for sovereignty, good neighborliness, and non-interference in internal affairs.

He also stressed the necessity of involving the GCC countries in any negotiations or arrangements that affect their security and interests.