GCC denounces Houthi strikes on Saudi Arabia and vows collective defence
The Gulf Cooperation Council condemned recent Houthi attacks on Saudi territory and invoked its joint defence pact to support the kingdom.
After convening in Manama, the Gulf Cooperation Council released a declaration condemning the latest Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia, invoking the bloc’s collective defence agreement. The Saudi-led coalition said it intercepted two drones near Riyadh and another in the Eastern Province, while also accusing the Houthis of targeting civilian airports and critical infrastructure. Gulf ministers pressed the United Nations to tighten the arms embargo on the group and to label it a terrorist organisation.
They welcomed a recent UN Security Council resolution that censured Houthi strikes on Saudi soil and Red Sea shipping. In parallel, UAE Vice President Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan met Saudi Defence Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman Al Saud to discuss regional security, and Yemeni government forces reported ongoing offensives in Marib, Taiz and Lahij.
Why it matters
The GCC’s unified response could shape regional security cooperation and influence UN actions against the Houthis.
How this story developed
- Oct 5 Yemeni government troops capture key positions on Bab el-Mandeb Strait
- Oct 12 Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Turkey demanded an immediate and unconditional halt to Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia.
- Oct 12 Saudi officials announced the continued closure of King Khalid International Airport pending safety inspections.
- Oct 12 Saudi authorities have extended the shutdown of King Khalid International Airport until Saturday after renewed Houthi missile and drone strikes, prompting airlines to cancel flights to and from Riyadh.
- Oct 12 Airport shutdown extended to Oct 17 for safety checks.
- Oct 13 Delta postponed its inaugural Atlanta‑Riyadh flight.
- Oct 13 Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps reported hitting a supertanker attempting to exit the Strait of Hormuz.
- Oct 13 Saudi civil defence alerts stopped operating before the attacks, leaving no public warnings.
- Oct 13 A missile hit the administrative building of Saudi Aramco in Dhahran, causing a minor blaze but no injuries.
- Oct 14 The coalition struck Sanaa’s al‑Suhaba fuel facility and warned nearby residents to evacuate.
- Oct 15 Saudi‑led coalition launched air strikes on Houthi positions in Sanaa, breaking the 2022 ceasefire
- Oct 16 Missiles hit Aden airport and a ballistic missile targeting Yanbu was intercepted.
- Oct 17 President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi said Egypt stands ready to defend Saudi Arabia if requested and called for an emergency parliamentary session to authorize such action.
- Oct 18 Egyptian parliament scheduled an emergency plenary meeting to consider a defence mandate for Saudi Arabia.
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