🔶 Gulf Cooperation Council calls for Houthis to be designated as a terrorist group

The Gulf Cooperation Council on Sunday, October 18, in its final statement from the 158th session of the Council of Ministers of the GCC in Manama, the capital of Bahrain, called on the international community to recognize Yemen’s Houthis as a terrorist organization and to deal with them in the same way as groups that threaten international security, peace, and stability.

The foreign ministers of the member countries also called for the cessation of all support that enables the Houthis to obtain missiles and drones.

The session was chaired by Abdul Latif Al-Zayani, Bahrain’s foreign minister.

At the same time, the GCC strongly condemned the continuing Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia. In the statement, the council said that these attacks— including areas related to the two holy mosques of Muslims and around them, civilian airports, and vital facilities—targeted these locations and led to the killing and wounding of civilians.

The council said these actions constitute a clear violation of international law and international humanitarian law, and expressed condolences to the families of the victims.

The member countries also emphasized their full support for Saudi Arabia and the measures this country has taken to protect its sovereignty, security, and interests.

The statement said that the security of the Gulf Cooperation Council member states is “indivisible,” and that, based on the joint defense agreement, any attack on one member is considered a direct attack on all member states.

The council also, citing Article 51 of the United Nations Charter, emphasized the right to individual and collective self-defense of the member states and the taking of necessary measures to protect their citizens, residents, security, and stability.