The foreign ministers of the G7 group condemned the Houthi attacks on Yemen and Saudi Arabia on Monday and called on Iran to stop its support for this group, including the provision of weapons.
Immediate Call to Stop Attacks
The statement emphasized that the Houthis must "immediately cease all military actions, threats, and attacks against civilian vessels and return to the political process in good faith." This statement was issued as the Houthis recently carried out attacks towards Saudi Arabia.
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UK Military Support for Saudi Arabia
British Prime Minister Andy Burnham announced that his country would provide limited military support to Saudi Arabia. During his trip to New York for the United Nations General Assembly, he stated that the Royal Air Force (RAF) would provide defensive air refueling for Saudi aircraft.
Burnham stated that the UK has received a "request for military support" from Saudi Arabia and is taking action to secure the interests of the UK and the wider region. He added: "Saudi Arabia is experiencing attacks and is looking to prevent further disruptions, so we must keep [oil] routes open." Reports indicate that this agreement, which will begin soon, is time-limited and may last several weeks.
This mission will involve the use of Voyager tankers from the Royal Air Force and will be added to the Sky Sabre air defense system already deployed in Saudi Arabia. This mission will help protect Saudi aircraft from drone and missile attacks, rather than assisting in attacks against Iran-backed Houthis.
Since 2015, Saudi Arabia has led a military coalition to support the internationally recognized Yemeni government in its war against the Houthis. In July, a 2022 ceasefire between the Houthis and Saudi Arabia was broken due to the landing of an Iranian aircraft in Yemen's capital, Sanaa, which challenged Saudi control over Yemeni airspace.
On Saturday, a Houthi attack on Riyadh was the first attack on the Saudi capital in recent years. The Houthis have also declared a blockade on Saudi vessels in the Bab al-Mandab Strait, a vital global maritime route, and the Red Sea.
In addition to vessels associated with Saudi Arabia, oil facilities within Saudi Arabia, one of the world's largest oil exporters, have also been targeted by Houthi drone and missile attacks.
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