30,000 free tickets reportedly distributed for Saudi Arabia's opening Gulf Cup match

G7 nations, comprising Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States, have expressed solidarity with Saudi Arabia amid ongoing threats from Iran-backed Houthi rebels. In a joint statement, these leaders urged the Houthis to cease all military actions and threats against civilian ships, and to engage in good-faith political negotiations.

They also called on Iran to cease arming and supporting the Houthis, alleging Tehran's violation of past UN Security Council resolutions. The Houthis' recent gains have bolstered Iran's influence over vital waterways, such as the Strait of Hormuz, crucial for oil shipments from Saudi Arabia, a top crude exporter.

The Yemeni conflict, which began in 2014 with Houthi forces seizing the capital Sanaa, had been largely dormant since 2022 but erupted again in July. Saudi Arabia has been leading a coalition in support of Yemen's internationally recognized government since 2015, escalating the war that has resulted in a severe humanitarian crisis.

In retaliation for a Houthi attack on Riyadh, Saudi Arabia launched strikes on the strategic Red Sea port of Mokha, killing at least six people and injuring eight others, according to the Houthi-affiliated news agency Saba.

Britain's Prime Minister, Andy Burnham, agreed to provide military support to Saudi Arabia on Monday, promising defensive air-to-air refueling for Saudi jets. France pledged to assist in securing Saudi energy infrastructure targeted by the Iran-backed Houthis, while adopting a defensive stance, not participating in the conflict.

Meanwhile, Yemen's governing body head, Rashad al-Alimi, called US President Donald Trump for support against the Iran-aligned forces, though Trump did not promise military aid. Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman also urged Trump to help counter the Houthi advance, though Trump had previously rebuffed similar requests.

The Houthi movement, also known as Ansar Allah, traces its roots to the late spiritual leader Badreddin al-Houthi and his son Hussein, who was killed by Yemeni government forces in 2004. Abdulmalik, another son of the late leader, took control of the group, transforming it from a minor faction into the ruling power in Sanaa and a regional force.

Recently, Abdulmalik questioned Saudi Arabia's military actions, suggesting that if other nations faced similar strikes, it would lead to significant crises. He also warned Pakistan and Turkey against becoming entangled with Saudi Arabia politically and financially, in the face of the ongoing US-Iran tensions and Houthi attacks from the region.