G7 leaders condemn Houthi strikes on Saudi Arabia

G7 nations expressed strong disapproval of Houthi strikes on Saudi Arabia on Tuesday, urging the Yemeni rebels to cease all military actions and return to political negotiations. The Houthis recently launched a rapid offensive, gaining control of Yemen's entire Red Sea coast, which threatens global trade and raises energy prices.

This development has solidified Iran and its allies' dominance over two critical waterways, including the Strait of Hormuz, vital for Saudi Arabia's oil exports. G7 leaders, comprising Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States, called on Iran to halt its support and arming of the Houthis, alleging Tehran is breaching past UN Security Council resolutions.

The long-standing Yemeni conflict, which began in 2014 with the Houthi takeover of Sanaa, had been largely dormant since 2022 but reignited in July. Saudi Arabia has been leading a coalition supporting the internationally recognized government since 2015, intensifying the war and aggravating one of the world's most severe humanitarian crises. Saudi-led strikes on Yemen's strategic Red Sea port of Mokha resulted in at least six deaths and eight injuries, according to Houthi-affiliated news agency Saba.

Additionally, the Houthi movement targeted Riyadh for the first time in years on Saturday, marking a significant escalation by the Iran-backed fighters. In response to the heightened tensions, the United Kingdom and France pledged military support to Saudi Arabia, providing defensive air-to-air refueling for Saudi jets and helping secure Saudi energy infrastructure from Iranian-backed Houthis, though both emphasized their strictly defensive stance.

The Houthis have attacked Saudi oil giant Aramco facilities in the Red Sea port city of Yanbu and have also disrupted the East-West Pipeline, a crucial crude oil export route. Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman urged US President Donald Trump to intervene against the Houthis, with Axios reporting that Trump had initially dismissed a similar request last week. The New York Times claimed Trump asserted the Houthis had pledged not to target US interests.

The Mecca Joint Defence Agreement, signed last month by Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, and Turkey, commits the three nations to mutual defense in the event of an attack. This pact emerged amid escalating tensions between the US and Iran, as well as attacks from Tehran-backed Houthi forces.