Yemen’s Houthi rebels shook up the Mideast with a sudden blitz. Iran helped, sources tell AP

The Group of Seven (G7) has strongly denounced Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia and the group's military operations in Yemen. In a joint statement on Monday, G7 foreign ministers emphasized that the situation in Yemen represents an "unacceptable threat to regional stability and security, to global energy security" and also posed risks to the Red Sea and the Bab al-Mandeb Strait.

The G7 nations include Germany, France, Italy, Japan, Canada, the United Kingdom and the United States. Last week, the Houthi militia seized control of Yemen's western coast, granting them access to the strategically vital Bab al-Mandeb Strait, which serves as the gateway to the Red Sea. Saudi Arabia has faced renewed threats from the militia since the latest escalation in the conflict.

Recognizing the heightened importance of the Bab al-Mandeb Strait due to the ongoing crisis in the Strait of Hormuz, the G7 has called upon the Houthis to immediately suspend all military actions, threats and attacks against civilian shipping. Additionally, the G7 urged Iran to cease arming and supporting the Houthis, while expressing its "full solidarity" with Saudi Arabia and Yemen's internationally recognized government.