OMM Redaksiyası
The foreign ministers of the G7 nations have called on Iran to “end its arming of and support” for the Houthis in Yemen, warning that the group’s attacks threaten regional and global energy security.
The statement was issued after a G7 meeting on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York, where senior Iranian officials are expected to speak.
According to the BBC, the ministers from the UK, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and the United States also condemned Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia and called for an immediate end to military operations against civilian shipping.
G7 calls for return to political process
“We call on the Houthis to immediately cease all military actions, all threats and attacks against civilian shipping, and to return to the political process in good faith,” the ministers said.
The warning comes as fighting intensifies along Yemen’s Red Sea coastline. Thousands of people have fled their homes after the Iran-backed Houthis seized territory near the Bab al-Mandab Strait, a key maritime chokepoint linking the southern Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden and the Indian Ocean.
The UN estimates that more than 120,000 Yemenis have been displaced by the recent escalation.
Reported strikes kill at least six in Mokha
At least six people were killed in Saudi strikes on the strategic Yemeni city of Mokha, AFP reported, citing Houthi-affiliated media. Two children and a woman were among those killed, while eight other people were injured.
The Houthis seized Mokha from pro-government forces earlier this month. Saudi Arabia, which supports Yemen’s internationally recognised government, has not commented on the reported strikes.
Saudi Arabia has responded with hundreds of air strikes in the region. The Houthis have also launched hundreds of drones and missiles at cities and infrastructure in southwestern Saudi Arabia, including the capital, Riyadh.
UK to provide refuelling support
UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham said Britain would provide “defensive air-to-air refuelling” support to Saudi Arabia using a single Voyager aircraft based at RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus.
Burnham said the decision followed a Saudi request for military support and was approved on the advice of Defence Secretary Wes Streeting and Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband.
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has also requested military support from US President Donald Trump, according to US media. The New York Times reported that Trump had spent weeks considering whether to respond to the request, while earlier telling Fox News that he was in “deciding mode” over the next steps in the conflict involving Iran.
On Sunday, US embassies across the Middle East issued new security alerts as fighting between the Houthis and the Saudi-backed coalition intensified.
