World · Middle East · 16 hrs ago
GCC urges countries to designate Houthis as a terrorist group
The Gulf Cooperation Council urged global designation of the Houthis as a terrorist group at a meeting in Manama, Bahrain.
The council brings together Gulf states, including Saudi Arabia, and said the Houthis should be treated like other groups it considers a threat to security and peace.
It condemned Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia and expressed solidarity with the kingdom, saying an attack on one member state concerns them all.
The council called for an end to support for Houthi missiles and drones and for stronger enforcement of the UN arms embargo on the group.
It welcomed a UN Security Council statement from October 15 that condemned attacks on Saudi Arabia and threats to commercial shipping in the Red Sea and Bab al-Mandeb Strait.
The council also backed a political solution for Yemen through dialogue, based on existing agreements and UN resolutions.
The Gulf Cooperation Council called for the Houthi militia to be designated as a terrorist group.
The call came in a final communique issued after the council’s 168th session in Manama, Bahrain, on Sunday.
The council also urged an end to support that enables the Houthis to acquire missiles and unmanned aerial vehicles.
It condemned Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia and expressed solidarity with the kingdom.
The council called for enforcement of UN resolutions and the arms embargo on the Houthis.
- Who
- The Gulf Cooperation Council Ministerial Council.
- What
- It called for designating the Houthi militia as a terrorist group and ending support that enables it to acquire missiles and drones.
- When
- Sunday, October 18, 2026.
- Where
- Manama, Bahrain.
- Why
- The council said the Houthis threaten security, peace, development and prosperity, and condemned their attacks on Saudi Arabia.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
The UN Security Council adopted by consensus a presidential statement condemning Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia and threats to commercial shipping.
The GCC Ministerial Council held its 168th session in Manama and issued its final communique.
The council called for designating the Houthi militia as a terrorist group and ending support that enables it to acquire missiles and drones.
- Council session
- 168th session
- Meeting place
- Manama, Bahrain
- Session chair
- Dr. Abdullatif Al Zayani, Bahrain’s foreign minister
- UN statement date
- October 15, 2026
- Arms embargo resolution
- UN Security Council Resolution 2216
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What people are saying
the security of the GCC member states is indivisible
the freedom of maritime and aerial navigation as a shared international interest that admits no selectivity