Saudi Arabia is urging the international community to take action against the Houthi rebels in Yemen, emphasizing that the group's escalating attacks pose a significant threat beyond regional stability. The Saudis are experiencing increased pressure as Houthi strikes target vital infrastructure, including oil facilities and shipping lanes. This includes a recent attack on Riyadh and continued threats to key crude export routes like the East-West Pipeline and the Red Sea port of Yanbu, both critical for maintaining global oil flows.
The G7 nations, including Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States, have already expressed solidarity with Riyadh. They have called on the Houthis to immediately cease all military actions and threats against civilian shipping, urging them to return to a political process. The G7 also specifically appealed to Iran to end its arming and support for the Houthis, citing violations of UN Security Council resolutions, and noted that Houthi gains strengthen Iran's control over crucial waterways such as the Strait of Hormuz.
While projecting calm, Saudi Arabia finds itself with limited direct allies in confronting the Houthis. France has pledged support for securing Saudi energy infrastructure with a "strictly defensive approach" that avoids direct conflict participation, and the UK has offered "defensive" air-to-air refueling for Saudi jets. Meanwhile, Saudi air defenses have recently intercepted multiple Houthi ballistic missiles targeting cities like Taif and Yanbu. Yemen's Saudi-backed government forces have also been repelling Houthi pushes on critical supply routes to Aden, underscoring the ongoing military challenges.
