G7 foreign ministers call on Iran to end support for Houthis

PARIS, Sept 22: The Group of Seven (G7) foreign ministers have called on Iran to end military support to Houthi forces in Yemen, saying such assistance constitutes a dangerous pattern of escalation that puts international trade and global stability at risk.

In a statement following a meeting on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly, the ministers of the UK, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and the US condemned continued strikes carried out by the Houthis in Yemen and against Saudi Arabia.

“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 G7 is an informal grouping of major industrialised democracies that meets annually to discuss global policy and economic security, alongside other pressing issues of international interest.

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman also urged Trump to strike the Houthis, US media reported.

The New York Times said the crown prince called Trump on Sunday "to implore him, again" to help counter the group's advances, with Axios previously saying Trump had rebuffed a similar request last week.
Fox News reported Sunday that Trump had said the Houthis have agreed not to hit US targets.

The Houthi movement, also known as Ansar Allah (Supporters of God), is named after its late spiritual leader Badreddin al-Houthi and his son Hussein, who was killed by Yemeni government forces in 2004.
Houthi's other son, Abdulmalik, assumed the reins of power, delivering fiery speeches and transforming his group from an isolated faction in the northwest into the ruling power in the capital and a regional player.�"AL JAZEERA