G7 demands Houthis 'immediately' cease Saudi strikes

The foreign ministers of G7 nations on Monday denounced Houthi attacks in Yemen and against Saudi Arabia while urging Iran to end its support, including arming, of the rebels,

"We condemn in ‌the strongest terms the unacceptable continued strikes carried out by ‌the Houthis in Yemen ‌and  against the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia," the ministers of Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and the United States said in a joint statement, after meeting on the sidelines of the UNGA.

The statement called 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."

British Prime Minister Andy Burnham has agreed to give limited military support to Saudi Arabia as the Middle Eastern kingdom continues to face attacks from Yemen's Houthi rebels.

Britain's Royal Air Force (RAF) will provide "defensive" air-to-air refuelling for Saudi aircraft, Burham told reporters on Monday as he travelled to New York for the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).

The prime minister said that the UK had "received a request" from Saudi Arabia for military support.

The British leader said he was "acting to secure the interests of Britain and the wider region, because of course Saudi Arabia has been experiencing attack, is looking at potential further disruption, and we need to keep those pathways [for oil] open."

Reports cited UK officials as saying that the agreement, which is likely to start within days, will be time-capped and could last for "weeks".