Foreign ministers of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) declared their full solidarity with Saudi Arabia on Sunday, October 18, 2026, as Houthi drone and missile attacks on the Kingdom continued. Meeting in Manama, Bahrain, for the 168th session of the GCC Ministerial Council, the six-nation bloc backed the measures Riyadh is taking to protect its sovereignty and called for shipping to move freely through the Strait of Hormuz, Bab al-Mandeb and the Red Sea.
What the GCC statement said
According to Anadolu Agency, the council’s statement made four main points:
- Saudi Arabia: full support for the Kingdom’s steps to protect its security and interests.
- Yemen: support for Yemen’s unity and sovereignty, and a political settlement based on dialogue, the GCC Initiative, the National Dialogue outcomes and UN resolutions.
- Shipping: freedom of navigation is a shared international responsibility; the ministers rejected restrictions on shipping and called for conditions in the Strait of Hormuz to return to where they were before February 28.
- US–Iran tensions: backing for mediation, with any deal expected to cover Iran’s nuclear and missile programmes, drones and support for armed proxies, and with Gulf states included in talks that affect their security.
Talks with Russia’s Lavrov
On the same day, the GCC ministers held a strategic dialogue with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in Manama. Arab News reported that both sides discussed diplomatic efforts to keep the Strait of Hormuz and Bab al-Mandeb open, and agreed to step up consultation on regional disputes. Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan also met Lavrov separately to discuss the escalation in Yemen and threats to navigation.
The situation on the ground
The meeting came hours after Saudi Civil Defense said a projectile launched by the Houthis landed in a residential area of Najran in the southwest, injuring six Saudi citizens and damaging three homes and three vehicles. Saudi officials called the targeting of civilian areas a flagrant breach of international humanitarian law. Earlier this month, a strike on Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport caused deaths and injuries, including among travellers heading for Umrah.
Why it matters for Indian Muslims
Millions of Indians live and work in the Gulf, and Saudi Arabia is home to Islam’s two holiest Masjids in Makkah and Madinah. Security in the Kingdom directly affects families in India who depend on Gulf earnings, and the thousands of zaireen planning Umrah each month. Open sea lanes through Hormuz and the Red Sea also shape fuel prices and trade costs back home. The Indian Embassy in Riyadh has asked Indian nationals to follow Saudi emergency instructions closely, and pilgrims should confirm flight status with airlines and authorised Umrah operators before travelling.
Read our related coverage: Mecca Defence Pact meeting in Riyadh, OIC foreign ministers meet in Baghdad and a practical guide for Umrah travellers facing flight disruptions.
Key facts
- Meeting: 168th session of the GCC Ministerial Council, Manama, October 18, 2026
- Message: full solidarity with Saudi Arabia amid Houthi attacks
- Shipping: call for free navigation in Hormuz, Bab al-Mandeb and the Red Sea
- Diplomacy: GCC–Russia strategic dialogue with Sergey Lavrov
- Latest incident: six injured in Najran on October 18
FAQ
Which countries are in the GCC?
Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, Kuwait, Oman and Bahrain.
Is Umrah still open?
Nothing in the GCC statement or the Indian Embassy advisory suspends Umrah. Pilgrims should check with airlines and authorised operators, and follow Saudi alerts during their stay.
Official GCC updates are published on the GCC Secretariat General website.
Source: Anadolu Agency — Gulf states express solidarity with Saudi Arabia; Arab News — GCC, Russia discuss freedom of navigation; Najran incident
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