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UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres received GCC Secretary-General Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi in New York on the sidelines of the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly, according to a statement from the GCC Secretariat General. The two officials strongly condemned the Houthi militia’s attacks against the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia together with their deliberate targeting of civilian objects. They underscored that these hostile actions pose a severe threat to regional peace and security.
The statement from the GCC Secretariat General noted that Guterres and Albudaiwi reviewed cooperation between the GCC and the United Nations while exploring ways to strengthen coordination on issues of mutual interest. The pair exchanged views on geopolitical developments across the region along with diplomatic efforts aimed at resolving outstanding conflicts. Their discussions also touched on broader collaboration to advance shared priorities in stability and development.
Guterres commended the substantial progress and prosperity achieved by GCC member states, the GCC statement added. He praised their contributions toward promoting lasting stability on the global stage. The meeting coincided with a series of Saudi civil defense alerts issued that Saturday across several locations.
Saudi Civil Defense issued two alerts in Riyadh, two in Al-Kharj and one in Farasan on September 20, 2026, according to multiple regional reports. Authorities specified no casualties or property damage in connection with those alerts. The incidents followed Saudi authorities’ announcement that a Houthi drone interception over Taif the preceding Thursday had left one person dead and two others injured by falling debris.
The latest joint condemnation follows a United Nations Security Council statement issued the previous Friday that denounced ongoing Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia, including strikes that caused civilian casualties and damage to infrastructure. The Council expressed solidarity with Saudi Arabia and affirmed the kingdom’s inherent right to self-defense in accordance with international law. Council members demanded that the Houthis immediately halt attacks affecting civilians and civilian objects.
In an earlier statement from August 2026, the GCC Secretary-General welcomed a prior UN Security Council condemnation of Houthi terrorist attacks on Saudi Arabia and commercial vessels that began in mid-July. Albudaiwi had stressed at the time that the security of Saudi Arabia forms an integral part of GCC security while calling on the international community to hold perpetrators accountable. He reiterated full GCC solidarity with the kingdom in defending its sovereignty and territorial integrity.
