On February 8, Al Sharq Al Awsat reported that the Arab League has rejected the Houthi rebels' takeover of the Yemeni government. The UN and the GCC have also condemned the move. The Houthi rebels, a Shiite insurgency movement, is thought to be receiving Iranian military and non-military support, a claim Iran denies; the group has long complained of under-representation and discrimination by successive Yemeni governments. After recently taking over Sanaa and placing Yemen's president under house arrest, the group announced the formation of a popular security committee to lead an interim government until a national-unity government can be formed over the next two years.

Al Arabiya