Arab leaders agree to joint force to address security challenges

SHARM EL-SHEIKH, Egypt - Arab leaders have agreed in principle to form a joint military force to deal with tremendous security threats and safeguard Arab security, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El Sisi announced at the closing session of the two-day Arab League Summit in Sharm El Sheikh. 

El Sisi said a high-level team would be set up under the supervision of chiefs-of-staff of Arab armed forces to study means of forming this force. 

He also pledged to continue "working, communicating and coordinating" with Arab states to serve various common interests in the region. 

The Sharm El Sheikh Declaration, issued at the end of the Summit, called for coordinating efforts and plans to establish an unified Arab force to address current Arab challenges. 

Arab leaders reiterate support to ‘Decisive Storm’ defending legitimacy in Yemen  

Arab leaders have reaffirmed full support to the Saudi-led ‘Operation Decisive Storm’ in support of legitimacy in Yemen. 

They emphasised that the operation was based on the Arab Treaty of Joint Defense, the Arab League Charter and Article 51 of the UN Charter, as well as the responsibilities of maintaining the national unity, sovereignty and independence of the Arab states, according to a resolution on Yemen issued on Sunday at the end of the two-day 26th Arab Summit in Egypt's Sharm El Sheikh. 

The leaders expressed hope that the compelling military measures would "restore security and stability to all Yemen under constitutional legitimacy, countering Houthis' attempts supported by external parties." 

"These (external) parties aim to threaten security of Yemen, the region and the Arab national security, as well as the international peace and security through sequestration of the Yemeni will, arousing seditions and dismantling the country's social fabric and national unity," the resolution read. 

It urged the Houthi militias to "immediately withdraw from the capital Sana'a, other towns, and the government institutions they had seized as well as normalising the security situation in Sana'a and other governorates, besides returning the heavy and medium weaponry they took to the constitutional legitimate authorities."

Arab leaders reiterated "full commitment to Yemen's unity, and respect of its sovereignty and independence, rejecting all forms of intervention in its internal affairs".

They voiced support to Yemeni people and their expectations for freedom, democracy and social justice, as well as enabling them to achieve comprehensive development.

The resolution underlined the importance of "urgently" responding to Yemen President Abd Rabbuh Mansour Hadi's call for a conference on Yemen to be held in the Saudi capital of Riyadh under the umbrella of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC).

All Yemeni political powers and parties keen on the country's security and stability are supposed to come together for a national dialogue.

Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz was commended for welcoming to host the conference in Riyadh.

The resolution welcomed a UN Security Council statement, adopted on March 22, 2015, demanding the Houthis and their allies to stop their aggressions against the Yemeni governorates, especially on Ta'izz and Aden.

The Arab leaders welcomed the request by the Yemeni President for safeguarding Yemen's constitutional legitimacy, and eagerness on the implementation of the GCC Initiative, and the Security Council relevant resolutions.

Finally, they underlined support to the Yemeni leadership and people in their "continuous and open war against terrorism and piracy" and emphasised the necessity of making urgent arrangements to handle the deteriorating humanitarian situation in Yemen, where more than 16 million people are "suffering severe shortage of food and medical care”. 

UAE Chief of Staff meets Saudi counterpart in Riyadh 

Lt. Gen. Hamad Mohammed Thani Al Rumaithi, Chief of Staff of the UAE Armed Forces, met with Lt. Gen. Abdul Rahman bin Saleh Al-Bunyan, Chief of Staff of the Saudi Armed Forces at his office in Riyadh.

A number of senior Armed Forces' officers of both sides attended the meeting. During the meeting, they exchanged views on military issues of mutual interest. 

The meeting comes within the process of continuous consultation and coordination among GCC states in all fields, especially in the military field in the light of the developments being witnessed by the region.

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