Arab League condemns attacks on Gulf states, warns against regional escalation

Cairo: Nabil Fahmy, Secretary-General of the League of Arab States, has strongly condemned the Iranian attacks targeting the interests and territories of neighbouring Arab Gulf states, including the recent attacks on the Saudi tanker Wedyan and the Qatari liquefied natural gas (LNG) tanker Al Rekayyat. Fahmy also denounced the repeated missile and drone attacks targeting the State of Kuwait and the Kingdom of Bahrain. In a statement issued on Wednesday, he warned of the serious risks posed by the escalating developments and their timing, noting that they come amid regional and international efforts aimed at de-escalation and restoring the normal flow of maritime navigation. Warning against escalation Fahmy said such attacks threaten ongoing efforts to reduce tensions and could once again draw the region into a wider confrontation with unpredictable and potentially serious consequences. He stressed the need to preserve stability and protect vital maritime routes that are critical to regional and international security. Full solidarity with Gulf states The Secretary-General reaffirmed the Arab League's full solidarity with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the State of Qatar, the State of Kuwait, the Kingdom of Bahrain, and all Arab Gulf countries. He emphasised that the security of the Arabian Gulf forms an integral part of the Arab national security system. Threat to shared Arab interests Fahmy said any attack targeting a Gulf state, its strategic interests or its maritime routes constitutes an attack on shared Arab interests and poses a threat to the security and stability of the region as a whole. He reiterated the Arab League’s support for efforts aimed at safeguarding regional security and protecting the interests of Arab states amid ongoing challenges.