The measures taken by Saudi Arabia in response to attacks targeting oil facilities in the Eastern Province have drawn broad Gulf support, with the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) reaffirming its full backing for the Kingdom and endorsing all measures it takes to safeguard its security, sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Riyadh, meanwhile, said its strikes against militias in Iraq were carried out under its legitimate right to self-defense, stressing that it does not seek escalation but will respond to any attack against it.
GCC support
Jasem Al-Budaiwi, secretary-general of the GCC, said member states stand united behind Saudi Arabia and support all measures it takes to protect its security, sovereignty and territorial integrity.
In a statement issued Wednesday, Al-Budaiwi condemned the continued terrorist attacks by Iran-backed militias in Iraq against the Kingdom, describing them as a dangerous escalation, a flagrant violation of Saudi sovereignty, and a direct threat to the Kingdom’s security, regional stability and international peace.
He said the continued attacks undermine international efforts to reduce tensions and strengthen security and stability across the region.
Kuwait also expressed full solidarity with Saudi Arabia, reaffirming its support for all measures the Kingdom takes to protect its security, sovereignty and national assets, including its inherent right to self-defense under Article 51 of the UN Charter.
Kuwait’s Foreign Ministry said the continued attacks by Iran-backed militias in Iraq reflected those groups’ determination to escalate tensions and destabilize the region. It noted that the latest attack involved drones launched at oil facilities in the Eastern Province, even as Saudi Arabia continues to work toward easing regional tensions.
The ministry stressed that Saudi Arabia’s security is inseparable from the security of Kuwait and the other GCC states.
Arab condemnations
Qatar, for its part, strongly condemned the attempted drone attack launched from Iraqi territory, calling it a flagrant violation of Saudi sovereignty, a threat to its security, stability and territorial integrity, and a breach of international law, the UN Charter and the principles of good neighborliness.
Qatar’s Foreign Ministry reaffirmed Doha’s full solidarity with Saudi Arabia and its support for all legitimate measures the Kingdom takes to preserve its sovereignty, security and territorial integrity.
Bahrain likewise condemned the repeated terrorist attempts to target Saudi oil facilities with drones launched from Iraqi territory, describing the attacks as a dangerous escalation that threatens regional security and stability, violates the principles of good neighborliness and international law, and undermines efforts to de-escalate tensions.
Manama reiterated its full solidarity with the Kingdom and its unwavering support for all measures Saudi Arabia takes to protect its sovereignty, security and stability, including its right under Article 51 of the UN Charter to respond to the sources of aggression and deter attackers. It stressed that Saudi Arabia’s security and stability are integral to Bahrain’s national security and the GCC’s collective security.
Bahrain also praised the efficiency of Saudi air defenses in intercepting and destroying the drones before they reached their targets. It urged the Iraqi government to prevent its territory from being used as a launchpad for attacks against neighboring countries, called on Iran to end its support for armed militias, and urged the UN Security Council to fulfill its responsibilities by condemning the attacks, thereby helping safeguard maritime security, energy supplies, and regional peace and stability.
The condemnations also extended to Egypt, which strongly denounced the attacks on Saudi oil facilities and the assaults targeting Jordan, describing them as unacceptable attacks on state sovereignty and civilian and critical infrastructure, a flagrant violation of international law, and a dangerous escalation threatening regional security and global energy security.
Cairo reaffirmed its full solidarity with Saudi Arabia and Jordan, backing all measures taken by both countries to safeguard their security, stability, sovereignty and national assets. It also renewed its categorical rejection of any attack targeting civilian facilities, critical infrastructure or the sovereignty of Arab states.
The Arab Parliament likewise reaffirmed its full solidarity with Saudi Arabia in preserving its security, stability, sovereignty and vital facilities. In a statement, Arab Parliament Speaker Mohammed Al Yamahi strongly condemned the attempted drone attacks on oil facilities in the Eastern Province, praised the vigilance and effectiveness of Saudi air defenses in intercepting and destroying the hostile drones before they reached their targets, and called on the international community to take a firm stance against attacks carried out by Iran and its proxies in the region.
Saudi strikes
Early Wednesday, Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Defense announced that it had carried out precision strikes, in coordination with US Central Command, against militia positions inside Iraq that it said were linked to the attacks on oil facilities in the Kingdom.
The ministry said the operation was carried out under Saudi Arabia’s legitimate right to self-defense and the protection of its national assets. It stressed that the Kingdom does not seek escalation but will respond to any aggression against it, while reserving the right to retaliate at a time and place of its choosing.
The strikes followed the authorities’ announcement that they had foiled an attempted drone attack on oil facilities in the Eastern Province by Iran-backed militias operating from Iraqi territory, the latest in a series of attacks targeting the Kingdom.
