Arab Inter-Parliamentary Union Condemns Houthi Attacks on Saudi Arabia, UAEhttps://english.aawsat.com/home/article/3484136/arab-inter-parliamentary-union-condemns-houthi-attacks-saudi-arabia-uae
Arab Inter-Parliamentary Union Condemns Houthi Attacks on Saudi Arabia, UAE
Chairman of the Saudi Shura Council Abdullah Al Sheikh heads the delegation that took part in the 32nd Conference of the Arab Inter-Parliamentary Union in Cairo. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Arab Inter-Parliamentary Union Condemns Houthi Attacks on Saudi Arabia, UAE
Chairman of the Saudi Shura Council Abdullah Al Sheikh heads the delegation that took part in the 32nd Conference of the Arab Inter-Parliamentary Union in Cairo. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
The Arab Inter-Parliamentary Union has strongly condemned the Houthi militia attempts to harm the people, territory and sovereignty of Saudi Arabia and the UAE.
This came in a statement following the union’s 32nd conference in Cairo on Friday, during which Sheikh Abdullah Al-Asheikh, the speaker of Saudi Arabia’s Shoura Council, led the Kingdom’s delegation.
The union condemned the recent missile and drone attacks by the Houthi militias, saying that they represent a direct threat to Arab and international peace and security.
The statement also affirmed the union’s full support for the right of the UAE sand Saudi Arabia to defend the integrity, sovereignty, citizens and security of their lands.
"No progress can be made to end the Yemeni crisis without stopping the hostilities carried out by the Houthi militias and putting an end to their repeated violations against Yemenis," the Arab parliamentarians stressed in their statement.
They also underscored the importance of cooperating to implement Security Council Resolution No. 2216 (2015), which bans the supply of arms to Houthis, as well as Arab League Resolution No. 8725 (2022), which calls for designating Houthis as a terrorist group.
They condemned the Houthi militias’ escalation and attempts to control Yemen by force and their disregard for the calls by the UN Security Council and the international community in this regard.
The Union underlined the need to free the Middle East region from weapons of mass destruction and nuclear weapons, as an effective means to help reduce the intensity of regional and international conflicts and disputes and achieve international peace and security.
It called for employing the advanced sciences of nuclear energy exclusively for peaceful purposes.
Regarding Palestine, the Union reiterated its firm position of solidarity and permanent support for the Palestinian cause and right to establish an independent Palestinian state, with East Jerusalem as its capital on the June 4, 1967 borders, in line with relevant UN resolutions and the Arab peace initiative.
The parliamentarians further stressed the importance of solving any Arab conflicts internally and preventing any regional interferences in Arab affairs to ensure the security and stability of the Arab region.
Saudi Foreign Minister Meets with French Counterpart in Riyadhhttps://english.aawsat.com/gulf/5268204-saudi-foreign-minister-meets-french-counterpart-riyadh
Saudi Foreign Minister Meets with French Counterpart in Riyadh
Photo by SPA
Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah met Thursday in Riyadh French Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Jean-Noël Barrot, SPA reported.
During the meeting, they reviewed relations and discussed regional and international developments and their implications for security and stability.
How Did the Jeddah Summit Support Joint Gulf Action?https://english.aawsat.com/gulf/5268084-how-did-jeddah-summit-support-joint-gulf-action
How Did the Jeddah Summit Support Joint Gulf Action?
The flags of Gulf countries are raised in Jeddah ahead of the summit (SPA)
Gulf leaders meeting in Jeddah this week urged faster progress on joint projects and deeper military integration, seeking to reinforce collective security and economic coordination amid heightened regional tensions.
In a statement after the consultative summit on Tuesday, GCC Secretary-General Jasem Albudaiwi said leaders called for accelerating completion of requirements to link all shared Gulf projects, including transport and logistics. They stressed speeding up implementation of the Gulf railway, advancing electricity interconnection, and taking prompt steps toward oil and gas pipeline and water-link projects.
The statement also pointed to studying strategic Gulf stockpiles, while emphasizing intensified military integration and faster completion of a joint early warning system against ballistic missiles.
The direct wording - repeating terms such as “accelerate” and “urgency” - reflected a push for concrete outcomes and highlighted Saudi Arabia’s initiative in convening the summit amid complex regional conditions.
28 April 2026, Saudi Arabia, Jeddah: Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman meets with Bahrain's King, Hamad bin Isa bin Salman, on the sidelines of the Gulf Cooperation Council Consultative Summit. Photo: Saudi Press Agency/APA Images via ZUMA Press Wire/dpa
Qatar’s Emir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, said the meeting reflected Gulf unity. “Our consultative summit today in Jeddah embodies a unified Gulf position toward current developments and the need to intensify coordination and consultation,” he stated, adding that this would strengthen diplomatic efforts, safeguard regional security and stability, and support development and prosperity.
Extending Gulf leadership efforts
Abdulaziz Sager, chairman of the Gulf Research Center, told Asharq Al-Awsat that the summit was convened in response to conditions facing the Gulf region following the US-Israeli-Iranian war, aiming to coordinate GCC positions and contain its repercussions.
The goal is to enhance efforts to address this crisis and its consequences - security, economic and otherwise - to stabilize the region, safeguard GCC interests and strengthen collective security, he underlined.
Sager added that the summit builds on efforts led by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and other Gulf leaders, within the broader vision of King Salman bin Abdulaziz to strengthen joint Gulf action, deepen economic unity, and develop defense and security systems toward more sustainable integration.
He revealed that these discussions also addressed reinforcing Gulf unity to better manage current challenges and anticipate future crises.
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman receives the Kuwaiti Crown Prince Sheikh Sabah Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah ahead of an exceptional meeting of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), In Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, April 28, 2026. Bandar Algaloud/Courtesy of Saudi Royal Court/Handout via REUTERS
Toward independent Gulf decision-making
Sager said the summit is expected to build on the GCC success in confronting Iranian missile and drone attacks, using that experience to develop a comprehensive defense strategy, which would focus on modern armament suited to evolving warfare, training, and external defense partnerships, while reinforcing self-reliance.
Leaders reaffirmed the right of GCC states to self-defense, individually or collectively, under Article 51 of the United Nations Charter, and to take all measures to protect sovereignty, security and stability. They stressed full solidarity among member states and that their security is indivisible, with any attack on one considered an attack on all, in line with the joint defense agreement.
Albudaiwi said leaders praised the “courage and high readiness” of GCC armed forces in defending against Iranian attacks, noting their ability to intercept missiles and drones with professionalism and efficiency while safeguarding national assets.
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman receives The Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani ahead of an exceptional meeting of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), In Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, April 28, 2026. Bandar Algaloud/Courtesy of Saudi Royal Court/Handout via REUTERS
Alternative routes on the agenda
Sager noted that developing alternative corridors to secure energy supply chains will likely be a key focus in the coming period, reflected in leaders’ directives to move ahead with pipeline projects and transport infrastructure.
Political analyst Ahmed Alibrahim agreed, saying the summit statement underscored Saudi Arabia’s role in securing supply chains during the crisis and working on alternative energy routes, including through the East-West pipeline, as part of addressing risks linked to the Strait of Hormuz.
He described the statement as unusually direct. “This is one of the rare times we see a clear and explicit communiqué with firm directives, especially regarding future requirements and open-ended scenarios,” he said, citing uncertainties including potential setbacks in US-Iran negotiations or other serious developments.
For his part, political analyst Mohammed Al-Dossary believes that the importance of the GCC lies in its ability to navigate many crises, including the Iraq-Iran War and Iraq's occupation of Kuwait.
He stressed that the collective consciousness of Gulf citizens recognizes the importance of unifying the Gulf stance to overcome crises, including the current one and the implications of the Strait of Hormuz closure.
Saudi Crown Prince Receives Written Messages from Rwanda’s President, Japanese PMhttps://english.aawsat.com/gulf/5268062-saudi-crown-prince-receives-written-messages-rwanda%E2%80%99s-president-japanese-pm
Saudi Crown Prince Receives Written Messages from Rwanda’s President, Japanese PM
Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud. SPA
Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister, received a written message from Rwanda’s President, Paul Kagame, expressing his country's solidarity with the Kingdom in light of the current situation in the region.
The message was received by Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah during a meeting at the ministry's headquarters in Riyadh with his Rwandan counterpart, Olivier Nduhungirehe.
During the meeting, the two sides discussed bilateral relations and reviewed a number of issues of common interest.
The Crown Prince also received a written message from Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, concerning relations between the two countries.
The message was received by Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Waleed Elkhereiji during a meeting at the ministry's headquarters in Riyadh with the Japanese Ambassador to the Kingdom Yasunari Morino.
During the meeting, the two officials reviewed relations between Saudi Arabia and Japan and discussed various topics of common interest.
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