Al-Badawi: 7,000 Ballistic Missiles Targeted Gulf Facilities

Manama (Agencies): The Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), Jassem Al-Bouaidi, confirmed that Gulf facilities have been targeted by approximately 7,000 ballistic missiles since last February.

Speaking at the 168th GCC Ministerial Council meeting, chaired by Bahraini Foreign Minister Dr. Abdul Latif bin Rashid Al Zayani and attended by the foreign ministers of GCC member states, including Kuwaiti Foreign Minister Sheikh Jaber Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, Al-Bouaidi emphasized that the heinous attacks carried out by the terrorist Houthi militias against the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia present us with a deliberate criminal behavior that disregards the sanctity of human life, the safety of civilian facilities, and the consequences of escalation on the security and stability of the region. He reiterated the unequivocal condemnation of these brazen attacks, rejecting the continued targeting of airports, civilian infrastructure, and energy facilities, as well as the terrorization of civilians and endangerment of travelers and workers.

Al-Bouaidi affirmed that GCC member states stand by Saudi Arabia in all measures it takes to protect its security. He expressed the Council’s hope for a Russian role that contributes to compelling Iran to comply with UN Security Council resolutions.

On international affairs, he stressed the importance of prioritizing dialogue in the Russian-Ukrainian crisis. On another front, he rejected any Israeli attempts to displace Palestinians from Jerusalem and Gaza. He also emphasized the GCC’s aspiration to develop joint GCC-Russian cooperation amid the delicate circumstances facing the region.

For his part, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov stressed the importance of the Gulf states’ role in shaping regional stability, noting that enhancing ties with the GCC is among the priorities of Russian diplomacy. He underscored that Russia supports efforts aimed at preventing the region from sliding into a large-scale war.

In turn, the Bahraini Foreign Minister expressed his hope that Russia would leverage its relationship with Iran to ensure compliance with international resolutions. Al-Zayani stressed the necessity of reaching a comprehensive solution that guarantees the establishment of a Palestinian state, emphasizing the importance of enhancing security and stability in the region. The minister condemned the disruption of navigation in the Hormuz Strait and the Bab al-Mandab, as well as the Houthi attacks on civilian targets in Saudi Arabia, affirming that the security of GCC member states constitutes a fundamental pillar of international security.