Gulf states hold extraordinary meeting in Riyadh to boost military coordination, readiness

By Hussien Elkabany and Ikram Kouachi

ISTANBUL (AA) - Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states held an extraordinary meeting in Riyadh on Wednesday to discuss strengthening cooperation and coordination among their armed forces amid continued attacks by Yemen’s Houthi group on Saudi Arabia.

The meeting was held by the GCC Armed Forces Operations and Training Committee, according to a statement from the UAE Defense Ministry.

The GCC comprises Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain and Oman.

The ministry said the extraordinary meeting took place at the headquarters of the GCC General Secretariat but did not disclose the names of the participants.

It said the meeting discussed “several issues aimed at strengthening joint military cooperation in operations and training,” as well as “developing coordination and integration mechanisms” among Gulf armed forces.

The discussions also sought to “support joint Gulf defense efforts and enhance military readiness and efficiency in the fields of operations and training,” the ministry said.

The statement did not detail any decisions made at the meeting or directly mention discussions on Houthi attacks against Saudi Arabia.

The meeting comes amid escalating attacks by Yemen’s Houthi group on Saudi Arabia and Gulf and international efforts to halt them.

The GCC has not issued a statement on the meeting so far. However, its Secretary-General Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi called Sunday for “effective” international action against the Houthi group at the conclusion of a ministerial meeting in Manama.

Yemen has seen a military escalation since July between government forces backed by the Saudi-led coalition and the Houthis, following a period of relative calm associated with a truce that began in April 2022.

The conflict in Yemen began after the Houthis seized the capital Sanaa and several provinces in September 2014.

Ikrame Imane Kouachi