Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) foreign ministers convened an extraordinary meeting on March 1 to address the recent Iranian missile and drone attacks targeting six GCC member states — the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Qatar and Kuwait — describing the strikes as unjustified aggression that threatened civilian safety and regional stability.
In a joint statement, the ministers strongly condemned the attacks on civilian facilities, residential areas and infrastructure, calling them serious violations of national sovereignty, international law and humanitarian norms. The council emphasized its full solidarity, reaffirming that an attack on one member state constitutes an attack on all, in line with the GCC Charter and the Joint Defence Agreement.
The bloc underscored its legal right to self-defence under Article 51 of the United Nations Charter and said it would take all necessary measures to safeguard national security, stability and sovereignty — including the option of responding to further aggression. GCC ministers also commended the readiness and effectiveness of member states’ armed forces, noting successful interceptions by air defence systems helped protect lives and critical assets.
While calling for an immediate halt to hostilities to restore peace and regional stability, the GCC urged the international community and the United Nations Security Council to take decisive action condemning the attacks and preventing their recurrence. The council reiterated that dialogue and diplomacy remain essential to resolving tensions with Iran and warned that further escalation could have dangerous and far-reaching consequences for both regional and global peace.
At the close of the meeting, the GCC expressed condolences to the families of victims and wished a speedy recovery to the injured, affirming its commitment to protecting the safety and wellbeing of citizens and residents across the Gulf region.
