RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s cabinet on Tuesday strongly condemned treacherous attacks on the territories and territorial waters of the United Arab Emirates, the State of Qatar, and the State of Kuwait.
The session, chaired by the Crown Prince and Prime Minister, Prince Mohammad bin Salman, reaffirmed the Kingdom’s support for the Gulf states and the measures they are taking to protect their security and stability, the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported.
During the session, ministers also discussed regional developments, Saudi Arabia’s international cooperation initiatives, and the latest economic indicators, including advancements in the industrial and mining sectors, alongside continued investment in key sectors such as healthcare, education, and infrastructure.
The cabinet described the selection of Riyadh as the host city for a United Nations digital government centre as a reflection of the Kingdom’s growing leadership and its influential regional and global role in advancing multilateral international cooperation, fostering innovation, and promoting the use of artificial intelligence technologies to build a more inclusive and sustainable digital future.
It is pertinent to mention that the Saudi foreign ministry on Monday also condemned the treacherous attacks targeting the territories and territorial waters of the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, and Kuwait.
The Kingdom called for the immediate cessation of these blatant attacks on the territories and territorial waters of the Gulf states, and of any attempts to close the Strait of Hormuz or disrupt international maritime routes, and stresses the importance of ensuring the protection of international waterways in accordance with relevant international laws.
Meanwhile, Arab League Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul Gheit also condemned the attacks targeting Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, and Qatar’s territorial waters, affirming that they constitute a flagrant violation of international law and a threat to the region’s security and stability.
On Sunday, Kuwait’s armed forces detected multiple hostile drones in the country’s airspace early in the morning and responded in line with established procedures, according to Defence Ministry spokesperson Colonel Saud Abdulaziz Al-Atwan.
The UAE’s air defence also said its systems intercepted two drones originating from Iran on Sunday, the Defence Ministry said, marking the latest in a series of renewed attacks targeting the oil-rich Gulf nation.
In a separate incident, a cargo vessel travelling from Abu Dhabi came under drone attack in Qatari waters northeast of Mesaieed Port on Sunday, according to Qatar’s Defence Ministry.
The strike caused a minor fire onboard, which was quickly brought under control. No injuries were reported, and the vessel continued its journey to the port.
Earlier, the UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) reported that a bulk carrier sailing about 23 nautical miles northeast of Doha had been hit by an unidentified projectile.
The incidents come amid escalating tensions in the Gulf, where ships have faced attacks by Iran since the US and Israel launched air strikes on the country on February 28.
Meanwhile, the Strait of Hormuz — a crucial global energy shipping route linking Gulf oil producers to the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea — has remained largely shut down.
