CAIRO: Saudi and other Arab foreign ministers held an emergency meeting in Cairo Sunday to discuss ways to confront Iran and its Lebanese ally Hezbollah, who the Arab allies say are interfering in their internal affairs.
Regional tensions have risen in recent weeks between Saudi Arabia and Iran over Lebanese Prime Minister Sa’ad Hariri’s surprise resignation and after an escalation in Yemen’s conflict. The emergency Arab foreign ministers meeting was convened at the request of Saudi Arabia with support from the UAE, Bahrain and Kuwait to discuss means of confronting Iranian intervention, Egypt’s state news agency Mena said.
Speaking at the conference, Ahmad Abu Al Geit, Secretary General of the Arab League, said missiles fired by Al Houthis at Saudi Arabia were Iranian. “By supplying Al Houthis with missiles, Tehran sends a message that all Arab capitals are targets,” Abu Al Geit said.
“Iranian threats have exceeded all limits, pushing the region into a dangerous abyss. Arab countries cherish their sovereignty and are able to defend their stability and security, and would never accept to live under fear or intimidation,” he added.
Addressing the gathering, Saudi Foreign Minister Adel Al Jubeir said: “Al Houthis fired 80 missiles at my country. Saudi Arabia will not stand idly in the face of such blatant aggression, and will not hesitate to defend its national security and to preserve the security and safety of its people.”
