File Photo: Ahmed Aboul Gheit, Secretary-General of the League of Arab States. AFP
Aboul Gheit said this via videoconference at an extraordinary session of the Arab League Council at the ministerial level, chaired by the United Arab Emirates, the current chair of the council, and represented by UAE Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Khalifa bin Shaheen Al Marar.
Aboul Gheit also urged the international community, represented by the UN Security Council, to take all possible measures to halt Iranian attacks on Arab territories.
He stated that these attacks are unequivocally condemned and rejected by Arab governments and peoples alike.
Aboul Gheit stated that the attacks disregard the principles of good neighbourliness and blatantly violate international laws by targeting civilians, civilian infrastructure, and property, posing a serious threat to Arab national security.
“Today's meeting sends a clear message to everyone in the region and the world: the Arab states speak with one voice and stand united in condemning and rejecting any aggression against any Arab country, any violation of its sovereignty, or any threat to its territorial integrity and airspace,” he said.
He added that these attacks cannot be justified by any argument or excuse, as they reflect a reckless policy that undermines good neighbourliness.
He said the Arab states are not parties to the ongoing war, nor did they desire its outbreak.
"They had previously declared their refusal to allow their territories or airspace to be used as launching points for military operations. Arab states, foremost among them the Sultanate of Oman, along with Egypt and Qatar, also made sincere efforts to spare the entire region, including Iran, from the ravages of war," he stated.
Aboul Gheit said the Arab states never expected that their adherence to the principles of good neighbourliness and sincere diplomatic efforts would be met with missiles and drones targeting infrastructure and civilians.
He stressed that this unjustified Iranian aggression reflects a flawed approach and risks increasing Iran’s isolation in this difficult and sensitive situation. It may also have negative repercussions on relations between Iran and its Arab neighbours.
He called on Iran not only to review its policies and correct the major strategic mistake it committed in attacking Arab countries, but also to immediately stop these attacks.
“We also call on the international community, represented by the UN Security Council, to take all possible measures to stop Iranian attacks on Arab territories,” he added.
He expressed full solidarity with the countries that have been targeted. “I am confident in their ability to overcome these attacks and their effects as quickly as possible, God willing,” he said.
Aboul Gheit concluded by stressing that war is not a solution to problems or a path to long-term stability. “Our region has long suffered from wars and foreign interventions that have hindered its progress and caused enormous losses in recent decades. This war, with all its consequences, is no exception,” he said.
He added that despite the violence and escalation, the door to diplomacy remains open if all parties return to reason. “I call on all sides to immediately return to dialogue and diplomacy to address the outstanding issues, instead of following paths that could expose everyone to dangerous consequences.”
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