Riyadh: The Ministerial Council of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) virtually held its 50th extraordinary meeting on Sunday, chaired by Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Bahrain and Chairman of the current session of the GCC Ministerial Council Dr. Abdullatif bin Rashid Alzayani. The meeting was attended by Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah; Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the State of Qatar Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani; Minister of Foreign Affairs of the State of Kuwait Sheikh Jarrah Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah; Foreign Minister of the Sultanate of Oman Sayyid Badr bin Hamad bin Hamood Albusaidi; Minister of State at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the United Arab Emirates Khalifa bin Shaheen Al Marar; and GCC Secretary-General Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi.
According to Saudi Press Agency, the meeting was convened to discuss the Iranian missile and drone attacks on the United Arab Emirates, the Kingdom of Bahrain, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the Sultanate of Oman, the State of Qatar, and the State of Kuwait, which began on Saturday, February 28, 2026.
The ministerial council reviewed the extensive damage resulting from the Iranian attacks on these countries, including strikes on civilian facilities, service sites, and residential areas, causing material damage, posing threats to the security, safety, and lives of citizens and residents, and affecting civilians. It also discussed the necessary measures and steps to coordinate efforts to restore security and stability and achieve peace in the region.
The ministerial council expressed its rejection and condemnation of these attacks targeting GCC states, as well as the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, constituting a violation of the sovereignty of these states, the principles of good neighborliness, and a breach of international law and the Charter of the United Nations. Moreover, the targeting of civilians and civilian objects constitutes a violation of the rules of international humanitarian law.
The ministerial council underscored solidarity among its member states, affirming their united stance in confronting these attacks. It stressed that the security of each member state is indivisible and that any attack against one member constitutes a direct attack on all, in accordance with the GCC Charter and the Joint Defence Agreement. The council affirmed that the GCC states retain their legal right to respond under Article 51 of the United Nations Charter, which guarantees the right of self-defense, individually or collectively, in the event of aggression, and to take necessary measures to safeguard their sovereignty, security, and stability.
The council commended the efficiency and readiness of the armed forces and air defense ecosystems of the member states, which successfully intercepted missile and drone attacks, neutralizing the threats, mitigating their effects, and protecting lives, facilities, and critical infrastructure.
The council emphasized that, in light of this Iranian aggression against GCC states, the member countries will take necessary measures to defend their security and stability and to protect their territories, citizens, and residents, including the option to respond to the aggression.
Despite diplomatic efforts by the GCC states to prevent escalation, and despite their assurances that their territories would not be used to launch attacks on the Islamic Republic of Iran, Iran continued military operations targeting GCC countries, which extended to civilian and residential facilities.
The council stressed the need to halt these attacks immediately to restore security, peace, and stability in the region. It also underlined the importance of safeguarding aerial and maritime security, protecting regional waterways, ensuring the security of supply chains, and maintaining stability in global energy markets.
The council affirmed that the stability of the Arabian Gulf is not merely a regional concern but a cornerstone for global economic stability and maritime navigation.
The GCC ministerial council called on the international community to condemn and denounce these attacks, and urged the UN Security Council to assume its responsibilities by taking an immediate stance to prevent such violations, which endanger the lives of civilians, and to ensure they are not repeated, given their repercussions for regional and international peace.
The ministerial council also expressed the GCC member states’ gratitude and appreciation to the countries that condemned and denounced the Iranian attacks, and declared their solidarity and support for the GCC states in the measures they take to protect their sovereignty, security, and stability.
Moreover, the council noted that the GCC member states have advocated dialogue, negotiations, and the resolution of issues with the Islamic Republic of Iran, commending the role of the Sultanate of Oman in this regard.
The council also affirmed the importance of dialogue and diplomacy in relations among states, stressing that this path is the way to overcome the current crisis and preserve the security of the region and the safety of its peoples. It emphasized that any escalation would undermine regional security and drag the region into dangerous trajectories with consequences for international peace and security.
At the conclusion of the meeting, the GCC ministerial council extended its condolences and sympathy to the families of the victims, and wished the injured a speedy recovery.