IRIA News

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The Arab League has strongly condemned a wave of Iranian missile and drone attacks targeting several Arab states, describing them as illegal and unprovoked acts that threaten regional stability and international peace.

In Resolution No. 9241, adopted during an extraordinary ministerial meeting held virtually on March 8, 2026, the Arab League Council denounced Iranian strikes on the State of Qatar, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the Sultanate of Oman, the State of Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, the Kingdom of Bahrain, the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, and the Republic of Iraq.

The emergency meeting was convened at the request of Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Bahrain, Oman, Kuwait, and Egypt as tensions in the Middle East intensified following Iranian retaliatory strikes across the region.

The Council said the attacks constituted a serious violation of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the affected countries and warned that they posed a grave threat to regional and international security.

Arab League ministers also condemned what they described as Iran’s deliberate targeting of civilian infrastructure, including airports, seaports, energy facilities, food security services, public service sites, residential areas, and diplomatic premises.

According to the resolution, these strikes endangered civilian lives, caused casualties, and resulted in material damage, in what the Council called a flagrant violation of international law and international humanitarian law.

Solidarity with Arab States

The Arab League reaffirmed its full support for the sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity of the affected states and expressed complete solidarity with governments facing the attacks.

It endorsed the right of those countries to take all necessary measures to defend their territories, protect their citizens, and ensure national security.

The Council stressed that the security of Arab states is indivisible, recalling the provisions of the Arab League Charter and the Joint Arab Defense and Economic Cooperation Treaty, which state that an attack on any member state is considered an attack on all.

The resolution also reaffirmed the right of the targeted countries to self-defense individually or collectively under Article 51 of the United Nations Charter.

Arab foreign ministers praised the readiness and professionalism of defense and security forces in the affected countries, noting that interceptions of ballistic missiles and drones helped reduce casualties and limit damage.

Several countries reported that air defense systems successfully intercepted many incoming missiles and drones during the attacks.

Calls for International Action

The Council called for an immediate halt to the military attacks and urged Iran to stop all provocative actions or threats against neighboring countries.

It also accused Tehran of using proxy groups and armed militias across the region to escalate tensions.

Arab League ministers called on the United Nations Security Council to assume its responsibilities by issuing a binding resolution condemning the Iranian strikes and demanding that Tehran halt the attacks immediately and unconditionally.

The Council further encouraged affected Arab states to pursue diplomatic and legal action through international institutions, including the UN General Assembly and the Security Council, to hold Iran accountable for the consequences of the attacks.

In addition, the resolution stressed the need for Iran to comply fully with international law, particularly obligations to protect civilians and civilian infrastructure during armed conflicts.

The ministers also emphasized the importance of maintaining freedom of navigation in key international waterways.

Concerns over Global Shipping Routes

The Arab League warned against any attempt by Iran to disrupt international shipping routes, particularly in the Strait of Hormuz and the Bab El-Mandeb Strait.

The Council condemned Iranian threats to close the Strait of Hormuz or interfere with maritime traffic, warning that such actions could endanger global energy supplies and destabilize the international economy.

Officials noted that the Gulf region plays a critical role in global oil exports and maritime trade, making freedom of navigation in these waterways essential for international economic stability.

The Council said any obstruction of lawful maritime passage would have serious consequences for regional security and global energy markets.

Broader Regional Concerns

Beyond the immediate crisis, the Arab League also addressed other regional security issues during the emergency meeting.

Ministers reaffirmed their support for the unity and sovereignty of Lebanon and stressed the need for the Lebanese state to exercise full authority across its territory.

The Council welcomed a recent decision by the Lebanese Cabinet to ban all security and military activities of Hezbollah and restrict the group’s role to political activity within constitutional and legal frameworks.

The decision also emphasized that weapons should remain exclusively under the control of the Lebanese state and its legitimate institutions, including the Lebanese Armed Forces and official security agencies.

Arab ministers said this step was necessary to strengthen Lebanese state institutions and maintain national stability. At the same time, the Council called on influential international actors to pressure Israel to halt its attacks on Lebanon and implement relevant international resolutions.

The meeting also reiterated support for a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, calling for the establishment of an independent Palestinian state based on the June 4, 1967, borders with East Jerusalem as its capital.

Escalating Regional Conflict

The Arab League meeting comes amid rapidly escalating tensions across the Middle East. The current crisis intensified after U.S. and Israeli strikes against Iran beginning on February 28, which Tehran said prompted its retaliatory attacks.

Iran has since launched missile and drone strikes targeting Israel and several Gulf states that host American military bases.

Arab League Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul Gheit described the Iranian attacks as reckless and called them a “massive strategic mistake.” Speaking during the emergency meeting, he said the strikes “cannot be justified under any pretext or excuse.”

He also emphasized that Arab states were not parties to the conflict and had made clear that their territories and airspace should not be used to launch attacks.

According to Aboul Gheit, several countries, including Oman, Qatar, and Egypt, had previously made serious diplomatic efforts to prevent the region from sliding into war.

Despite international concern, Iranian strikes across the Gulf region have continued. Saudi Arabia reported intercepting 15 drones, including one targeting the diplomatic quarter in the capital Riyadh.

The United Arab Emirates said its air defenses detected 17 ballistic missiles, destroying 16 while one fell into the sea. Bahrain reported that falling missile debris wounded three people and damaged a water desalination facility.

In Kuwait, authorities said two border guards were killed during the attacks, while a drone strike targeted fuel tanks at the country’s international airport.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said Tehran would continue to respond to attacks against it but insisted that Iran did not seek conflict with neighboring populations.

“Responding does not mean we have disputes with that country or wish to harm its people; we would be responding out of necessity,” he said in remarks broadcast on state television.

Uncertain Path Ahead

As the conflict enters its second week, the risk of wider regional escalation remains high. The Arab League has tasked its diplomatic missions and ambassadorial councils worldwide with communicating the contents of the resolution to foreign governments and international organizations.

The organization also instructed the Arab Group at the United Nations to coordinate efforts to support states targeted by the Iranian strikes and pursue international condemnation.

With military exchanges continuing across the region and diplomatic tensions rising, officials warn that the situation could further destabilize the Middle East unless efforts to de-escalate the conflict succeed.