Arab leaders have agreed in principle to “form a joint military force to address growing Arab challenges and threats” in a resolution following a 2-day summit of representative countries in Egypt, a move that bolsters cooperative efforts to stem the growth of extremism and instability in the Middle East.
Leaders from Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Qatar, the UAE, and other regional powers met at the Egyptian resort town of Sharm El-Sheikh for the summit over the weekend, and emerged with an agreement to form the force to act in unison to address regional challenges like the crisis in Yemen, fighting extremists groups, and more.
The resolution “will be mainly tasked with swift military intervention in case an Arab League member state comes under threats, including terrorist ones,” Saudi Arabia’s press agency (SPA) said.
King Salman addresses the summit in Egypt. Photo via SPA.
Participation in the force is voluntary for each member state. The move follows the Saudi-led offensive into Yemen to defeat the Iranian-supported Houthis, in which 10 nations, including the United States, participated with direct airstrikes or support. The communique confirmed the legitimacy of the strikes:
“The Arab leaders have reaffirmed full support to the ‘Determination Storm’ operation in support of legitimacy in Yemen…The Arab leaders expressed hope that the compelling military measures would restore security and stability to all Yemen under constitutional legitimacy, countering Houthis’ attempts supported by external parties,” the SPA said in a statement, but did not name Iran specifically as an external party. “These external parties aim to threaten security of Yemen, the region and the Arab national security, as well as the international peace and security through sequestration of the Yemeni will, arousing seditions and dismantling the country’s social fabric and national unity.”
Saudi Arabia pressed ahead with airstrikes for a 5th day on Houthi positions in Yemen, according to reports, targeting Houthi arms, air defense systems and missile launch pads, and even the presidential palace in the capital.
King Salman arrives at Egypt’s Sharm El-Sheikh with Yemen’s President Hadi.
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Below is the full communique as published by the Saudi Press Agency.
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The Arab leaders have agreed in principle to form a joint military force to address growing Arab challenges and threats. The resolution came following two-day meetings that focused on Yemen, Libya, Syria and terrorism.
Under the resolution, it is up to each Arab country to join the joint military force, which will be mainly tasked with swift military intervention in case an Arab League member state comes under threats, including terrorist ones. Arab leaders asked Secretary-General of the Arab League Nabil Al-Araby to meet with Arab chiefs of staff within one month to discuss the details of the joint force.
The Arab leaders have re-affirmed unwavering support for the UAE’s full sovereignty on the three Gulf islands; Greater Tunb, Lesser Tunb and Abu Musa.
The Arab leaders declared backing for all measures and peaceful means Abu Dhabi may resort to restore its sovereignty on the three occupied islands.
The Arab leaders condemned Iran’s action aimed at bolstering its occupation of the three islands, its recurring breaches of the memorandum of understanding, signed by the two countries on Abu Musa, on November 20, 1971. Iran has taken provocative actions aimed at altering the island’s demographic status, through construction of housing units and settling non-natives on it, in addition to illegitimate construction of installations as well as carrying out military maneuvers and drills.
The final communique clarified that the Iranians have been building hospitals and facilities for economic, cultural, social, sports and religious purposes. Moreover, the island often witnesses visits by Iranian officials. Such acts constitute blatant breaches of the UAE sovereignty on the three islands; they are illegal and do not erase the fact that the UAE enjoys sovereignty on the three islands.
The Arab leaders urged Iran to respect the UAE sovereignty on the islands, halt such violations and provocative acts that constitute intervention in internal affairs of an independent and sovereignty state. Moreover, it urged Tehran to abstain from enforcing a de facto situation and halt building installations, with intention to change the demographic status on the islands.
Furthermore, the summiteers urged the government in Tehran to accept direct negotiations with Abu Dhabi or resort to the International Court of Justice to seek a peaceful settlement to the issue on basis of international laws and rules.
The Arab leaders have reaffirmed full support to the ‘Determination Storm’ operation in support of legitimacy in Yemen. They empathized that the operation was based on the Arab Treaty of Joint Defense, the Arab League Charter and Article 51 of the UN Charter, as well as the responsibilities of maintaining the national unity, sovereignty and independence of the Arab states.
The Arab leaders expressed hope that the compelling military measures would restore security and stability to all Yemen under constitutional legitimacy, countering Houthis’ attempts supported by external parties. These external parties aim to threaten security of Yemen, the region and the Arab national security, as well as the international peace and security through sequestration of the Yemeni will, arousing seditions and dismantling the country’s social fabric and national unity.
The Arab leaders urged the Houthi militias to immediately withdraw from the capital Sana’a, other towns, and the government institutions as well as normalizing the security situation in Sana’a and other governorates, besides returning the heavy and medium weaponry to the constitutional legitimate authorities.
The Arab leaders reiterated the full commitment to Yemen’s unity, and respect of its sovereignty and independence, rejecting all forms of intervention in its internal affairs. They voiced support to the Yemeni people and their expectations for freedom, democracy and social justice, as well as enabling them to achieve comprehensive development.
The Arab leaders underlined the importance of urgently responding to Yemen President Abd Rabbuh Mansour Hadi’s call for a conference on Yemen to be held in the Saudi capital of Riyadh under the umbrella of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). All Yemeni powers and parties keen on the country’s security and stability are supposed to come together for a national dialogue. Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud was commended for welcoming to host the conference in Riyadh.
The Arab leaders welcomed a UN Security Council statement, adopted on 22 March 2015, demanding the Houthis and their allies to stop their aggressions against the Yemeni governorates, especially on Ta’izz and Aden. The Arab leaders welcomed the request by the Yemeni President for safeguarding Yemen’s constitutional legitimacy, and eagerness on the implementation of the GCC Initiative, and the Security Council relevant resolutions.
They underlined support to the Yemeni leadership and people in their continuous and open war against terrorism and piracy and emphasized the necessity of making urgent arrangements to handle the deteriorating humanitarian situation in Yemen, where more than 16 million people are suffering severe shortage of food and medical care.
