King Salman to convene summit of Gulf and Arab states

FILE: King Salman has convened summits of Gulf and Arab states in Makkah in conjunction with the Islamic Summit to discuss Houthi attacks. (SPA/File Photo)

• Meeting will be held in conjunction with the Islamic Summit

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s King Salman has called for the convening of two summits of Gulf and Arab states to be held on May 30 in Makkah.
The meeting will be held in conjunction with the upcoming Islamic Summit.
According to a Ministry of Foreign Affairs statement, King Salman has sent an invitation to the leaders of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries and leaders of other Arab countries to two summits to discuss the recent attacks by the Iranian-backed Houthis in the UAE and on Saudi Arabia’s oil pipelines and their repercussions on the region. 
“The attack on ships in the territorial waters of the United Arab Emirates and the terrorist-backed Iran-backed Houthi militias’ attack on two oil pumping stations in the Kingdom have serious implications for regional and international peace and security and for the supply and stability of world oil markets,” the foreign ministry said in a statement carried by the Saudi Press Agency.
The announcement came days after mysterious sabotage attacks against several tankers in highly sensitive Gulf waters and drone attacks on a crude pipeline by Iran-aligned Yemen Houthi militia, which Riyadh claimed were carried out on Iranian orders.
The United States has also deployed an aircraft carrier and bombers to the Gulf over alleged threats from Iran.
The Kingdom’s regional allies welcomed the Saudi invitation.
The UAE’s foreign ministry said the current “critical circumstances” require a unified Arab and Gulf stance.
The meetings will be a “significant opportunity for the countries of the region to achieve their aspirations for establishing peace and stability,” it said.