MANAMA, Nov. 10 (Xinhua) -- Defense ministers of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries on Tuesday approved the establishment of a forward command of the GCC Unified Military Command in Kuwait amid heightened regional security tensions.
The decision was made during the 23rd meeting of the GCC Joint Defense Council, held Tuesday in Bahrain's capital Manama, under the chairmanship of Bahraini Minister of Defense Affairs Abdullah bin Hassan Al Nuaimi, according to a statement by the GCC General Secretariat.
GCC Secretary-General Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi said the decision followed directives from GCC leaders at their extraordinary meeting in the Saudi city of Jeddah in April, which called for stronger military coordination to safeguard the security and sovereignty of member states.
Albudaiwi praised the level of military cooperation among GCC countries in responding to regional developments, particularly what he described as Iranian attacks targeting Gulf states, which caused damage to civilian facilities and infrastructure.
He also condemned attacks by Yemen's Houthi group against Saudi Arabia, reaffirming the GCC's solidarity with the kingdom and support for measures taken to protect its security, stability and territorial integrity.
On Feb. 28, Israel and the United States launched joint attacks on Tehran and other Iranian cities. Iran responded with waves of missile and drone attacks targeting Israel and U.S. bases and assets in the region, and tightened its grip on the Strait of Hormuz. ■
