“Giant strategic mistake.” The Arab League attacks Iran

The Secretary General of the League of Arab States, Ahmed Abu el-Ghejt, on Sunday described Iran's attacks on the Persian Gulf states belonging to this organization as irresponsible. He also called on Tehran to revise this “giant strategic mistake.”

The US and Israel launched an offensive against Iran on February 28, to which Tehran responded by striking Israel and the Persian Gulf countries where US military installations are located.

Iran's strikes on countries such as Qatar, Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates further exacerbate already tense relations between Tehran and the rest of the region. Although they have not caused serious damage or mass casualties so far, they undermine the image of these countries as safe financial and logistics centers.

Iranian attacks are a manifestation of “irresponsible policy” and “have no justification,” Abu el-Ghejt said during a meeting of foreign ministers of Arab countries held via videoconference.

The Egyptian diplomat also lamented that Gulf states' peace efforts had been “rewarded with treacherous missiles and drones.”

Arab states 'not party to war'

He also emphasized that the Arab states were “not a party to the war”, did not want it to break out and made it clear that they would not allow their territory or airspace to be used for military operations.

The Persian Gulf countries – Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, United Arab Emirates – officially declare that they do not allow their territory to be used for attacks on Iran, but there are numerous US military bases on their territory. Mainly logistics, reconnaissance and anti-missile defense operations are carried out there, as well as activities related to patrolling the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz.

Abu el-Ghejt noted that Arab countries – including Oman, the mediator of the recent nuclear negotiations between the US and Iran, as well as Qatar and Egypt – have made efforts to protect the entire region from the effects of the war.

According to the Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA), 1,205 civilians have been killed so far as a result of US-Israeli attacks on the Iranian side. Iran's retaliatory attacks – mainly on Israel and American military installations in the Persian Gulf countries – have not caused serious damage so far. About 30 people died, including six American soldiers and 12 Israeli civilians.

The Arab League was founded in 1945. It brings together 22 countries from North Africa and the Middle East, and its headquarters is in Cairo. The organization serves primarily as a diplomatic forum whose aim is to coordinate positions and strengthen cooperation between Arab states. (PAP)

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