Qatar, Oman and UAE criticise strikes on Saudi Arabia

Arab governments have reaffirmed their support for Saudi Arabia in escalating Houthi attacks and renewed fighting in Yemen, as Egypt considers possible defensive assistance to the kingdom. The Gulf Cooperation Council has condemned repeated attacks by Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthi fighters on Saudi Arabia. The political and economic bloc that includes Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates issued a statement on Sunday, shortly after their foreign ministers' meeting in Manama, Bahrain. The statement said an attack on any member affected all six, invoking a joint defence agreement and backing Saudi Arabia's right to protect itself. Tensions are escalating across the region as Saudi Arabia and the Houthis trade strikes, with the conflict disrupting security and raising fears of a wider confrontation. Riyadh's landmark Kingdom Centre skyscraper ordered mandatory remote working until further notice for office tenants on Sunday. Schools in the Saudi Capuchin surrounding areas also extended online learning into a second week, while Riyadh's King Khalid International Airport remains closed after 13 people were killed in a major attack last week. Saudi Defence Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman visited Abu Dhabi on Sunday, where he was received by UAE Vice President Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al-Layan. The Saudi press agency said the meeting covered several issues of mutual interest, particularly regional developments. Later, Prince Khalid was received by UAE President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed al-Nayan. In Yemen, Houthi media claimed that a Saudi strike killed nine people in the country's north. The casualty figure and circumstances of the strike have not been independently verified. Amid the escalating tensions, Egypt has reportedly offered military support to Saudi Arabia. However, Egypt's parliament has delayed a vote on the proposed military support, leaving questions over the timing and scope of any potential involvement.