RIYADH — The GCC Ministerial Council affirmed Sunday that member states will take all necessary measures to defend their security and stability, including the option of responding to unjustified Iranian aggression against Gulf countries.The council held its 50th extraordinary meeting via videoconference on Sunday, chaired by Dr. Abdullatif Al-Zayani, Bahrain’s Foreign Minister and current president of the Ministerial Council.The meeting was attended by UAE Minister of State Khalifa Shaheen Al Marar; Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan; Oman’s Foreign Minister Badr Al Busaidi; Qatar’s Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed Al Thani; Kuwait’s Foreign Minister Sheikh Jarrah Al-Jaber Al-Sabah; and GCC Secretary-General Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi.The council convened to discuss the Iranian missile and drone attacks targeting the UAE, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Qatar and Kuwait, which began on Feb. 28.Ministers reviewed the significant damage caused by the treacherous attacks on civilian facilities, service sites and residential areas, resulting in material losses and posing threats to the safety of citizens and residents.They also discussed steps to coordinate efforts aimed at restoring security, stability and peace in the region.The council strongly condemned the attacks on GCC states and the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, describing them as a serious violation of sovereignty, principles of good neighborliness, international law and the UN Charter. It stressed that targeting civilians and civilian infrastructure constitutes a grave breach of international humanitarian law.The council affirmed full solidarity among member states, emphasizing that the security of GCC countries is indivisible and that any attack on one member state is considered a direct attack on all, in accordance with the GCC Charter and the Joint Defense Agreement.It reiterated that member states reserve their legal right to respond under Article 51 of the UN Charter, which guarantees the right of individual and collective self-defense, and to take all necessary measures to safeguard their sovereignty, security and stability.The ministers praised the efficiency and readiness of the armed forces and air defense systems in member states, noting their role in intercepting missile and drone attacks, neutralizing threats and protecting lives and critical infrastructure.The council said that despite diplomatic efforts by GCC states to avoid escalation — and despite assurances that their territories would not be used to launch attacks against Iran — Tehran continued military operations targeting Gulf states.It called for an immediate halt to the attacks to restore security and stability, and stressed the importance of safeguarding regional airspace, maritime routes and global supply chains, as well as ensuring stability in global energy markets.The council urged the international community to condemn the attacks and called on the UN Security Council to assume its responsibilities by taking a firm and immediate stance to prevent further violations that threaten regional and international peace.It expressed appreciation for countries that condemned the Iranian attacks and voiced solidarity with GCC states.The council reaffirmed that GCC countries have consistently supported dialogue and negotiations with Iran, praising Oman’s role in mediation efforts, and stressed that diplomacy remains the only path to resolving the crisis and preserving regional and international stability.