Qatar’s former PM urges decisive support for Saudi Arabia after airport attack

Qatar’s former Prime Minister Hamad bin Jassim bin Jaber Al Thani is calling on Gulf states to set aside their differences in the wake of a recent attack on Saudi Arabia’s King Khalid airport. The attack, according to Al Thani, has made it more urgent than ever for the region to support Saudi Arabia in a practical and decisive manner. In a statement on X, Al Thani emphasized that Iran is now the primary adversary for the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC).

He warned that the GCC faces "several hostile plots and conspiracies" and stressed the need for "unity and profound foresight" to counter these threats. Al Thani pointed out that the situation necessitates setting aside all peripheral disputes and urged GCC members to demonstrate unity in response to the threat. He described the threat from within Yemen as being "plotted and directed from outside [Yemen]," highlighting the regional challenges faced by the GCC.

Al Thani, who led Qatar’s government from 2007 to 2013, also held the foreign affairs portfolio for much of that time, bringing significant experience to his recent call for solidarity among Gulf states.