Gargash: Gulf Security a “Shared Responsibility”
RIYADH, October 12, 2026 — The United Arab Emirates called on Monday for a revival of joint Gulf action on security and defence, warning that the targeting of Saudi Arabia undermines the safety of every state in the region, as the kingdom said it was facing a fresh barrage of incoming Houthi missiles and drones and kept Riyadh’s main airport shut for another day.
In a post on X, UAE presidential adviser Anwar Gargash said the attacks had demonstrated that the security of Gulf states was indivisible, arguing that the neglect of collective Gulf security had “emboldened others” to overreach against regional states.
“There is a pressing need to revive joint Gulf action, particularly in its security and defense aspects, and to strengthen the collective security framework,” Gargash wrote, calling Gulf security a shared responsibility that “brooks no leniency or delay.”
The statement marks one of the strongest Emirati endorsements yet of collective Gulf defence since the Houthis began striking Saudi airports and oil infrastructure in recent weeks — and comes months after Riyadh and Abu Dhabi were reported to have fallen out last winter over Yemen, where they backed different forces within the coalition supporting Yemen’s internationally recognised government.
New Barrage Reported as Riyadh Airport Stays Shut
The Saudi-led coalition backing Yemen’s government forces said on Monday that incoming drones and missiles were being tracked, though there was no immediate word on whether they were intercepted, Reuters reported. The reports came as Riyadh airport remained closed and Saudi airspace over the capital stayed largely empty, even as the city hosted a major energy conference.
Saudi Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman told delegates at the conference that the kingdom would stay focused on drawing in investment as part of its wider economic development goals, state media reported. “The development of our energy system and industrial capability continues,” he said.
The closure follows a weekend of unprecedented attacks: the Saudi General Authority of Civil Aviation said a strike on King Khalid International Airport on October 10 killed 13 people and injured more than 300, including nationals of several countries. A further attack on Sunday killed one person and injured 11.
R4 Powers Condemn Attacks; Iran Offers to Mediate
In a joint statement on Sunday, Turkiye, Pakistan, Egypt and Saudi Arabia — dubbed the “R4” — condemned the attacks on Riyadh airport as a “dangerous escalation that cannot be justified or accepted under any pretext,” pledging full support for all legitimate measures Saudi Arabia takes to counter the attacks and deter threats, trade sources said.
Iran, the long-time regional rival backing the Houthis, meanwhile offered to mediate. Foreign ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said on Monday that Tehran had “repeatedly expressed our readiness to help facilitate dialogue between the parties,” echoing an offer Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi made in a weekend call with his Saudi counterpart Prince Faisal bin Farhan, Saudi state media reported.
The Houthis show no sign of letting up: despite intensified Saudi airstrikes — including what Yemeni television said were hits on al-Jawf province on Monday — the group has repeatedly threatened to keep targeting airports, airspace and Saudi oil installations that power the kingdom’s economy.
Trump Still Weighing US Role
US President Donald Trump said on Saturday that Washington was considering joining Saudi strikes against the Houthis, telling reporters, “We’re going to look at it… We’ll make a decision. We move very quickly.” There has been no sign yet of American action, however, and analysts cautioned that a US campaign could stretch Washington’s already heavy regional commitments.
With Saudi Arabia re-entering Yemen’s civil war to push the Houthis back from the vital Bab el-Mandeb Strait and stop their September advances, military sources said any pressure on the group could take time to pay off — leaving the kingdom exposed to more days of empty skies over its capital.
