Gulf State Agrees To Increase Intelligence Exchange After Israel's Attack On Qatar
JAKARTA - Gulf countries plan to step up intelligence exchanges, develop new missile warning systems to hold joint air defense exercises following Israel's deadly attack in Qatar.
Defense officials from the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) agreed on several steps in a meeting in Doha on Thursday. The talks followed a meeting of the Arab-Islamic emergency peak on Monday in the capital Qatar, where leaders expressed concern about the escalating Israeli attacks in the Middle East.
On Thursday, the GCC Joint Defense Council agreed to increase the exchange of intelligence information through what is known as the Integrated Military Command.
Gulf countries say they will "accelerate work" to develop an early warning system against ballistic missiles and deliver "air situations" to all affected countries, quoted from The National September 19.
Qatar said it did not receive any warning about the Israeli attack on Doha until the explosion occurred.
Furthermore, the Council also agreed to renew the defense plan and hold a joint exercise between troops and the command center in the next three months. This will be followed by "real air training", he added.
The council also agreed to continue efforts "at all levels of military and intelligence" to improve Gulf defense ties and seek to connect security systems "to face all risks and challenges", the statement said.
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The council added that its goal was to "ensure the security, stability, and safety of all GCC countries, as well as face potential threats or attacks that threaten regional stability".
The meeting was attended by UAE Minister of Defense Affairs Mohammed Al Mazrouei; Minister of Defense Bahrain Lt. Gen. Abdullah Al Nuaimi; Deputy Minister of Defense of Saudi Arabia, Prince Abdulrahman bin Mohammed; Secretary General of the Ministry of Defense Oman Mohammed Al Zaabi; Minister of Defense of Kuwait Sheikh Abdullah Ali Al Abdullah Al Sabah; and Jasem Al Budaiwi.