TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Saudi Arabia hosted a meeting on Thursday with representatives from over 50 countries to discuss forming a multinational maritime defense coalition to bolster security in the Red Sea and surrounding areas.
As ANTARA reported, the initiative was proposed by Saudi Arabia after the Yemeni Shiite group, the Houthis, attacked Saudi ships in the Red Sea and the Bab El-Mandeb Strait in retaliation for the blockade on Yemen.
The Saudi Defense Ministry said the meeting of defense chiefs from friendly countries and European Union representatives discussed Riyadh's initiative to form a coalition to enhance defense cooperation and protect shipping in the Red Sea, the Gulf of Oman, and the Bab El-Mandeb Strait.
According to the Saudi Defense Ministry, Saudi Arabia will be the location of the coalition's headquarters if the coalition is formed.
A total of 14 countries, including Turkey, Egypt and Pakistan, issued a joint statement in support of the formation of the multinational maritime defense coalition. The countries supported the steps agreed at the meeting to form the coalition, according to a Saudi Defense Ministry statement.
On July 20, the Houthis announced a maritime blockade on Saudi ships in retaliation for the Saudi blockade on Yemen, according to reports related to the developments.
On Monday, the Saudi Defense Ministry accused pro-Iranian armed groups in Iraq of attempting to attack oil facilities in Riyadh and eastern Saudi Arabia.
However, groups affiliated with the “Islamic Resistance in Iraq” alliance denied involvement in the attack on the Saudi facility.
The group claims Saudi Arabia is afraid of admitting the attack was carried out by the Houthis in Yemen and is unable to retaliate. The Houthis also confirmed attacks on facilities supporting oil exports from fields in eastern Saudi Arabia to the Red Sea port of Yanbu.
Read: US and Saudi Arabia Strike Iran-Backed Groups in Iraq
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