Bahrain warns UN of severe security crisis in the Gulf

Bahraini Foreign Minister Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani has addressed the United Nations General Assembly, warning of a security crisis in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and Jordan of a severity “not seen in decades.” He attributed this instability to missile and drone attacks by Houthi rebels and other Iranian-aligned militias, occurring within the context of a conflict involving the United States, Israel, and Iran.

Al Zayani reported that the region has faced nearly 7,000 attacks, consisting of approximately 1,700 ballistic missiles, 80 cruise missiles, and over 5,200 drones. These strikes have targeted civilian infrastructure, including ports, airports, and power plants. The minister stated that these actions constitute a “flagrant violation of international law and the Charter of the United Nations.”

The maritime impact has been significant, with reports of 2,000 commercial vessels detained, damage to 72 merchant ships, and the deaths of at least 22 sailors in Gulf maritime routes. Additionally, the minister warned against the de facto closure of the Strait of Hormuz by Iran, describing its use as a tool for economic coercion as a dangerous precedent for global trade.