Kingdom Leads GCC in Condemning Paris Attacks
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia has led Gulf states in condemning the gun and bomb attacks that have left more than 120 people dead in Paris.
“I wanted to express our condolences to the government and people of France for the heinous terrorist attacks that took place yesterday which are in violation and contravention of all ethics, morals and religions,” Saudi Foreign Minister Adel Al-Jubeir said.
UAE President Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al-Nahyan, also condemned Friday night’s attacks as “heinous crimes” and said that the UAE would “spare no effort… to fight terrorism in all its forms,” WAM reported.
The Daesh terrorist group claimed the attacks in a statement posted online.
The Qatari foreign ministry condemned the “armed attacks and bombings” in a statement cited by official agency QNA, saying they “contradict with all moral and humanitarian principles and values.”
There were also condemnations from Bahrain and Kuwait, and from Abdellatif Zayani, the head of the GCC which also includes Oman.
The Saudi foreign minister made his remarks in Vienna where he is attending international talks aimed at finding a solution to end the four year war in Syria.
Since September last year, French warplanes based at Al-Dhafra airbase near Abu Dhabi have been flying missions targeting IS in Iraq.
France extended its attacks on IS to Syria in September this year.