Bahrain yesterday (March 28) backed the establishment of a pan-Arab rapid intervention force to defend regional security and stability.

"The task of the military force is to intervene promptly to deter any threat endangering the security, stability and sovereignty of any Arab state," His Majesty King Hamad was quoted as saying in a report published by the Gulf Daily News, our sister publication.

He stressed Bahrain's stance as he addressed the opening session of the 26th Arab Summit in the Egyptian resort town of Sharm El Sheikh.

"Out of our keenness to safeguard comprehensive regional security and stability, we affirm the importance of this summit's approval of the principle of establishing a joint Arab military force, within Arab and international conventions, whose responsibility would be rapid military intervention to repulse any aggression that would threaten the security, stability and sovereignty of any of the Arab countries," he said.

The King highlighted mounting and unprecedented challenges facing the Arab nation, singling out the dangerous slide in Yemen.

He said the kingdom, along with other Arab countries, responded to the call of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud to meet the request of Yemeni President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi for an immediate military intervention to restore Yemen's security, stability and legitimacy.

The military operation in Yemen, which has been widely supported at the international level, was a necessary move required by the Arab League Charter and the Joint Arab Defence Pact, he said.

It also aimed to reaffirm Arab solidarity with Yemen and its legitimate leadership, and maintain its sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity, as well as safeguard global security and peace, the King added. – TradeArabia News Service