Cairo: Ambassador Fawzia Zainal, Ambassador of the Kingdom of Bahrain to the Arab Republic of Egypt and Permanent Representative to the League of Arab States, chaired the 165th session of the Arab League Council at the level of Permanent Representatives, as Bahrain assumes the current presidency. The meeting, held in preparation for the upcoming Arab foreign ministers' session, was attended by Ambassador Hossam Zaki, Assistant Secretary-General of the League of Arab States.
According to Bahrain News Agency, Ambassador Zainal expressed Bahrain's appreciation to the United Arab Emirates for its leadership during the 164th session and commended Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul Gheit for his efforts in advancing joint Arab action. She condemned the Iranian attacks targeting Gulf Co-operation Council (GCC) countries, as well as Jordan and Iraq, describing them as violations of international law and threats to regional security and stability. Ambassador Zainal highlighted Bahrain's diplomatic efforts at the UN Security Council, which contributed to the adoption of Resolution 2817 with international support.
Ambassador Zainal also warned of threats to maritime navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, stressing their potential impact on global trade and energy security. She called for Arab and international action to safeguard freedom of navigation and regional stability. Emphasising the regional context, she underscored the need to strengthen joint Arab co-ordination to address threats to national security. She reaffirmed Bahrain's commitment, during its presidency, to promote Arab unity, protect state sovereignty, and advance the collective interests of Arab nations.