Fact Check: Are Arab countries officially joining US and Israel in war against Iran?

RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA: As the conflict in the Middle East continues to escalate, a rumor has been circulating on social media platforms claiming that the Arab countries are contemplating joining the United States and Israel in the war against Iran, sparking concerns about war spreading across the entire region. Let us analyze the rumor and fact-check the claim.

Claim: Arab countries are joining the war against Iran

The claim surfaced after foreign ministers from Arab and Muslim countries convened for urgent discussions in Saudi Arabia on Wednesday, as Iran continues targeting energy facilities across Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Qatar in retaliation against Israel’s strike on the South Pars gasfield, Iran’s biggest source of energy.

According to the viral claim, Arab countries have officially threatened to join the United States and Israel in the war against Iran.

The variants of the claim are spreading across various social media platforms, sparking panic and concerns about the intensifying war.

Fact Check: False, no such official statement from Arab countries

However, there is no official statement from the Arab countries threatening to join the war against the Islamic Republic.

Although the 12 countries asserted the right of states to defend themselves, they did not mention anything about attacking Iran.

Further, they issued a collective condemnation of 'deliberate Iranian attacks' with ballistic missiles and drones that have struck a range of targets, including residential areas, water desalination plants, oil facilities, airports, and diplomatic positions.

Arab foreign ministers urge Iran to de-escalate

Foreign ministers urged Iran to take several steps to ease tensions in the region. They called on the Islamic Republic to stop its attacks and avoid any provocative actions or threats toward neighboring countries. 

They also asked Iran to end its support for proxy groups operating in Arab states. In addition, they warned against any attempts to disrupt key maritime routes, including the Strait of Hormuz and the Bab al-Mandeb Strait.

At the same time, the ministers condemned Israeli attacks on Lebanon and criticized what they called Israel’s expansionist policies.

Although the meeting showed a united stance on concerns over Iran’s behavior, the joint statement did not clearly outline how these measures would be enforced.