President Establishes Special Cabinet Committee Amid Middle East Tensions

President Dr Mohamed Muizzu established a Special Cabinet Committee yesterday in response to the ongoing tensions in the Middle East.

In a post on X last night, the Chief Spokesperson at the President’s Office, Heena Waleed, said the committee was formed to implement joint measures to address any difficulties that Maldivians may face amid the evolving situation.

The committee, constituted yesterday afternoon, comprises senior ministers and officials from key government portfolios:

• Dr Abdulla Khaleel, Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Committee Chair)
• Mohamed Ghassan Maumoon, Ministry of Defence
• Moosa Zameer, Ministry of Finance and Planning
• Mohamed Saeed, Ministry of Economic Development and Trade
• Mohamed Ameen, Ministry of Transport and Civil Aviation
• Ali Ihusaan, Ministry of Homeland Security and Technology
• Thoriq Ibrahim, Ministry of Tourism and Environment
• Dr Ali Haidar Ahmed, Ministry of Higher Education, Labour and Skills Development
• Dr Mohamed Shaheem Ali Saeed, Ministry of Islamic Affairs

Heena also noted that the ministries represented on the committee will continuously share all relevant information with the public as the situation develops.

Meanwhile, international media reports indicate significant escalation in the Middle East conflict. According to Al Jazeera, Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and senior security officials were killed in ongoing attacks involving the United States and Israel, along with members of his family. The Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps has reportedly pledged retaliation, targeting bases hosting US forces as well as Israeli military facilities. Explosions have continued in Qatar and the United Arab Emirates, and both sides have announced further attacks in recent hours.

The committee’s formation comes as governments worldwide monitor the situation and assess implications for their citizens abroad.