[JURIST] Arab leaders announced Sunday that a unified military force will be formed to oppose the growing threats from Yemen to Libya. The announcement came after a summit level meeting of the Council of the League of Arab States [official website] in Egypt on Thursday. Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry [official profile] told the press conference that working out the logistics of such a unified force could take months, but that progress has been made already. Two countries have already committed to the force, and it has been decided that membership in the force would be completely voluntary. The idea was introduced by Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi [BBC profile] at the summit, who told the press that the unified force would be lead by the chiefs of staffs of Arab armed forces.

The announcement comes in response to increased tension in the Middle East, including intensifying conflict in Yemen [JURIST news archive]. This weekend Human Rights Watch (HRW) expressed concern [JURIST report] over civilian casualties resulting from Saudi Arabia-led airstrikes in Yemen’s capital, Sanaa. Last week the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) urged all sides of the conflict [JURIST report] in Yemen to obey the rules of war, expressing concern over reports of civilian casualties following air strikes in the capital Sana’a and other parts of the country. Earlier this month the UN special envoy to Yemen warned [JURIST report] the UN Security Council during an emergency meeting that the situation in Yemen is teetering on the brink of civil war. In February UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon urged [JURIST report] Yemen to reinstate President Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi, and also called for all parties to overcome differences and help fulfill a democratic transition, stating the Yemeni people want a democratic state and respect for human rights.