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MASAM Removes 3,000 Landmines, Unexploded Ordnance in October

Osama Al-Gosaibi, the project director, during his last visit to the interim capital, Aden. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Osama Al-Gosaibi, the project director, during his last visit to the interim capital, Aden. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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MASAM Removes 3,000 Landmines, Unexploded Ordnance in October

Osama Al-Gosaibi, the project director, during his last visit to the interim capital, Aden. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Osama Al-Gosaibi, the project director, during his last visit to the interim capital, Aden. (Asharq Al-Awsat)

The project ran by King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center (KSrelief) for clearing landmines in Yemen, MASAM, managed to remove 3,000 landmines, explosive devices, and unexploded ordnance in October.

Osama Al-Gosaibi, the project director, said that the teams that have been working in more than 11 Yemeni provinces since June 2018 continue to discover more mines randomly planted by the Houthis after each truce.

Al-Gosaibi added that planting mines by Houthis is accelerating and expanding in scope.

MASAM reported on Sunday that 688 landmines planted by Houthis were removed across Yemen during the fourth week of Oct. The mines removed include 10 anti-personnel mines, 123 anti-tank mines, 553 unexploded ordnance, and two explosive devices.

The total of cleared mines reached 2,894 in October.

Since the beginning of the project, as many as 419,997 mines, explosive devices, and unexploded ordnance planted by the Houthi militias have been dismantled. The mines have killed thousands of Yemenis including women, children, and seniors.

The UN mission to monitor the implementation of the Stockholm Agreement in Hodeidah announced that the toll of civilian casualties due to mines have more than doubled in August. More than 20 were killed and wounded in 13 incidents. This represents an increase of 122 percent compared to July when five were killed and four were wounded.

Al-Gosaibi described the MASAM project as a bold step by the Saudi leadership. Thanks to the leadership, the first program to dismantle mines was established during an ongoing war to protect the Yemenis, he added.

He further urged all international and local organizations operating in Yemen to publish their data and document their work so that the world gets introduced to the catastrophe in Yemen caused by the Houthis' insistence to kill civilians by planting random mines.

MASAM works on clearing 11 provinces including Sanaa, Hodeidah, Aden, Al-Bayda, Al-Jawf, Lahj, Marib, Shabwa, Taiz, Al-Dhalea, and Saada.

The teams include 525 employees, including 32 teams that have trained, equipped, and supervised 450 Yemenis.

The operations room contains the field team for demining, administration, logistical support, and security support staff. They are supported by 30 technical experts and rapid response teams.

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Arab World

US Ambassador Condemns Israeli Settler Attack on American Journalist

An Israeli settler points a gun amid clashes with Palestinians harvesting olives in Abu Falah near Ramallah in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, October 16, 2026. (Reuters)
An Israeli settler points a gun amid clashes with Palestinians harvesting olives in Abu Falah near Ramallah in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, October 16, 2026. (Reuters)
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US Ambassador Condemns Israeli Settler Attack on American Journalist

An Israeli settler points a gun amid clashes with Palestinians harvesting olives in Abu Falah near Ramallah in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, October 16, 2026. (Reuters)
An Israeli settler points a gun amid clashes with Palestinians harvesting olives in Abu Falah near Ramallah in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, October 16, 2026. (Reuters)

US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee sharply condemned on Sunday settler violence during an olive harvest in the West Bank that injured several Palestinians and Washington Post photographer Heidi Levine as “a despicable act of terror carried out by masked cowards.”

In a post late Saturday on X, he called for “a full investigation, arrest, and prosecution to the fullest extent of the law to whoever participated in this.”

Levine was seriously injured in the attack Friday in the West Bank village of Abu Falah. Israeli police are also investigating an attack by Israeli settlers on European diplomats Saturday in another West Bank village.

Settler violence against Palestinians has soared this year and spiked further in recent weeks as Israel plans to hold elections Oct. 27.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was ambiguous in addressing Levine’s assault, condemning “violence against anyone” but referring to the attack as “alleged” and saying its circumstances remain unclear.

Huckabee said Levine’s assault was “vicious” and “dishonorable,” and noted that she was clearly identified as a journalist when she was attacked.

Levine, an award-winning photojournalist who has covered conflict zones around the world for more than four decades, remains hospitalized in Tel Aviv as she recovers from hand surgery, broken ribs and other injuries she sustained in the attack.

She said she was forced to the ground and beaten for more than 10 minutes by the settlers, who also stole her camera, passport and phone.

The Washington Post reiterated its call for a full and transparent investigation, though Israel rarely investigates settler violence fully. Yesh Din, an Israeli rights group, says around 94% of investigations into settler violence since 2005 have ended without an indictment, with just 3% leading to full or partial convictions.

Arab World

US Wants Israel to ‘Crack Down’ on Settler Violence in West Bank, Rubio Says

Israeli forces keep watch during Israeli settlers' weekly tour in Hebron, in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, October 17, 2026. (Reuters)
Israeli forces keep watch during Israeli settlers' weekly tour in Hebron, in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, October 17, 2026. (Reuters)
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US Wants Israel to ‘Crack Down’ on Settler Violence in West Bank, Rubio Says

Israeli forces keep watch during Israeli settlers' weekly tour in Hebron, in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, October 17, 2026. (Reuters)
Israeli forces keep watch during Israeli settlers' weekly tour in Hebron, in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, October 17, 2026. (Reuters)

The United States wants Israel to do more to deter attacks committed by settlers in the West Bank, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Saturday.

"We're very disturbed by those images and what we're seeing," Rubio said. "We've asked the Israelis and continue to ask them ‌to crack ‌down on that stuff."

His ‌comments ⁠to reporters came ⁠after the widespread dissemination of video showing multiple individuals attacking Heidi Levine, an American photojournalist with the Washington Post. Levine was one of at least two people injured in the Friday ⁠incident, which took place ‌as Israeli settlers ‌attacked Palestinian civilians.

European diplomats and a French ‌mayor also were attacked in the occupied ‌West Bank, Belgium's foreign minister said.

The US State Department, Rubio said, has inquired about the event that included Levine's ‌attack. Rubio, who spoke to reporters before boarding a flight to ⁠Uzbekistan, ⁠said he expects to hear back from the US Embassy in Jerusalem by Sunday.

Israeli settlers in the West Bank have been involved in at least 170 attacks on Palestinians since September 27, around the start of the annual olive harvest, according to Yesh Din, an Israeli settlements monitoring group.

Arab World

Egypt's Sisi Says His Rule Will End in 2030, Dismisses Reports He Is Grooming Relative for Presidency

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi. (Egyptian Presidency)
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi. (Egyptian Presidency)
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Egypt's Sisi Says His Rule Will End in 2030, Dismisses Reports He Is Grooming Relative for Presidency

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi. (Egyptian Presidency)
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi. (Egyptian Presidency)

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi stressed that his presidency will end in 2030, calling the date a "settled matter," ruling out constitutional amendments and dismissing speculation that he is grooming a relative to succeed him.

Political and strategic affairs experts told Asharq Al-Awsat that Sisi's remarks marked a major shift and a historic precedent, potentially putting to rest speculation over constitutional changes that could distract from Egypt's development priorities.

Sisi came to power in 2014 after winning the presidential election and secured re-election in 2018 and 2023. Constitutional amendments passed in 2019 extended presidential terms from four to six years and allowed him to seek a third term, which expires in 2030.

No constitutional changes

Speaking at a graduation ceremony for Egyptian Military Academy cadets on Saturday, Sisi insisted that the constitution would remain untouched.

He said his presidency would definitively end in 2030 and that the matter was not open to debate, stressing that Egypt had an abundance of qualified citizens capable of leading the country.

Sisi also rejected speculation that he was preparing a family member or relative to succeed him, saying the Egyptian Military Academy had a role in training future leaders.

He stressed the need to safeguard the state against individuals unable to shoulder the responsibilities of leadership.

With 43 months remaining until 2030, he suggested dedicating 30 months to preparing prospective leaders.

He called for the speaker of parliament, prominent intellectuals and politicians, and the ministers of higher education and justice to develop a comprehensive framework that would pave the way for legislation governing the election of qualified candidates.

The program, he suggested, could train groups of 200, 300 or 500 participants in the workings of the state and the requirements for safeguarding it, broadening the choices available to Egyptian voters.

Sisi urged action on the proposal, emphasizing the responsibility to protect Egypt and its future and keep its flag flying high.

His remarks follow speculation on social media that the constitution could be amended in 2027 to allow him to seek another presidential term.

A historic precedent

Major General Mohamed el-Ghabari, a strategic affairs expert and former director of Egypt's National Defense College, said Sisi's declaration signaled a commitment to the constitutional transfer of power.

Speaking to Asharq Al-Awsat, he said Sisi wanted history to remember him for helping establish that principle, becoming the first Egyptian president in decades to clearly set an end date for his rule.

The remarks conveyed Sisi's belief that he had assumed office with a sense of duty and intended to hand over power with the same responsibility, while pressing ahead with development plans despite economic challenges and regional turmoil threatening stability and growth, he added.

Ghabari said Sisi was also making clear that the choice of Egypt's next leader rests with its people, warning that speculation about constitutional amendments or extending his presidency served no national interest and risked diverting attention from development and strategic planning.

He stressed that building credible political alternatives would require effective parties and institutions capable of nurturing leaders with clear platforms and the ability to present their visions to voters.

Mohamed Ezz al-Arab, head of the Arab and Regional Studies Unit at the Al-Ahram Center for Political and Strategic Studies, said Sisi appeared determined to make 2030 the endpoint of his rule.

Speaking to Asharq Al-Awsat, he said: "What's striking is not just his announcement that his presidential term will end in 2030, but his call for the speaker of parliament to work with the justice minister and political, party and academic figures on selecting and preparing centers of excellence and future leaders."

"That would represent a major shift if things proceed as intended," he added.

Ezz al-Arab said Sisi's remarks reinforced the principle that Egypt is a state of institutions, where power cannot be inherited by his sons or any other family member.