Saudi Arabia Mulling Reopening its Embassy in Libya

The Saudi Foreign Ministry delegation in Tripoli. (Government of National Unity)
The Saudi Foreign Ministry delegation in Tripoli. (Government of National Unity)
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Saudi Arabia Mulling Reopening its Embassy in Libya

The Saudi Foreign Ministry delegation in Tripoli. (Government of National Unity)
The Saudi Foreign Ministry delegation in Tripoli. (Government of National Unity)

A Saudi delegation arrived in Libya to discuss the necessary arrangements for reopening the Kingdom’s embassy in Tripoli.

The delegation was led by Minister Plenipotentiary and Deputy Director General of the General Administration for Arab and African Countries Affairs Abdullah bin Fahd al-Shammari.

Director of the Administrative and Financial Affairs Department of the Libyan Foreign Ministry Rashid Abu Ghafah received the Saudi delegation on Sunday.

Abu Ghafah underscored the deep historic relations between their countries, reiterating that the Tripoli-based Government of National Unity (GNU) is keen on boosting ties to broader horizons to achieve common interests.

The Saudi delegation's visit comes as Libya is preparing to hold presidential and parliamentary elections later this year.

Head of the Presidential Council Mohammed Menfi chaired on Sunday an expanded meeting at the headquarters of the High Electoral Commission in Tripoli. Menfi was accompanied by head of the GNU Abdulhamid al-Dbeibeh. Chairman of the commission, Imad al-Sayeh, was also present.

The meeting discussed the funding crisis of the upcoming elections, urging the joint 6 + 6 committee to finalize the electoral laws before the end of June.

The committee is represented by the House of Representatives and High Council of State and is tasked with providing the legal foundation for the elections and drafting electoral laws.

Menfi affirmed his full support for the commission and its presidency, stressing the importance of holding the elections this year.

Sayeh said the meeting comes within the framework of reviewing the commission's readiness for the elections and addressing its difficulties and challenges.

Furthermore, members of the High Council of State discussed the delegation's report to the 6 + 6 committee and the minutes of previous meetings.

Some members said the High Electoral Commission was not ready to hold the elections amid disagreements among officials over electoral laws.

In other news, Foreign Minister Najla al-Mangoush arrived in Qatar on Sunday on the second stop in a tour before the Arab League summit in Saudi Arabia on Friday.

She met with Qatari Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mohammed Bin Abdul Rahman Al-Thani, praising Doha’s role in supporting the stability of Libya and the electoral process.

Mangoush visited Bahrain on Saturday as part of her tour to several countries ahead of the Jeddah summit. She is aiming to coordinate and support joint Arab efforts and positions on regional challenges, especially in Sudan.

The tour also seeks to garner Arab support for the elections in Libya and preserving consensus on supporting its stability.



Saudi Interior Minister, Singapore's Coordinating Minister for National Security Discuss Regional Security Development

The Saudi flag. Asharq Al-Awsat
The Saudi flag. Asharq Al-Awsat
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Saudi Interior Minister, Singapore's Coordinating Minister for National Security Discuss Regional Security Development

The Saudi flag. Asharq Al-Awsat
The Saudi flag. Asharq Al-Awsat

Saudi Minister of Interior Prince Abdulaziz bin Saud bin Naif bin Abdulaziz received a phone call on Sunday from Coordinating Minister for National Security and Minister for Home Affairs of the Republic of Singapore K Shanmugam.

During the call, the two officials discussed the latest developments in the Middle East and current security developments amid the Iranian attacks targeting regional security and stability, SPA reported.

They also affirmed the importance of enhancing bilateral cooperation and coordination in support of regional security and stability, in addition to discussing a number of topics of mutual interest.

Shanmugam expressed his country's condemnation of the Iranian attacks targeting the Kingdom and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states, affirming Singapore's solidarity with the Kingdom and the GCC states in all measures aimed at enhancing security and stability.


Saudi Arabia Condemns Riots Targeting UAE Embassy in Damascus

Saudi Arabia called for the protection of diplomatic missions. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Saudi Arabia called for the protection of diplomatic missions. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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Saudi Arabia Condemns Riots Targeting UAE Embassy in Damascus

Saudi Arabia called for the protection of diplomatic missions. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Saudi Arabia called for the protection of diplomatic missions. (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Saudi Arabia condemned on Sunday the riots, assaults, and attempted vandalism that targeted the Embassy of the United Arab Emirates and the residence of its head of mission in Damascus.

A Foreign Ministry statement said the Kingdom also slammed the “unacceptable offenses directed at the national symbols of the brotherly UAE.”

The ministry stressed the Kingdom’s “rejection of these attacks and all forms of violence against diplomats, stressing the need to ensure the protection of diplomats and diplomatic missions in line with relevant international laws and conventions.”

Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Jasem Albudaiwi also slammed the attack against the UAE embassy in Damascus, urging Syrian authorities to hold those responsible to account.


Oman, Iran Hold Talks on Strait of Hormuz

Traffic passing a huge political billboard reading in Persian "The Strait of Hormuz will remain closed", in Enghelb square in Tehran, Iran, 05 April 2026. (EPA)
Traffic passing a huge political billboard reading in Persian "The Strait of Hormuz will remain closed", in Enghelb square in Tehran, Iran, 05 April 2026. (EPA)
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Oman, Iran Hold Talks on Strait of Hormuz

Traffic passing a huge political billboard reading in Persian "The Strait of Hormuz will remain closed", in Enghelb square in Tehran, Iran, 05 April 2026. (EPA)
Traffic passing a huge political billboard reading in Persian "The Strait of Hormuz will remain closed", in Enghelb square in Tehran, Iran, 05 April 2026. (EPA)

Oman and Iran held talks on easing passage through the Strait of Hormuz, the Omani state news agency reported Sunday, with the key shipping chokepoint effectively closed due to war in the Middle East.

"Oman and Iran held a meeting at the deputy ministers level in the foreign ministries of the two countries, with the attendance of specialists from both sides, during which the possible options were discussed regarding ensuring the smooth passage through the Strait of Hormuz," the news agency posted on X.

"The experts from both sides put forward a number of visions and proposals regarding it," it added.