Saudi Arabia, Iraq Stress Importance of Combating Extremism, Securing Borders

The Council Chairmen from the Saudi and Iraqi sides stressed the importance of strengthening the relations that bind the two peoples in all fields - SPA
The Council Chairmen from the Saudi and Iraqi sides stressed the importance of strengthening the relations that bind the two peoples in all fields - SPA
TT

Saudi Arabia, Iraq Stress Importance of Combating Extremism, Securing Borders

The Council Chairmen from the Saudi and Iraqi sides stressed the importance of strengthening the relations that bind the two peoples in all fields - SPA
The Council Chairmen from the Saudi and Iraqi sides stressed the importance of strengthening the relations that bind the two peoples in all fields - SPA

Saudi Arabia and Iraq held the fifth session of the Saudi-Iraqi Coordination Council on Thursday in Jeddah, which was organized upon the directives of the Saudi leadership and Iraq's Prime Minister.

The final communique of the meeting stated a Saudi-Iraqi agreement to continue cooperation in confronting extremism and terrorism as an existential threat to the regional countries and the world, and to support Iraq's efforts, in cooperation with the international coalition, to combat terrorism and extremism, stressing the importance of cooperation in securing the borders between the two countries.

It also confirmed the two sides' plans to boost relations in all fields, and reiterated the importance of expanding and enhancing bilateral cooperation to serve the interests of the two brotherly countries and peoples in various fields, mainly at the political, security, trade, investment, cultural, educational, tourism and energy levels.

Saudi Arabia and Iraq praised the successful efforts of the countries of the OPEC+ Group in promoting the stability of the global oil market, stressing the significance of continuing such cooperation and the need for all participating countries to adhere to the OPEC+ agreement in a way that serves the interests of producers and consumers alike to support the growth of the global economy.

Iraq renewed its invitation to Saudi companies to invest in promising opportunities provided in various fields in Iraq.

For its part, the Kingdom praised the economic reforms pursued by the Iraqi government.

In this regard, the meeting hailed the role of the Saudi Commercial Attaché and the Saudi Companies Center in Baghdad, which contributed to the development of intra-trade and investments by enabling Saudi companies to open branches in Iraq and facilitating access to investment opportunities and projects.

The Kingdom and Iraq agreed to boost cooperation and the exchange of views on matters and issues of concern to the two countries in the regional and international arenas in a way that contributes to supporting and strengthening security and stability in the region and the world.

The two sides agreed to continue communication and exchange visits to complement bilateral consultations at the highest levels, to expand and follow up areas of cooperation in a way that serves the interests of the two countries, in addition to enhancing coordination in mutual support within the framework of multilateral diplomacy, especially for positions in international organizations.

A number of Princes, ministers and members of the Council and heads of the sub-committees from the Saudi and Iraqi sides were present at the meeting.

The Saudi side was headed by Minister of Commerce Dr. Majid bin Abdullah Al-Qasabi, while the Iraqi side was headed by Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Planning, and Chairman of the Council Prof. Dr. Muhammad Ali Tamim.



Kuwait Jails 13 Citizens, Fines them $87 Mn for Hezbollah Funding

A general view of the Kuwait Palace of Justice in Kuwait City, June 16, 2013. (Reuters)
A general view of the Kuwait Palace of Justice in Kuwait City, June 16, 2013. (Reuters)
TT

Kuwait Jails 13 Citizens, Fines them $87 Mn for Hezbollah Funding

A general view of the Kuwait Palace of Justice in Kuwait City, June 16, 2013. (Reuters)
A general view of the Kuwait Palace of Justice in Kuwait City, June 16, 2013. (Reuters)

Kuwait’s Court of Cassation on Monday sentenced 13 citizens to three years in prison for raising funds through a charity to support Lebanon’s Hezbollah.

The court also fined them 27 million Kuwaiti dinars ($87 million), overturning a previous acquittal by a lower court.

The court that issued the sentencing was presided over by Judge Abdullah Jassim Al-Abdullah.

Initially, the Criminal Court had acquitted the defendants, citing the absence of legislation explicitly criminalizing unlicensed fundraising for public purposes since the establishment of Kuwait's Social Affairs Department on December 14, 1954.

The court said this legal gap limited its authority under Article 132 of the Code of Criminal Procedures and Trials. However, the decision was reversed by the higher court.

The defendants had been interrogated in November 2021 over alleged financial support to organizations linked to Hezbollah.

At the time, the Public Prosecution ordered their detention, and security authorities conducted extensive investigations into financial transfers suspected of funding such groups in Lebanon.

The case dates back to November 2021. The charges included significant financial transfers made over several years to foreign entities, including in Lebanon, prompting authorities to scrutinize transaction records.

The defendants denied the charges, claiming they had worked with a charity committee for 30 years, primarily sponsoring orphans in Lebanon and other countries.

In March 2024, the Court of Cassation classified Hezbollah as a banned terrorist group, describing it as an armed organization working to undermine Kuwait’s system and spread Iran’s revolutionary ideology.

The ruling officially confirmed Hezbollah’s designation as a terrorist entity under Kuwaiti law.