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Crown Prince Holds Annual Audience for Presidents, PMs, Senior Dignitaries Who Performed Hajj

Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, at Thursday's reception. (SPA)
Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, at Thursday's reception. (SPA)
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Crown Prince Holds Annual Audience for Presidents, PMs, Senior Dignitaries Who Performed Hajj

Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, at Thursday's reception. (SPA)
Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, at Thursday's reception. (SPA)

On behalf of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz, Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, held at the Royal Court at Mina Palace on Thursday the annual audience for presidents, prime ministers, senior Islamic dignitaries, guests of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, guests of government agencies, and heads of delegations and offices of pilgrims affairs who performed the Hajj this year.

Crown Prince Mohammed welcomed King Abdullah Ri'ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah of Malaysia; President Macky Sall of Senegal; President of Bangladesh Mohammed Shahabuddin; President of Pakistan Dr. Arif Alvi; Vice President of the Maldives Faisal Naseem; Prime Minister of Egypt, Dr. Mustafa Madbouly; caretaker Prime Minister Lebanon Najib Mikati; Prime Minister of Somalia Hamza Abdi Barre; Prime Minister of Niger Ouhoumoudou Mahamadou; Prime Minister of the State of Palestine Mohammad Ibrahim Shtayyeh, and the Speakers of the House of Representatives of several Islamic countries.

Crown Prince Mohammed delivered a speech welcoming the guests and congratulating the pilgrims and Islamic nation on the occasion of Eid al-Adha.

“Since its foundation, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has been blessed by God Almighty to serve the Two Holy Mosques has made this at the forefront of its interests. The Kingdom has made every effort and harnessed all capabilities to provide the pilgrims comfort and tranquility,” he stressed.

“We ask God Almighty to bless us and the Muslim nation with safety and security. We ask Him to grant the pilgrims the ability to complete their rituals on these blessed days and safely return to their countries,” he added.

Minister of Hajj and Umrah and Chairman of the Committee of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques' Guests Program for Hajj, Umrah and Visit, Dr. Tawfiq Al-Rabiah said that pilgrims have been performing their Hajj rituals with complete tranquility, peace, and security, thanks to the support and directives of the Kingdom's leadership.

He said that pilgrims are enjoying high-quality services throughout their spiritual journey provided by more than 40 public sectors according to a plan that had been prepared right after the end of the previous Hajj.

The minister said that the directives of the Crown Prince and his constant follow-up in implementing the targets of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques' Guests Program for Hajj, Umrah and Visit, including facilitating pilgrims' arrival to the Two Holy Mosques and simplifying the visa procedures and digitalizing them under one unified multi-language platform, have had an immense contribution to achieving a record number of Umrah pilgrims, who have topped 10 million.

Al-Rabiah explained that this year saw the introduction of fair competition in serving pilgrims from abroad and the expansion of the Makkah Route Initiative, which has covered seven countries, benefiting more than 400,000 pilgrims.

The ceremony was attended by Prince Turki bin Faisal bin Abdulaziz; Prince Mansour bin Saud bin Abdulaziz; Prince Saud bin Saad bin Abdulaziz; Prince Sattam bin Saud bin Abdulaziz; Prince Alwaleed bin Talal bin Abdulaziz; Prince Dr. Bandar bin Abdullah bin Turki, and other princes.

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Gulf

Saudi Defense Minister: Time for STC to Withdraw from Yemen's Hadhramaut and Al-Mahra

Saudi Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Saudi Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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Saudi Defense Minister: Time for STC to Withdraw from Yemen's Hadhramaut and Al-Mahra

Saudi Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Saudi Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman. (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Saudi Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman said on Saturday it “was time for the Southern Transitional Council in Yemen to listen to reason and prioritize public interest and unity of ranks and respond to the Saudi-Emirati mediation to end the escalation.”

In a post on the X platform, he called on the STC to withdraw its forces from the eastern Hadhramaut and al-Mahra provinces and restore control to the National Shield and local authorities.

Prince Khalid said Saudi Arabia formed the Arab coalition to restore legitimacy in Yemen to help the country reclaim control over all of its territories.

The liberation of southern provinces was a pivotal development towards that goal, he stressed.

Saudi Arabia “views the southern issue as fundamental” to Yemen and it will not “exploit it in conflicts that do not serve” the nation, he added.

The Kingdom had brought together all Yemeni components to the Riyadh conference to come up with a clear path for a comprehensive political solution, including the southern issue, he went on to say.

The conference paved the way for a “just solution to their cause through dialogue and without the use of forces.”

“Saudi Arabia approved the decision to move the base of power so that the southerners could have a greater role in state institutions. It consolidated partnership instead of elimination or imposing a status quo through forces. Saudi Arabia also presented Yemen with economic support, as well as development and humanitarian initiatives that helped ease the suffering of the people,” Prince Khalid added.

“Saudi Arabia and its partners in the coalition offered sacrifices with their Yemeni brothers in liberating Aden and other provinces,” he noted. “The Kingdom has always sought that these sacrifices be made in the name of reclaiming territories and restoring the state, not as a path towards new conflicts.”

It had hoped that these sacrifices would have been “invested in the security of all Yemeni people, not exploited for petty gains, whereby the unfortunate developments in Hadhramaut and al-Mahra since the beginning of December 2025 have led to the division in ranks that should be united against the enemy.”

“The developments have laid waste to the sacrifices of our sons and Yemeni people and have harmed the just southern issue,” stressed Prince Khalid.

He noted that several southern leaderships and figures have exhibited “awareness and wisdom in supporting efforts to end the escalation in Hadhramaut and al-Mahra and prevent the secure southern provinces from being dragged into futile conflicts.”

“They are aware of the major challenges facing Yemen and will not allow saboteurs to achieve their goals in the country and the region,” he remarked.

He declared that the “southern issue will remain part of any comprehensive political solution. The cause will not be neglected or marginalized. It should be resolved through consensus, adhering to commitments and building trust between all Yemeni segments, not through adventures that only serve everyone's enemy.”

Gulf

Arab Coalition: We Will Deal with Military Moves that Violate De-escalation Efforts

Coalition spokesman Brigadier General Turki al-Malki. (SPA)
Coalition spokesman Brigadier General Turki al-Malki. (SPA)
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Arab Coalition: We Will Deal with Military Moves that Violate De-escalation Efforts

Coalition spokesman Brigadier General Turki al-Malki. (SPA)
Coalition spokesman Brigadier General Turki al-Malki. (SPA)

Spokesman of the Arab coalition to support legitimacy in Yemen Brigadier General Turki al-Malki said on Saturday that “any military moves that violate de-escalation efforts will be dealt with directly to protect lives and ensure the success of Saudi and Emirati efforts.”

The statement is in response to a request by Yemen’s Presidential Leadership Council Chairman Dr. Rashad al-Alimi, who called for immediate steps to protect civilians in the eastern Hadhramaut and al-Mahra provinces in wake of the “grave and horrific” violations by members of the Southern Transitional Council (STC).

It is also in continuation of the strenuous joint efforts by Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates to de-escalate the situation and ensure the withdrawal of STC forces, who have been demanded to cede control to the National Shield forces and allow the local authorities to carry out their duties.

Malki underlined the Arab coalition’s continued firm support for the legitimate Yemeni government.

He also urged all sides to assume their national responsibility, exercise restraint and comply with efforts to reach peaceful solutions that preserve security and stability.

Gulf

Saudi Arabia Carries out Warning Strike on Yemen’s Hadhramaut, STC Says ‘Open to Coordination’

Southern forces patrol during a rally calling for South Yemen's independence, in the southern port city of Aden, Yemen, 25 December 2025. (EPA)
Southern forces patrol during a rally calling for South Yemen's independence, in the southern port city of Aden, Yemen, 25 December 2025. (EPA)
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Saudi Arabia Carries out Warning Strike on Yemen’s Hadhramaut, STC Says ‘Open to Coordination’

Southern forces patrol during a rally calling for South Yemen's independence, in the southern port city of Aden, Yemen, 25 December 2025. (EPA)
Southern forces patrol during a rally calling for South Yemen's independence, in the southern port city of Aden, Yemen, 25 December 2025. (EPA)

Saudi Arabia called for calm in eastern Yemen, urging an end to unilateral military moves and for the Southern Transitional Council (STC) forces to return to their former positions outside of the Hadhramaut and al-Mahra provinces.

Riyadh, meanwhile, demonstrated its stance on the ground by carrying out a warning air strike, informed sources told Asharq Al-Awsat.

The strike sought to deliver a message that it will not allow a new status quo to be imposed on the ground by force and that it will not allow the violation of institutional frameworks that handle security in the eastern provinces.

It warned that any further escalation will be met with firmer measures.

Meanwhile, the STC, in an attempt to justify its military moves, said they were in “response to calls from residents of the south” and an attempt to confront terrorist threats and block Houthi smuggling routes.

The STC added that it was “open to any coordination or arrangements with Saudi Arabia”, questioning the airstrike, which it said “does not serve understandings.”

Observers told Asharq Al-Awsat that Saudi Arabia will welcome the coordination and arrangements if they helped end the escalation, led to the withdrawal of the STC and allowed the National Shield forces and the local authority to take over Hadhramaut and al-Mahra without needing to resort to force.

They stressed that the strike will lead to delivering the clear message that Riyadh may impose red lines by force to prevent any escalation.

Sourced told Asharq Al-Awsat that any future settlement over restoring the unity of Yemeni ranks will condition a return to the former status quo.