Sudan Talks Resume in Jeddah with Aim to Deliver Aid, Reach Ceasefire 

Representatives of Sudanese parties sign the Jeddah Declaration in May. (Reuters)
Representatives of Sudanese parties sign the Jeddah Declaration in May. (Reuters)
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Sudan Talks Resume in Jeddah with Aim to Deliver Aid, Reach Ceasefire 

Representatives of Sudanese parties sign the Jeddah Declaration in May. (Reuters)
Representatives of Sudanese parties sign the Jeddah Declaration in May. (Reuters)

Talks between Sudanese Armed Forces and Rapid Support Forces (RSF) resumed in Saudi Arabia’s Jeddah on Sunday several months after they were suspended.

A joint statement from the facilitators: Saudi Arabia, the United States, the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), and the African Union said the talks sought to facilitate the delivery of humanitarian assistance.

They sought to establish ceasefires and implement confidence-building measures. They were also seeking to work towards achieving a permanent cessation of hostilities.

The talks will not address broader political issues, said the statement.

The Saudi Foreign Ministry had welcomed the resumption of the talks, urging the army and RSF to follow through with the agreements reached in the Jeddah Declaration on May 11.

The Kingdom underlined its keenness on the unity of the Sudanese parties and the need to end the fighting and ease the suffering of the people so that the crisis can be resolved and a political solution can be reached to restore security, stability and prosperity to Sudan.

The United Nations Integrated Transition Assistance Mission Sudan (UNITAMS) welcomed the resumption of the talks, hoping the new round of negotiations will lead to the implementation of the Jeddah Declaration.



UK Defense Minister: Houthi Attack on Riyadh Airport 'Dangerous Escalation' and 'Contemptible'

General view of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. (SPA)
General view of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. (SPA)
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UK Defense Minister: Houthi Attack on Riyadh Airport 'Dangerous Escalation' and 'Contemptible'

General view of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. (SPA)
General view of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. (SPA)

UK Defense Minister Wes Streeting on Sunday condemned Saturday's deadly Houthi attack on Riyadh's airport as a "dangerous escalation" and "contemptible".

"What we've seen overnight is a dangerous escalation and I'm afraid an increasing pattern of behavior from the Houthis that's targeting civilian sites in Saudi Arabia," he told Sky News.

"This is completely contemptible action and it's one of the reasons why the UK is providing support to Saudi Arabia in the form of air defenses, but also air-to-air refueling," he said.

"We want to see an end to this conflict. It cannot be right that the Houthis are attacking civilian targets in this way," he added.


Crowds Attend Funeral of Saudi Pilot Hamoud Alkalthami in Jeddah

Crowds of condolences comfort the family of Captain Pilot Hamoud Alkalthami at Al-Salhiyah cemetery (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Crowds of condolences comfort the family of Captain Pilot Hamoud Alkalthami at Al-Salhiyah cemetery (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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Crowds Attend Funeral of Saudi Pilot Hamoud Alkalthami in Jeddah

Crowds of condolences comfort the family of Captain Pilot Hamoud Alkalthami at Al-Salhiyah cemetery (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Crowds of condolences comfort the family of Captain Pilot Hamoud Alkalthami at Al-Salhiyah cemetery (Asharq Al-Awsat)

A large crowd attended funeral prayers for Captain Hamoud Alkalthami at Al-Guraigri Mosque in Jeddah on Saturday afternoon before his body was laid to rest at Al-Salhiyah Cemetery in the northeastern part of the city.

Relatives, friends, colleagues from Saudia Airlines, aviation sector workers and members of the public attended the funeral.

Mourners began arriving early to offer condolences to the family of Alkalthami, who was killed in an attack targeting King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh on Thursday.

His death prompted an outpouring of grief across Saudi Arabia’s aviation sector, with colleagues paying tribute in person and on social media, remembering his good character, warm smile and strong professional relationships throughout his career.

In remarks to Asharq Al-Awsat, Khaled Salmeen Bahashwan, who worked with Alkalthami for more than 22 years at Saudia Airlines, remembered him as a kind, cheerful and compassionate colleague whose sincere smile and exemplary character left a lasting impression. He praised Alkalthami’s devotion to his wife and two daughters, his loyalty to colleagues and his willingness to support others, saying his many admirable qualities were difficult to capture in words.

Saudia mourned Captain Alkalthami, honoring his service and expressing condolences to his family and colleagues.

The airline also confirmed that an aircraft was damaged while parked on the airport tarmac, with no passengers on board. It said emergency procedures were immediately activated in coordination with the relevant authorities to assist those affected and provide support to their families.


Widespread Regional and International Condemnation of Houthi Attack on Riyadh Airport

King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh (SPA)
King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh (SPA)
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Widespread Regional and International Condemnation of Houthi Attack on Riyadh Airport

King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh (SPA)
King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh (SPA)

The recent Houthi attack on Saudi Arabia’s King Khalid International Airport has drawn widespread condemnation, with officials warning that strikes on civilian infrastructure threaten regional security and endanger civilian lives.

Jordan, Egypt, Qatar, Bahrain, Lebanon, GCC, Pakistan, the MWL, the Council of Arab Interior Ministers, the Palestinian Foreign Ministry, the US and Cyprus, condemned the Houthi militia's attack on King Khalid International Airport on Saturday as a blatant violation of the country's sovereignty, a dangerous escalation that threatens its security and stability, and a flagrant breach of international law and the United Nations Charter.

They stressed full solidarity with Saudi Arabia and support for all measures it takes to protect its security, stability, national assets, and the safety of its citizens and residents.

On Saturday, the Saudi General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) said operations at the Riyadh airport were temporarily suspended after it was targeted in an attack, reporting several people injured in the incident.