UAE Says 3 Members of its Armed Forces Were Killed in Somalia Attack

A UAE flag flies over a boat at Dubai Marina, Dubai, United Arab Emirates May 22, 2015. (Reuters)
A UAE flag flies over a boat at Dubai Marina, Dubai, United Arab Emirates May 22, 2015. (Reuters)
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UAE Says 3 Members of its Armed Forces Were Killed in Somalia Attack

A UAE flag flies over a boat at Dubai Marina, Dubai, United Arab Emirates May 22, 2015. (Reuters)
A UAE flag flies over a boat at Dubai Marina, Dubai, United Arab Emirates May 22, 2015. (Reuters)

The UAE Ministry of Defense said on Sunday three members of the Emirati Armed Forces and an officer from the Bahrain Defense Force were killed in a terrorist act in Somalia.

The troops were on a training mission at a military base in the Somali capital to train and qualify the Somali Armed Forces as part of a bilateral agreement that falls within the military cooperation between the two countries.

The Ministry said on its X official account that the UAE continues to coordinate and cooperate with the Somali government in investigating the "heinous terrorist act."

The attack Saturday targeted the troops at the General Gordon Military Base in Mogadishu.

Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud offered his condolences to the UAE for the loss of its troops.



Turkish Defense Ministry: Ongoing Houthi Threat in Red Sea and Bab al-Mandab Jeopardize Regional Security

Zeki Aktürk, Spokesperson for the Turkish Ministry of Defense (Turkish Ministry of Defense)
Zeki Aktürk, Spokesperson for the Turkish Ministry of Defense (Turkish Ministry of Defense)
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Turkish Defense Ministry: Ongoing Houthi Threat in Red Sea and Bab al-Mandab Jeopardize Regional Security

Zeki Aktürk, Spokesperson for the Turkish Ministry of Defense (Turkish Ministry of Defense)
Zeki Aktürk, Spokesperson for the Turkish Ministry of Defense (Turkish Ministry of Defense)

The Turkish Ministry of Defense condemned last weekend’s attempt to target the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, as well as Houthi actions that threaten regional stability, stressing the need to bring such attacks to an end as soon as possible.

"We condemn the drone attack that targeted Saudi Arabia last weekend and the actions carried out by the Houthis, and we emphasize the need to end such attempts that threaten regional stability as soon as possible”, Turkish Defense Ministry spokesperson Zeki Akturk said during the weekly press briefing held at the ministry’s headquarters in Ankara.

He added—according to Anadolu Ajansı—that "the ongoing Houthi threat in the Red Sea and Bab al-Mandab negatively affects not only regional security but also international maritime trade and global stability."


Saudi Minister of Interior Meets with Qatari Counterpart

Saudi Minister of Interior Prince Abdulaziz bin Saud bin Naif bin Abdulaziz met with Minister of Interior and Commander of the Internal Security Force (Lekhwiya) of Qatar Sheik Khalifa bin Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani. (SPA)
Saudi Minister of Interior Prince Abdulaziz bin Saud bin Naif bin Abdulaziz met with Minister of Interior and Commander of the Internal Security Force (Lekhwiya) of Qatar Sheik Khalifa bin Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani. (SPA)
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Saudi Minister of Interior Meets with Qatari Counterpart

Saudi Minister of Interior Prince Abdulaziz bin Saud bin Naif bin Abdulaziz met with Minister of Interior and Commander of the Internal Security Force (Lekhwiya) of Qatar Sheik Khalifa bin Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani. (SPA)
Saudi Minister of Interior Prince Abdulaziz bin Saud bin Naif bin Abdulaziz met with Minister of Interior and Commander of the Internal Security Force (Lekhwiya) of Qatar Sheik Khalifa bin Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani. (SPA)

Saudi Minister of Interior Prince Abdulaziz bin Saud bin Naif bin Abdulaziz met Thursday in Riyadh with Minister of Interior and Commander of the Internal Security Force (Lekhwiya) of Qatar Sheik Khalifa bin Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, the Saudi Press Agency said.

The two officials reviewed security cooperation and coordination between the two brotherly countries, ways to strengthen them, and several issues of common interest.

Following the meeting, Prince Abdulaziz bin Saud and Sheikh Khalifa bin Hamad co-chaired the fourth meeting of the Security and Military Committee emanating from the Saudi-Qatari Coordination Council.

At the outset of the meeting, the Saudi minister noted that the committee's meeting was held upon the directives of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, in light of the distinguished relations between Saudi Arabia and Qatar.

He noted that the agreements reached during the eighth meeting of the Saudi-Qatari Coordination Council, held in Riyadh under the chairmanship of the Crown Prince and the Emir of Qatar, embody the deep-rooted historical ties between the two brotherly countries and support their cooperation in various fields, including security and military affairs.

He underscored the importance of doubling efforts and enhancing cooperation and coordination, particularly in addressing regional and international challenges, in a manner that contributes to achieving the aspirations of the two countries' leaderships and peoples for greater security, stability, and prosperity.


US Approves Potential Sale of F-35 Jets to Saudi Arabia

An F-35 stealth warplane. Photo: CENTCOM
An F-35 stealth warplane. Photo: CENTCOM
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US Approves Potential Sale of F-35 Jets to Saudi Arabia

An F-35 stealth warplane. Photo: CENTCOM
An F-35 stealth warplane. Photo: CENTCOM

The United States has approved a potential sale of $24.3 billion sale of F-35 stealth warplanes to Saudi Arabia, the State Department said Thursday.

"The proposed sale will improve Saudi Arabia's capability to deter current and future threats by strengthening its homeland defense, and improving interoperability with US forces," the State Department said in a statement.

It "will also augment Saudi Arabia's operational aircraft and enhance its air-to-air, and air-to-ground self-defense capability," the statement said.

The Saudi embassy in Washington praised the transaction, saying it "reflects the strength and enduring nature" of the relationship with the United States.

It added that the security cooperation between the two countries "has contributed to regional stability, strengthened our collective defense capabilities, and advanced our shared security interests."