Sultan of Oman Kicks off Visit to Jordan on Wednesday

Sultan of Oman Haitham bin Tariq. (ONA)
Sultan of Oman Haitham bin Tariq. (ONA)
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Sultan of Oman Kicks off Visit to Jordan on Wednesday

Sultan of Oman Haitham bin Tariq. (ONA)
Sultan of Oman Haitham bin Tariq. (ONA)

Sultan of Oman Haitham bin Tariq will kick off on Wednesday a state visit to Jordan at the invitation of King Abdullah II, announced the Diwan of the Royal Court.

The visit reflects the two leaderships’ keenness on promoting bilateral relations and pushing them forward to meet the desired objectives of the two countries, said the Royal Court according to the Oman News Agency (ONA).

Sultan Haitham and King Abdullah are expected to discuss aspects of cooperation between their countries in various fields and opportunities to develop them.

They will also discuss regional and international developments and coordinate over issues that would bolster collective Arab work.

Sultan Haitham will be accompanied by a high-ranking delegation that includes Shihab bin Tarik Al Said, Deputy Prime Minister for Defense Affairs; Bilarab bin Haitham Al Said; Khalid bin Hilal Al Busaidi, Minister of the Diwan of Royal Court; Gen. Sultan bin Mohammed Al Nuamani, Minister of the Royal Office; Badr bin Hamad Al Busaidi, Foreign Minister; Dr. Hamad bin Said Al Aufi, Head of the Private Office; Abdussalam bin Mohammed Al Murshidi, Chairman of Oman Investment Authority; and Sheikh Fahd bin Abdulrahman Al Ojaili, Ambassador of Oman to Jordan.



Saudi Arabia Denies it Favors Prolonging the War

A view of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on November 15, 2024. (Reuters)
A view of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on November 15, 2024. (Reuters)
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Saudi Arabia Denies it Favors Prolonging the War

A view of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on November 15, 2024. (Reuters)
A view of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on November 15, 2024. (Reuters)

A senior official at the Saudi Foreign Ministry stressed to Asharq Al-Awsat that the Kingdom had previously denied claims that its leadership favors the prolongation of the US-Israeli war on Iran.

The official said that Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah had declared during a press conference following the meeting of Arab and Islamic foreign ministers in Riyadh last week that Iran must cease its attacks.

He added that the Kingdom’s patience “has limits” and that it reserves the right to repel the aggression through political and other means.

Iran continued to target Gulf countries with rockets and drones in the fourth week of the war as the United Nations Rights Council prepares to meet on Wednesday to discuss the attacks.

On Tuesday, Saudi defenses downed 44 drones in the Eastern Region, Bahrain downed six ballistic missiles and 19 drones, and the UAE destroyed five missiles and 17 drones. Kuwait also repelled several attacks.

The UAE defense ministry said that a Moroccan contractor with the Emirati military was killed in Bahrain in an Iranian attack, with Manama saying the man had been assisting the local armed forces.


UAE Defense Ministry Says Civilian Contractor Killed in Bahrain

 People sit along the corniche area on the occasion of Eid al-Fitr, marking the end of the holy month of Ramadan, in Abu Dhabi on March 20, 2026. (AFP)
People sit along the corniche area on the occasion of Eid al-Fitr, marking the end of the holy month of Ramadan, in Abu Dhabi on March 20, 2026. (AFP)
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UAE Defense Ministry Says Civilian Contractor Killed in Bahrain

 People sit along the corniche area on the occasion of Eid al-Fitr, marking the end of the holy month of Ramadan, in Abu Dhabi on March 20, 2026. (AFP)
People sit along the corniche area on the occasion of Eid al-Fitr, marking the end of the holy month of Ramadan, in Abu Dhabi on March 20, 2026. (AFP)

The UAE defense ministry said on Tuesday that a Moroccan contractor with the Emirati military was killed in Bahrain in an Iranian attack, with Manama saying the man had been assisting the local armed forces.

"The Ministry of Defense mourns the loss of a Moroccan civilian contractor serving with the UAE Armed Forces, who was martyred during a routine mission in the Kingdom of Bahrain following an Iranian missile attack," the UAE ministry said in a statement on X.

Five UAE ministry of defense personnel were also injured in the attack, the statement added.

Bahrain's military had announced that a UAE army personnel was killed in its territory while helping Bahraini forces defend against Iranian attacks.

It said UAE and Bahraini army personnel had also been injured without specifying how many.

Gulf forces have reported coming under attack in Bahrain before.


Saudi Defense Minister, French Minister of Armed Forces Discuss Means to Bolster Cooperation

Saudi Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman and French Minister of the Armed Forces Catherine Vautrin meet in Riyadh on Tuesday. (Saudi Defense Ministry)
Saudi Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman and French Minister of the Armed Forces Catherine Vautrin meet in Riyadh on Tuesday. (Saudi Defense Ministry)
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Saudi Defense Minister, French Minister of Armed Forces Discuss Means to Bolster Cooperation

Saudi Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman and French Minister of the Armed Forces Catherine Vautrin meet in Riyadh on Tuesday. (Saudi Defense Ministry)
Saudi Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman and French Minister of the Armed Forces Catherine Vautrin meet in Riyadh on Tuesday. (Saudi Defense Ministry)

Saudi Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman received in Riyadh on Tuesday French Minister of the Armed Forces Catherine Vautrin for talks on regional developments and their repercussions on various levels.

They discussed bilateral relations between Saudi Arabia and France in the defense field and means to bolster them.

Vautrin condemned the repeated Iranian attacks against the Kingdom.