Saudi Crown Prince, Blinken Discuss Efforts to Stop Escalation in the Region

Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister, and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken meet in Riyadh on Wednesday. (SPA)
Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister, and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken meet in Riyadh on Wednesday. (SPA)
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Saudi Crown Prince, Blinken Discuss Efforts to Stop Escalation in the Region

Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister, and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken meet in Riyadh on Wednesday. (SPA)
Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister, and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken meet in Riyadh on Wednesday. (SPA)

Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister, met in Riyadh on Wednesday with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, with whom he reviewed bilateral relations and cooperation.

Discussions covered the latest regional and international developments, particularly the situations in Gaza and Lebanon, and efforts to end military operations and address their security and humanitarian ramifications, SPA reported.

Crown Prince Mohammed and Blinken discussed their “common efforts to end the conflicts in the region and establish greater peace and security,” said a State Department statement.

Blinken emphasized “the need to end the war in Gaza, free the hostages, and enable the people of Gaza to rebuild their lives free from Hamas..

They discussed efforts toward “a diplomatic resolution in Lebanon that allows civilians on both sides of the Blue Line to return to their homes.”

They continued discussions on the need to establish lasting regional stability, including through greater integration among countries in the region.  

They also tackled the importance of ending the conflict in Sudan, protecting civilians, and advancing a political transition to a civilian government. Blinken expressed appreciation for Saudi Arabia’s role in promoting stability and peace in the region.

Attending the meeting were Saudi Minister of State, Cabinet Member and National Security Adviser Dr. Musaed bin Mohammed Al-Aiban, and General Intelligence President Khalid bin Ali Al-Humaidan.

On the American side, US Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Michael Ratney and Blinken’s accompanying delegation attended the meeting.



UAE Air Defenses Intercept 5 Ballistic Missiles, 35 UAVs

UAE air defenses on Wednesday engaged 5 ballistic missiles and 35 UAVs launched from Iran (AFP).
UAE air defenses on Wednesday engaged 5 ballistic missiles and 35 UAVs launched from Iran (AFP).
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UAE Air Defenses Intercept 5 Ballistic Missiles, 35 UAVs

UAE air defenses on Wednesday engaged 5 ballistic missiles and 35 UAVs launched from Iran (AFP).
UAE air defenses on Wednesday engaged 5 ballistic missiles and 35 UAVs launched from Iran (AFP).

The UAE air defenses on Wednesday intercepted 5 ballistic missiles and 35 UAVs launched from Iran, according to the Emirates News Agency (WAM).

The agency said that, since the start of the Iranian attacks, UAE air defenses have engaged 438 ballistic missiles, 19 cruise missiles and 2,012 UAVs.

A WAM statement said the attacks resulted in the martyrdom of two members of the armed forces while performing their national duty, in addition to the death of a Moroccan civilian contracted by the Armed Forces, as well as nine civilian fatalities of Pakistani, Nepali, Bangladeshi, Palestinian and Indian nationalities.

A total of 190 people were also injured, with injuries ranging from minor to moderate and severe, from various nationalities including Emirati, Egyptian, Sudanese, Ethiopian, Filipino, Pakistani, Iranian and Indian.

The Ministry of Defense affirmed that it remains fully prepared and ready to deal with any threats and will firmly confront anything that aims to undermine the country’s security, in a manner that preserves its sovereignty and stability and protects its interests and national capabilities.


Kuwaiti Foreign Minister Arrives in Riyadh on Official Visit

Photo by SPA
Photo by SPA
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Kuwaiti Foreign Minister Arrives in Riyadh on Official Visit

Photo by SPA
Photo by SPA

Kuwaiti Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Jarrah Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah arrived Wednesday in Riyadh on an official visit to Saudi Arabia.

He was received by Saudi Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Waleed Elkhereiji at King Khalid International Airport.


Qatar Says Iran Missile Struck Tanker in Its Waters

28 March 2026, Qatar, Doha: A view of the West Bay skyline in Doha with its lights switched off during Earth Hour. (dpa)
28 March 2026, Qatar, Doha: A view of the West Bay skyline in Doha with its lights switched off during Earth Hour. (dpa)
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Qatar Says Iran Missile Struck Tanker in Its Waters

28 March 2026, Qatar, Doha: A view of the West Bay skyline in Doha with its lights switched off during Earth Hour. (dpa)
28 March 2026, Qatar, Doha: A view of the West Bay skyline in Doha with its lights switched off during Earth Hour. (dpa)

Qatar said on Wednesday that a tanker leased to its state-owned energy company was struck by an Iranian missile in the Gulf country's territorial waters.

"Qatar was targeted... by three cruise missiles launched from Iran," the Defense Ministry said in a statement.

Qatar's military "intercepted two of the cruise missiles, while the third missile struck an oil tanker leased to QatarEnergy in Qatar's territorial waters," it said.

"Coordination was established with relevant authorities to evacuate the tanker, which had 21 crew members on board, without any human casualties," the ministry added.

Gulf countries have faced repeated drone and missile salvos from Iran over the past month in response to US and Israeli strikes that began at the end of February.

Iran has targeted hydrocarbon infrastructure in the oil-rich Gulf nations as well as shipping, effectively closing the strategic Strait of Hormuz, through which one-fifth of global oil usually passes.

QatarEnergy said in a statement the Aqua 1, a fuel oil tanker, had been "the subject of a missile attack in the northern territorial waters of the State of Qatar in the early morning hours of Wednesday".

It confirmed no crew members had been injured and there was "no impact on the environment as a result of this incident".