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UAE, Albania Discuss Expanding Cooperation

UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan met with Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama in Tirana. WAM
UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan met with Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama in Tirana. WAM
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UAE, Albania Discuss Expanding Cooperation

UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan met with Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama in Tirana. WAM
UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan met with Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama in Tirana. WAM

UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama have discussed ways to enhance bilateral relations and expand cooperation, particularly in key sectors such as the economy, trade, renewable energy, food security, and technology.

The discussions took place in Tirana during the UAE President’s visit to Albania.

Rama reaffirmed Albania’s commitment to strengthening ties with the UAE while leveraging opportunities to deepen bilateral cooperation.

The two leaders also reviewed regional and international issues of mutual interest.

Sheikh Mohamed underscored that the UAE, as part of its consistent approach towards advancing global peace, supports all efforts to achieve peace and stability in the Balkan region.

He also emphasized the UAE’s support for resolving conflicts through diplomacy and dialogue to foster regional development and prosperity and peace and security worldwide.

Sheikh Mohamed highlighted the significant progress in UAE-Albania relations in recent years, particularly in areas that contribute to both nations’ joint development. He reaffirmed the UAE’s commitment to further strengthening these ties in the coming period and noted that non-oil trade between the UAE and Albania grew by 129.4% in 2024 compared to 2023.

He also stated that the two nations engage in promising cooperation in renewable and clean energy in line with their shared sustainability ambitions, emphasizing the UAE’s keenness to further bolster collaboration in this sector in the future.

Both sides affirmed their continued determination to advance relations for the benefit of their countries and peoples.

The UAE President and the Albanian Prime Minister witnessed the exchange of a framework for action between Masdar, TAQA Transmission, Korporata Elektroenergjitike Shqiptare (KESH) – Albania Power Corporation, and Operatori i Sistemit të Transmetimit (OST). The framework will progress their collaboration on the assessment and implementation of the initiatives of the tripartite strategic partnership framework related to renewable energy and energy infrastructure signed by the UAE, Albania, and Italy.

This framework aims to enhance cooperation in developing renewable energy projects, thereby improving energy security, promoting sustainable development, and accelerating the transition to clean energy in the Mediterranean region.

The UAE President and the Albanian PM also witnessed the exchange of a letter of engagement between Presight AI and the Albanian Ministry of Interior for the Albania Smart City Project with the aim of improving infrastructure and public facilities.

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Gulf

Kuwait Arrests Hezbollah Cell Plotting Attacks on Key Facilities

Brig. Gen. Nasser Bousleib, the Interior Ministry’s official spokesperson. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Brig. Gen. Nasser Bousleib, the Interior Ministry’s official spokesperson. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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Kuwait Arrests Hezbollah Cell Plotting Attacks on Key Facilities

Brig. Gen. Nasser Bousleib, the Interior Ministry’s official spokesperson. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Brig. Gen. Nasser Bousleib, the Interior Ministry’s official spokesperson. (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Kuwait’s Ministry of Interior announced on Wednesday evening that state security forces had thwarted a terrorist cell linked to Hezbollah that was planning to target vital installations in the country.

Brig. Gen. Nasser Bousleib, the ministry’s official spokesperson, said in a statement that the cell consisted of 10 Kuwaiti nationals. The suspects had reportedly received training in camps affiliated with Hezbollah, including instruction in operating drones.

According to a statement issued by the ministry, the State Security Service had “successfully foiled a terrorist plot targeting vital facilities in the country” following extensive surveillance and security investigations.

Authorities said the 10 suspects, described as members of a terrorist group affiliated with the banned organization Hezbollah, had engaged in prior planning and coordination with external actors.

They allegedly sought to establish intelligence contacts to supply coordinates of targeted sites, posing a direct threat to national security.

Members of the cell had undergone training abroad in Hezbollah-run camps, including weapons handling and drone operation, as part of preparations for sabotage attacks aimed at undermining state sovereignty, destabilizing the country, and spreading fear among the public.

The suspects have provided detailed confessions, said the ministry.

It stressed that it would act “with the utmost firmness” against anyone found to be involved in undermining national security or cooperating with such groups, warning that it would not hesitate to take decisive action against any threats.

Safeguarding Kuwait’s security remains a top priority, it said, emphasizing that authorities will continue efforts to track down those behind such plots and pursue the harshest legal measures without leniency or exception.

On Monday, the ministry announced the arrest of another terrorist group affiliated with Hezbollah that had been attempting to destabilize the country and recruit individuals to join the group. Authorities said 14 Kuwaiti suspects and two Lebanese nationals were detained.

Officials seized weapons, ammunition, encrypted communication devices, drones, and narcotics from the suspects.

Gulf

Saudi Defenses Destroy Ballistic Missiles, Drones Fired at Riyadh, Eastern Region

Spokesperson of the Saudi Ministry of Defense Major General Turki Al-Malki. (SPA)
Spokesperson of the Saudi Ministry of Defense Major General Turki Al-Malki. (SPA)
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Saudi Defenses Destroy Ballistic Missiles, Drones Fired at Riyadh, Eastern Region

Spokesperson of the Saudi Ministry of Defense Major General Turki Al-Malki. (SPA)
Spokesperson of the Saudi Ministry of Defense Major General Turki Al-Malki. (SPA)

Spokesperson of the Saudi Ministry of Defense Major General Turki Al-Malki said on Thursday that the Kingdom’s defenses intercepted and downed 12 drones and a ballistic missile fired at the Eastern Region.

Late on Wednesday, defenses thwarted two drone attacks against a gas facility in the Eastern Region. No damage was reported.

Al-Malki said defenses also shot down four ballistic missiles launched toward Riyadh. Debris from one of the missiles fell near a refinery south of the capital.

Defenses also intercepted and destroyed six drones in the Eastern Region and one in the al-Kharj Governorate.

Gulf

Riyadh Consultative Meeting: Regional Countries Will Not Stand Idly by against Threats

The foreign ministers pose for a family photo during their consultative meeting in Riyadh. (SPA)
The foreign ministers pose for a family photo during their consultative meeting in Riyadh. (SPA)
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Riyadh Consultative Meeting: Regional Countries Will Not Stand Idly by against Threats

The foreign ministers pose for a family photo during their consultative meeting in Riyadh. (SPA)
The foreign ministers pose for a family photo during their consultative meeting in Riyadh. (SPA)

Foreign ministers of Gulf, Arab and regional countries condemned on Thursday Iran’s flagrant violation of principles of good neighborliness and of the sovereignty of nations, saying it will have grave repercussions against it and the security of the Middle East.

“Iran's attacks will cost it highly and impact relations with the countries and peoples of the region that will not stand idly by as they are threatened,” they warned in a statement after holding a consultative meeting in Riyadh.

The meeting brought together the foreign ministers of Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Egypt, Jordan, the United Arab Emirates, Lebanon, Syria, Türkiye, Pakistan and Azerbaijan to discuss the Iranian escalation and efforts to bolster coordination to protect regional stability.

In a statement, the gatherers strongly condemned Iran’s rocket and drone attacks on the Gulf, Jordan, Azerbaijan and Türkiye, and its targeting of residential areas and civilian infrastructure, including oil facilities, water desalination plants, airports and diplomatic districts.

“The attacks cannot be justified under any excuse,” they stressed, saying they were a violation of sovereignty of nations and international law.

They held Iran “fully responsible for the losses”, saying the countries reserve the right to defend themselves.

Moreover, they warned Iran of the danger of supporting militias, urging it to “seriously reconsider is miscalculations and immediately and unconditionally cease its attacks and commit to United Nations Security Council resolutions.”

They urged Iran “to respect international and humanitarian laws and the principles of good neighborliness as a first step towards ending the escalation and achieving security and stability in the region”. They called for diplomacy to resolve crises.

“The future of relations with Iran depends on the respect of the sovereignty of countries and non-interference in their internal affairs and refraining from attacking their sovereignty and territories in any way, shape or form,” they demanded.

It must also refrain from using its military capabilities to threaten regional countries, they added. It must stop supporting, financing and arming its militias in Arab countries.

Iran must also refrain from threatening or impeding marine navigation in the Hormuz and Bab el-Mandeb Straits.

The FMs also expressed their support for Lebanon’s security, stability and territorial integrity. Lebanon must have sovereignty across its territories.

They stressed their backing of the Lebanese government’s decision to impose state monopoly over weapons, while condemning the Israeli attacks on Lebanon and its expansionist ambitions in the region.

The FMs said they will continue to hold intense consultations to follow up on the developments to come up with joint positions and take the necessary measures to protect their security, stability and sovereignty and stop the heinous Iranian attacks against their countries.