World Leaders Express Solidarity with Qatar Following Iranian Attack

Remnants of an Iranian missile intercepted over Qatar (AFP)
Remnants of an Iranian missile intercepted over Qatar (AFP)
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World Leaders Express Solidarity with Qatar Following Iranian Attack

Remnants of an Iranian missile intercepted over Qatar (AFP)
Remnants of an Iranian missile intercepted over Qatar (AFP)

In the wake of Iran’s missile strike on Al-Udeid Air Base in Qatar, Arab and world leaders have expressed firm solidarity with the Qatari leadership, condemning the attack as a flagrant violation of the country’s sovereignty and international law.

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman called Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani to convey the Kingdom’s strong condemnation of the Iranian assault, reiterating Saudi Arabia’s full support for Qatar. He described the strike as a “blatant breach of Qatari airspace and sovereignty” and a serious threat to regional stability.

The Crown Prince stressed the need for restraint and a return to diplomatic channels.

Oman’s Sultan Haitham bin Tariq also spoke with Sheikh Tamim, voicing full support for Qatar and praising its calm and measured response to the regional escalation. He reaffirmed Oman’s rejection of any act that undermines the sovereignty or stability of Gulf nations and called for dialogue and peaceful conflict resolution.

US President Donald Trump joined the growing list of leaders condemning the attack. In a phone call with the Qatari Emir, Trump reaffirmed America’s commitment to Qatar’s security and condemned Iran’s actions as a “grave violation of international law and the UN Charter.”

Qatar also received expressions of support from Iraq’s Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani, who labeled the attack a “dangerous violation” and affirmed Baghdad’s solidarity with Doha. Al-Sudani stressed Iraq’s rejection of any aggression threatening the security of regional nations and urged all parties to exercise restraint and seek diplomatic solutions.

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi echoed similar sentiments in a phone call with Sheikh Tamim, voicing Cairo’s strong condemnation of the Iranian strike and declaring unwavering support for Qatar. He underscored the importance of maintaining regional stability and avoiding escalation.

Meanwhile, Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, who visited Doha on Tuesday, met with the Qatari Emir and reaffirmed Lebanon’s support for Qatar’s sovereignty. Salam condemned the attack as a serious threat to regional peace and extended his appreciation for Qatar’s consistent support to Lebanon during challenging times.

Malaysia’s Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and Sudan’s Transitional Sovereignty Council Chairman General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan also joined in condemning the Iranian strike in separate phone calls with Sheikh Tamim. Both leaders expressed their nations’ solidarity with Qatar and stressed the need for diplomatic resolution and de-escalation.

In response, the Emir expressed deep gratitude for the broad regional and international solidarity, describing it as a testament to the strength of Qatar’s partnerships and the shared commitment to peace and stability in the Gulf.



Al-Wali to Asharq Al-Awsat: Riyadh Talks a Pivotal Moment for Yemen’s Southern Cause

Former Yemeni minister and veteran southern politician Abdel Nasser Al-Wali speaks to Asharq Al-Awsat.
Former Yemeni minister and veteran southern politician Abdel Nasser Al-Wali speaks to Asharq Al-Awsat.
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Al-Wali to Asharq Al-Awsat: Riyadh Talks a Pivotal Moment for Yemen’s Southern Cause

Former Yemeni minister and veteran southern politician Abdel Nasser Al-Wali speaks to Asharq Al-Awsat.
Former Yemeni minister and veteran southern politician Abdel Nasser Al-Wali speaks to Asharq Al-Awsat.

Former Yemeni minister and veteran southern politician Abdel Nasser Al-Wali described the meeting of Yemen’s southern leaders in Riyadh for consultations and dialogue on their cause on Sunday as a pivotal moment in its history, calling for the opening created by Saudi Arabia to be channeled into a political process that delivers lasting peace.

Speaking on the Asharq Al-Awsat podcast with Gulf affairs editor Badr Al-Qahtani, Al-Wali said Riyadh was not merely a diplomatic stop, but a place close to the heart of the Arab and Islamic worlds, offering a chance to correct past shortcomings in conveying the southern voice.

The veteran Yemeni politician said southerners now faced a “huge opportunity” under Saudi sponsorship, noting that Riyadh had taken the initiative to invite discussions on the issue and “left the matter in our hands.”

He pointed to Saudi Arabia’s role in bringing the parties together without imposing guardianship and in supporting whatever they agree upon without interference.

He said Saudi assurances had been explicit: “The opinion is yours, the decision is yours. We are sponsors and will not impose anything on you. Raise your ceiling to the sky.”

Al-Wali said a message from Saudi Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman was clear and direct.

“The southern cause is just, with historical and social dimensions, and the Kingdom will not abandon the people of the south and will stand with their will,” he remarked.

“It is enough for the southern voice to reach Saudi Arabia, and for it to understand the justice of the pain that has accumulated since unification,” he stressed.

On preparations for the Riyadh Conference for Yemeni southern dialogue, Al-Wali said discussions would address the shape of the state and its system “with an open ceiling,” to be decided by consensus without exclusion.

The focus was on restoring the state as a path toward dignity, security, stability, development, and prosperity for people, he went on to say.

“The South has room for everyone. There are no intentions of marginalization or exclusion. Any other projects are not sidelined, but discussed,” he assured.

Al-Wali addressed a message to the southern people, saying: “Trust us. We represent in Riyadh those who authorized us,” in a reference to not compromising the cause or taking decisions that contradict popular will.

In another message, he said: “The Saudis will find from the southerners only what pleases God and pleases them, while preserving the bonds of neighborhood, blood, kinship, and shared interests.”

Turning to the roots of the issue, Al-Wali said Yemeni unity had not been an “invasion” or imposed by force, but a voluntary move toward Sanaa “with open hearts,” in the hope of a larger state, a broader economy, and deeper development.

He said that if the price of stability, calm, and development were Yemen’s return to two states, then it would be better, in his view, to have two neighboring states bound by affection, with flexible and smooth economic and social relations and strong fraternal ties, rather than antagonism that “paralyzed both peoples.”

Outlining his vision for a future state, Al-Wali presented the contours of a “federal southern state” that would grant governorates room to contribute to development, investment, and wealth, with equality in rights and duties and fairness in the distribution of resources so that they reach all who deserve them.

He reiterated the centrality of Saudi Arabia’s role, saying the Kingdom’s weight was “very balanced” regionally and globally, and that its engagement represented a historic opportunity to achieve peace “without it being followed by war.”

Asked how he found Riyadh, Al-Wali replied: “As I have always known it. A country of security and stability. Calm and serenity. Love and peace. You come to it, your soul settles, and you feel reassured.”

“Their promises are sincere and are not broken,” he stressed.


Saudi Arabia and Ecuador Sign General Cooperation Agreement

Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah and his Ecuadorian counterpart Gabriela Sommerfeld meet in Davos on Wednesday. (SPA)
Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah and his Ecuadorian counterpart Gabriela Sommerfeld meet in Davos on Wednesday. (SPA)
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Saudi Arabia and Ecuador Sign General Cooperation Agreement

Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah and his Ecuadorian counterpart Gabriela Sommerfeld meet in Davos on Wednesday. (SPA)
Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah and his Ecuadorian counterpart Gabriela Sommerfeld meet in Davos on Wednesday. (SPA)

Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah held talks on Wednesday with his Ecuadorian counterpart Gabriela Sommerfeld on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos.

They reviewed relations between their countries and ways to boost them in various fields. They also exchanged views on a number of topics of mutual interest.

Following the meeting, the ministers signed a general cooperation agreement between their respective governments aimed at strengthening relations between their countries and advancing them toward broader horizons.


Saudi Arabia’s KSrelief Delivers Winter Clothing to Students in Gaza’s Khan Younis

KSrelief distributes winter clothing to school students in the Al-Mawasi area of southern Gaza’s Khan Younis. (SPA)
KSrelief distributes winter clothing to school students in the Al-Mawasi area of southern Gaza’s Khan Younis. (SPA)
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Saudi Arabia’s KSrelief Delivers Winter Clothing to Students in Gaza’s Khan Younis

KSrelief distributes winter clothing to school students in the Al-Mawasi area of southern Gaza’s Khan Younis. (SPA)
KSrelief distributes winter clothing to school students in the Al-Mawasi area of southern Gaza’s Khan Younis. (SPA)

Saudi Arabia’s King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center (KSrelief) distributed winter clothing to school students in the Al-Mawasi area of southern Gaza’s Khan Younis, reported the Saudi Press Agency on Wednesday.

The gesture is part of the Saudi campaign to support the Palestinian people in Gaza.

Field teams from the Saudi Center for Culture and Heritage, the implementing partner of KSrelief in Gaza, carried out the distribution alongside interactive and recreational activities for the students.

The campaign reflects Saudi Arabia’s unwavering commitment, through KSrelief, to supporting the Palestinian people during crises and hardships, embodying the Kingdom’s noble humanitarian mission.