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Saudi Arabia Graduates Third Unit of Air Defense Personnel Trained on THAAD System

Major General Khalid al-Zahrani honors graduates during a ceremony at Fort Bliss US Army base (SPA)
Major General Khalid al-Zahrani honors graduates during a ceremony at Fort Bliss US Army base (SPA)
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Saudi Arabia Graduates Third Unit of Air Defense Personnel Trained on THAAD System

Major General Khalid al-Zahrani honors graduates during a ceremony at Fort Bliss US Army base (SPA)
Major General Khalid al-Zahrani honors graduates during a ceremony at Fort Bliss US Army base (SPA)

Saudi Arabia’s Royal Air Defense Forces said on Sunday they had graduated the third unit trained to operate the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system, following months of specialized instruction at Fort Bliss in El Paso, Texas.

The new cohort marks the latest phase in a program to train Saudi crews to operate and maintain one of the world’s most advanced missile defense systems, which Riyadh has made a cornerstone of its air defense network.

Graduates underwent intensive technical and operational training, including combat simulations and advanced field exercises, under the supervision of US instructors and the system’s manufacturer, the air defense forces said in a statement carried by state news agency SPA.

The program is part of the Saudi defense ministry’s push to boost combat readiness and align with Vision 2030, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s economic and military modernization plan, which also seeks to localize defense technology.

A graduation ceremony at Fort Bliss was attended by Maj. Gen. Khalid bin Abdulrahman al-Zahrani, commander of the kingdom’s First Air Defense Group, representing the air defense commander, along with US officials and training staff.

Saudi Arabia commissioned its first THAAD unit in July, aiming to strengthen its defenses against aerial threats and protect critical infrastructure.

 

 

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Gulf

Yemen Welcomes Saudi Arabia's Hosting of Conference on the South

Saudi Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman and Deputy head of the Presidential Leadership Council (PLC) Tariq Saleh meet in Riyadh. (Tariq Saleh on X)
Saudi Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman and Deputy head of the Presidential Leadership Council (PLC) Tariq Saleh meet in Riyadh. (Tariq Saleh on X)
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Yemen Welcomes Saudi Arabia's Hosting of Conference on the South

Saudi Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman and Deputy head of the Presidential Leadership Council (PLC) Tariq Saleh meet in Riyadh. (Tariq Saleh on X)
Saudi Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman and Deputy head of the Presidential Leadership Council (PLC) Tariq Saleh meet in Riyadh. (Tariq Saleh on X)

Yemeni parties continued on Sunday to welcome Saudi Arabia's efforts to unite Yemeni ranks to help restore calm and tackle fundamental issues, starting with the southern cause.

Riyadh said it will host a conference on the southern issue.

Deputy head of the Presidential Leadership Council (PLC) Tariq Saleh said that he met in Riyadh with Saudi Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman to discuss developments in Yemen and means to bolster its stability and the security of the region.

Another deputy head of the PLC, Abdulrahman Abou Zaraa, said that through its call to hold dialogue over the southern issue, Saudi Arabia reflected its deep keenness on supporting peace and stability in Yemen.

The initiative embodies the Kingdom's firm commitment to bolstering comprehensive political solutions based on dialogue and consensus, he added.

Saudi Arabia took the initiative based on its historic responsibility and constructive regional role, he remarked.

The dialogue aims to address the southern issue, meet the legitimate aspirations of the residents of the South and help bolster regional and international security and stability, Abou Zaraa went on to say.

Moreover, the conference is a "historic opportunity" to unify southern ranks, come up with a united stance that reflects the aspirations of southerners and it serves as a platform to find just political solutions related to the South, he stressed.

Yemeni Foreign Minister Dr. Shaya Mohsin Zindani said the dialogue is an opportunity to address pending issues in the South.

It will act as a platform for southerners to come up with a united stance so that they can move from managing the crisis to coming up with a clear policy that includes goals, guarantees and mechanisms, he stated.

He hoped the southerners will seize the opportunity to reach a just and sustainable settlement.

He expressed the legitimate government's deep gratitude to Saudi Arabia for hosting the dialogue, its pivotal role in sponsoring agreements and uniting national ranks, and keenness on averting more conflicts and bloodshed.

The Southern Transitional Council welcomed Saudi Arabia's call to hold the conference, saying the STC believes that dialogue is the only way to address pending political issues, starting with the southern issue and the right of the people to reclaim their state.

Gulf

Saudi FM Meets Somali Counterpart, Receives Phone Call from Canadian Counterpart

Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah.
Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah.
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Saudi FM Meets Somali Counterpart, Receives Phone Call from Canadian Counterpart

Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah.
Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah.

Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah received in Riyadh on Sunday Somali Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Abdisalam Abdi Ali, the Saudi Press Agency said.

Prince Faisal affirmed the Kingdom’s full support for the sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity of Somalia and reiterated the Kingdom’s rejection of anything that undermines Somalia’s security and stability.

The two officials reviewed bilateral relations between the two countries and ways to strengthen and develop them in various fields. They also discussed regional developments and a number of issues of mutual interest.

The meeting was attended by Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs, Waleed Elkhereiji, and Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs for Political Affairs, Ambassador Dr. Saud Al-Sati.

Also on Sunday, the Saudi Minister received a phone call from Canadian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Anita Anand.

Discussions between the two officials reviewed relations between the two countries and discussed developments and topics of mutual interest.

 

Gulf

Saudi Crown Prince, Türkiye's President Discuss Bilateral Ties, Regional Developments

Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister of Saudi Arabia.
Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister of Saudi Arabia.
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Saudi Crown Prince, Türkiye's President Discuss Bilateral Ties, Regional Developments

Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister of Saudi Arabia.
Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister of Saudi Arabia.

Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister of Saudi Arabia, received a phone call on Sunday from Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the Saudi Press Agency said.

During their call, the two officials discussed bilateral relations between Saudi Arabia and Türkiye as well as regional and global developments.

Discussions also covered several issues of mutual interest and ongoing efforts aimed at achieving security and stability.