Saudi Crown Prince, UAE President Discuss Regional Developments in Riyadh

Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister, and UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan meet in Riyadh. (SPA)
Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister, and UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan meet in Riyadh. (SPA)
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Saudi Crown Prince, UAE President Discuss Regional Developments in Riyadh

Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister, and UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan meet in Riyadh. (SPA)
Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister, and UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan meet in Riyadh. (SPA)

Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister, held talks in Riyadh on Wednesday with UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. 

Discussions focused on bilateral relations between their countries and means to bolster them in various fields. 

They also reviewed regional developments, leading with the situation in the Palestinian Territories, reported the Saudi Press Agency. 

Attending the meeting from the Saudi side were Minister of Energy Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman bin Abdulaziz; Minister of Interior Prince Abdulaziz bin Saud bin Naif bin Abdulaziz; Minister of National Guard Prince Abdullah bin Bandar bin Abdulaziz; Minister of Defense Prince Khalid bin Salman bin Abdulaziz; Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah; and Minister of State, Cabinet Member, and National Security Adviser Dr. Musaed Al-Aiban. 

From the UAE side, attendees included Deputy Ruler of Abu Dhabi and National Security Adviser Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed Al Nahyan; Deputy Chairman of the Presidential Court for Special Affairs Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohamed Al Nahyan; Adviser to the UAE President Sheikh Mohammed bin Hamad Al Nahyan; Secretary-General of the Supreme Council for National Security Ali bin Hammad Al Shamsi; UAE Minister of Investment Mohamed bin Hassan Al Suwaidi; Chairman of the President’s Office for Strategic Affairs Dr. Ahmed Mubarak Al Mazrouei; and UAE Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Sheikh Nahyan bin Saif Al Nahyan. 

Sheikh Mohamed had arrived in Riyadh earlier on Wednesday and he was seen off at the airport by Crown Prince Mohammed. 



Bahrain’s King: 'Defense Force' Shows Combat Readiness and High Efficiency

King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa during his meeting with officers of the Bahrain Defense Force on Friday (BNA)
King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa during his meeting with officers of the Bahrain Defense Force on Friday (BNA)
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Bahrain’s King: 'Defense Force' Shows Combat Readiness and High Efficiency

King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa during his meeting with officers of the Bahrain Defense Force on Friday (BNA)
King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa during his meeting with officers of the Bahrain Defense Force on Friday (BNA)

The Bahraini monarch, King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, praised the advanced level of preparedness and combat readiness demonstrated by personnel of the Bahrain Defense Force, noting their high efficiency in carrying out duties and working hand in hand with their fellow servicemen across various branches, units, and security agencies.

This came during his meeting on Friday with officers of the BDF, in the presence of its Commander-in-Chief, Field Marshal Khalifa bin Ahmed Al Khalifa.

King Hamad affirmed that “development efforts are ongoing across all branches to further enhance readiness and efficiency in performing their sacred duty of protecting the nation and the dignity of its citizens.”

The Bahraini King added that “the men of the Defense Force are the best to bear this noble trust,” stressing that they are “the steadfast pillar of our dear nation and the strong shield, in light of the affection and cohesion that unite all the people of Bahrain.”

For its part, the General Command of the BDF announced on Friday evening that air defense systems continue to confront successive waves of Iranian terrorist attacks, noting that since the start of the aggression, 154 missiles and 362 drones targeting the country have been destroyed.

In a statement, the General Command affirmed its pride in the advanced combat readiness and high vigilance demonstrated by its personnel, and expressed pride in this ongoing operational efficiency in protecting Bahrain. It added that the “honorable performance” demonstrated by these men gives rise to reassurance and firm confidence that the kingdom’s skies are safeguarded.

It said the use of ballistic missiles and drones to target civilian sites and private property constitutes a flagrant violation of international humanitarian law and the United Nations Charter, stressing that these indiscriminate attacks pose a direct threat to regional peace and security.

The General Command called on everyone to remain at home and not to leave except in cases of extreme necessity, adhere to the highest levels of caution for their safety, stay completely away from affected sites and any suspicious objects, refrain from photographing military operations or debris impact locations or spreading rumors, and rely on official sources for information, alerts, and warnings.


Foreign Minister, Indian Counterpart Discuss Bilateral Relations on Sidelines of G7 in France

Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs and Indian Minister of External Affairs - SPA
Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs and Indian Minister of External Affairs - SPA
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Foreign Minister, Indian Counterpart Discuss Bilateral Relations on Sidelines of G7 in France

Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs and Indian Minister of External Affairs - SPA
Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs and Indian Minister of External Affairs - SPA

Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah met Friday with Indian Minister of External Affairs Dr. Subrahmanyam Jaishankar on the sidelines of the G7 Ministerial Meeting in Vaux-de-Cernay, France, where they reviewed bilateral relations and ways to strengthen them in various fields.

They also discussed the latest regional and international developments and issues of common interest.

Saudi Ambassador to France Fahad Al-Ruwaily and Director General of the Foreign Minister's Office Waleed Al-Ismail attended the meeting.


Saudi Air Defenses Intercept 6 Ballistic Missiles, 26 Drones in Riyadh and Eastern Province

Saudi air defenses stand on alert against Iranian attacks (Ministry of Defense)
Saudi air defenses stand on alert against Iranian attacks (Ministry of Defense)
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Saudi Air Defenses Intercept 6 Ballistic Missiles, 26 Drones in Riyadh and Eastern Province

Saudi air defenses stand on alert against Iranian attacks (Ministry of Defense)
Saudi air defenses stand on alert against Iranian attacks (Ministry of Defense)

Saudi air defenses engaged six ballistic missiles and 26 drones on Friday in the Riyadh and Eastern Province regions, according to Spokesperson for the Ministry of Defense Major General Turki Al-Malki.

He said 13 drones were intercepted and destroyed in each of the Eastern Province and Riyadh. Debris from the interceptions fell in the vicinity of a military site in the Riyadh region without causing any injuries.

The ministry’s spokesperson added that six ballistic missiles were detected heading toward Riyadh; two were intercepted, while the remaining four fell into the waters of the Arabian Gulf and in uninhabited areas.

On Thursday, Saudi air defenses had destroyed 38 drones in the Eastern Province, Al-Malki said.