Saudi Defense Minister Discusses Regional Developments with Top US Officials in Washington https://english.aawsat.com/gulf/5207873-saudi-defense-minister-discusses-regional-developments-top-us-officials-washington%C2%A0
Saudi Defense Minister Discusses Regional Developments with Top US Officials in Washington
Saudi Minister of Defense Prince Khalid bin Salman bin Abdulaziz. (SPA)
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Saudi Defense Minister Discusses Regional Developments with Top US Officials in Washington
Saudi Minister of Defense Prince Khalid bin Salman bin Abdulaziz. (SPA)
Saudi Minister of Defense Prince Khalid bin Salman bin Abdulaziz held talks in Washington with US Secretary of State and acting White House national security advisor Marco Rubio, US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, and US special envoy for the Middle East Steve Witkoff, reported the Saudi Press Agency on Wednesday.
The White House meeting covered Saudi-US relations and the strategic partnership between the two countries, as well as regional and international developments, issues of mutual interest, and ongoing efforts to address them.
Saudi Ambassador to the United States Reema Bandar Al-Saud attended the meeting alongside other officials.
Air defenses intercepted and destroyed a ballistic missile launched by the terrorist Houthi militia toward Saudi Arabia’s Taif. (Reuters file)
Official Spokesperson for the Coalition to Restore Legitimacy in Yemen Major General Turki Al-Malki said that air defenses intercepted and destroyed a ballistic missile launched by the terrorist Houthi militia toward Saudi Arabia’s Taif.
On Tuesday, the Coalition announced the downing of three ballistic missiles fired by the Iran-backed Houthis towards the Eastern Region.
Two ballistic missiles fired at Riyadh and four drones fired at the Southern Region were also intercepted and destroyed, it added.
New Package of Saudi Humanitarian Projects Launched Across Yemenhttps://english.aawsat.com/gulf/5334510-new-package-saudi-humanitarian-projects-launched-across-yemen
New Package of Saudi Humanitarian Projects Launched Across Yemen
Al-Alimi inaugurates new humanitarian projects to be implemented by KSrelief in Yemen. (SABA)
Chairman of Yemen’s Presidential Leadership Council Dr. Rashad Al-Alimi visited the headquarters of the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center (KSrelief) in Riyadh on Tuesday for the launch of a new package of humanitarian and charitable projects for the Yemeni people.
Al-Alimi and his delegation were received by Royal Court Advisor and KSrelief Supervisor General Dr. Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Rabeeah, in the presence of Saudi Ambassador to Yemen and Supervisor of the Saudi Development and Reconstruction Program for Yemen (SDRPY) Mohammed bin Saeed Al Jaber, Yemen’s Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Salem Saleh bin Breik, representatives of UN organizations and a number of KSrelief officials.
Al-Alimi expressed the Yemeni people’s appreciation and gratitude to Saudi Arabia, under the leadership of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, for the valuable humanitarian assistance provided to Yemen through the KSrelief and the SDRPY.
He said the assistance has reached various regions and governorates and all segments of Yemeni society without discrimination, noting that these noble Saudi gestures would remain etched in the memory of generations of Yemenis.
Al-Alimi praised the Masam Project for clearing Yemeni territory of landmines, which was awarded Yemen’s highest honors in recognition of its major efforts to restore life and eliminate the deadly mines planted by the Houthi militia.
KSrelief had become a source of pride for Saudi Arabia and the world, with its assistance reaching all countries in need and those affected by crises, he stressed.
Al Rabeeah noted that, with the support and guidance of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques and the Crown Prince, KSrelief has reached 113 countries and implemented 4,525 projects.
Yemen has always been and remains KSrelief’s top priority in its efforts to alleviate the humanitarian suffering of the Yemeni people, he added, saying that KSrelief has implemented 1,238 projects in Yemen, with a budget exceeding $4.8 billion, in cooperation with 362 UN, international and local organizations.
Al Rabeeah welcome Al-Alimi upon his arrival at the KSrelief headquarters in Riyadh. (SPA)
Saudi Arabia has been the leading country in providing support to the Yemeni people over the past 10 years, he went on to say. The Kingdom’s diverse assistance over the decade has exceeded $29 billion, with KSrelief providing aid without discrimination between Yemen’s regions and governorates or among segments of its population.
“With the launch of Operation Dawn of Yemen to restore the Yemeni state, the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques and the Crown Prince directed KSrelief to increase humanitarian support to all parts of Yemen, particularly displacement areas and those most in need. Today, we are launching a new package of humanitarian and charitable projects for the Yemeni people,” Al Rabeeah said.
Humanitarian work in Yemen faces major challenges due to the Houthi militia's intransigence, which has blocked access, detained humanitarian workers, particularly UN staff, and targeted aid. The brotherly Yemeni people have not been spared these attacks, especially women and children, he said.
He called on the UN and the international community to put an end to these violations, which have made Yemen one of the countries most in need of humanitarian assistance and left its people in dire humanitarian conditions. He also urged the UN and the international community to pressure the Houthi militia to open humanitarian corridors to deliver aid to the Yemeni people in Taiz.
Al-Alimi then watched a video presentation showcasing Saudi Arabia’s assistance to 175 countries, valued at more than $145 billion. This included KSrelief’s work, which comprised 4,525 projects in 113 countries worldwide, worth more than $8.638 billion and covering various humanitarian aid sectors.
Yemen was among the leading beneficiary countries, with 1,238 projects implemented at a cost exceeding $4.821 billion. These projects covered education, health, food security and other sectors. They also included specialized initiatives, such as 568 projects dedicated to women, valued at more than $585 million, and 559 projects dedicated to children, worth more than $806 million.
Other initiatives included the Reintegration of Children Formerly Associated with Armed Conflict (CFAAC) Project, KSrelief’s Masam Project for clearing Yemeni territory of landmines, and the Saudi Prosthetics and Rehabilitation Project.
Al-Alimi held a meeting with Al Rabeeah to discuss matters of mutual interest related to humanitarian and relief efforts in Yemen and ways to strengthen them.
A hundred volunteer programs will be implemented by KSrelief in Yemen in the coming period.
Al-Alimi tours the KSrelief center. (SABA)
The projects launched included an emergency response project to distribute 250,000 food baskets across Yemen, comprising 500,000 cartons; the sixth phase of the emergency shelter plan to distribute 25,000 shelter kits and 17,500 tents; an emergency response project to provide drinking water to displaced people in Lahj Governorate, supplying 2.9 million liters; an emergency water, sanitation and hygiene project for displaced people in Lahj, supplying 5.3 million liters; a project to supply 4.7 million liters of safe drinking water to displaced people in Taiz Governorate; and another project to provide 3.78 million liters of safe drinking water to displaced people in Aden Governorate.
The launch also included an emergency relief project to distribute 5,000 food baskets and 9,960 tins of infant formula, and provide essential medicines and medical supplies in Taiz city; a medical project to supply medicines, medical supplies and equipment to Yemen’s Ministry of Health; and a residential complex for displaced people in Hajjah Governorate, comprising 232 homes equipped with solar power, along with public service facilities.
The total number of beneficiaries of these projects reached 3,435,000 people.
Moreover, Al-Alimi witnessed the launch of 100 Saudi volunteer programs across Yemen’s governorates, expected to benefit 265,000 people. These included the "Saudi Pulse" volunteer program for open-heart surgery and cardiac catheterization, the “Saudi Noor” volunteer program to combat blindness, the “Saudi Hearing” volunteer program for cochlear implantation and hearing rehabilitation, the Saudi Volunteer Program for Specialized Surgery, and the Saudi program for training, education and economic empowerment.
Emir of Qatar, President of Iran Discuss Regional Developments, De-Escalationhttps://english.aawsat.com/gulf/5334388-emir-qatar-president-iran-discuss-regional-developments-de-escalation
27 October 2026, Russia, Moscow: Qatar's Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani meets with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian at his residence in Moscow, on the sidelines of the Summit of Heads of State and Government of the Gas Exporting Countries Forum (GECF). (Emiri Diwan Office)
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Emir of Qatar, President of Iran Discuss Regional Developments, De-Escalation
27 October 2026, Russia, Moscow: Qatar's Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani meets with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian at his residence in Moscow, on the sidelines of the Summit of Heads of State and Government of the Gas Exporting Countries Forum (GECF). (Emiri Diwan Office)
Emir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani held talks with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on Tuesday on regional affairs, particularly the latest developments in negotiations, the Strait of Hormuz and energy supplies.
The leaders met ahead of the eighth summit of heads of state and government of the Gas Exporting Countries Forum (GECF) at the World Trade Center in Moscow.
Qatari Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and other officials attended the meeting.
Earlier, a spokesperson for the Qatari Foreign Ministry told a press briefing that Iran should stop threats against Arab Gulf states and open the Strait of Hormuz to show good intentions.
Iran needs to show good intentions for mediation efforts to succeed, he said.
Qatar, along with Pakistan, has been mediating between Washington and Tehran in an effort to end the US-Israeli war on Iran that has disrupted global shipping and oil supplies, and spilled over across other parts of the Middle East.
Tensions between Washington and Tehran have sharpened recently, with President Donald Trump saying on Friday the US may strike Iran again.
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