Saudi Arabia Strongly Condemns Houthi Claims Accusing the Kingdom of Besieging the Yemeni People

The Kingdom affirmed that it will take all necessary measures to protect its ships in accordance with international law (Saudi Flag website)
The Kingdom affirmed that it will take all necessary measures to protect its ships in accordance with international law (Saudi Flag website)
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Saudi Arabia Strongly Condemns Houthi Claims Accusing the Kingdom of Besieging the Yemeni People

The Kingdom affirmed that it will take all necessary measures to protect its ships in accordance with international law (Saudi Flag website)
The Kingdom affirmed that it will take all necessary measures to protect its ships in accordance with international law (Saudi Flag website)

The Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs has expressed the Kingdom's strongest condemnation of the allegations made by the so-called military spokesperson of the Houthi terrorist militia, who accused the Kingdom of besieging the Yemeni people and claimed imposing a maritime blockade on the Kingdom.

In a statement issued Monday, the ministry affirmed that the Kingdom has worked over the past years with the legitimate government of Yemen to alleviate the suffering of the Yemeni people through development projects, support for the Yemeni government’s budget, and the provision of petroleum derivatives to operate power plants.

The ports in northern Yemen (Hodeidah, Salif, and Ras Isa) received more than 300 ships carrying various food items goods, fuel, and construction materials during the first half of 2026, while maintaining the implementation of the United Nations Security Council Resolution 2216, including the prohibition on the entry of weapons and ammunition that the militia seeks to smuggle into Yemen by all available means in order to prolong its control over the resources of the Yemeni people.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs recalled the Houthi’s previous widespread attacks targeting the Yemeni people and infrastructure, including the attack on Aden Airport on December 30, 2020, which resulted in the deaths and injuries of dozens of people.

During the truce, the militia also targeted oil export ports in southern Yemen on October 21, 2022, and subsequently carried out attacks that aimed to cripple the government’s ability to sell oil, which represents approximately 60% of the government’s revenues, and directly impacting the payment of salaries to government employees, the ministry said in a statement.

The militia also seized four aircrafts belonging to Yemenia Airways and detained them at Sanaa Airport after they had transported Yemeni pilgrims from Jeddah.

Furthermore, the militia dragged Yemen into the regional conflict and targeted commercial ships in the Red Sea, exacerbating the suffering of the Yemeni people, preventing them from traveling, and worsening the economic situation, particularly in areas under the control of the Houthi militia.

The Houthi militia rejected all initiatives to resume flights from Sanaa Airport, most recently the Jordanian initiative, and has continued to commit humanitarian violations against Yemeni citizens. The militia is now attempting to deflect responsibility for the economic challenges and growing public discontent it faces by fabricating false accusations against the Kingdom.

The statement said that the Kingdom aims to achieve peace in Yemen and end the suffering of the Yemeni people. Saudi Arabia has supported UN efforts to achieve peace in Yemen over the past years, including the roadmap accepted by the Yemeni government, while the Houthi militia refrained from announcing its acceptance and instead engaged in the regional conflict in support of its sinister agenda and objectives, exacerbating the suffering of Yemeni citizens in the areas under its control.

The Kingdom also called upon the international community to fulfill its responsibilities regarding the implementation of the relevant Security Council resolutions, foremost among them Resolution 2216 on Yemen and Resolution 2722 on the rights and freedom of navigation in the Red Sea.

At the same time, the Kingdom affirmed that it will take all necessary measures to protect its ships in accordance with international law and the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.



UAE Halts All Trade, Financial Dealings with Iran after Attack

Tuesday's announcement is the latest measure against Iran by the UAE after it recalled its ambassador early in the conflict. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Tuesday's announcement is the latest measure against Iran by the UAE after it recalled its ambassador early in the conflict. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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UAE Halts All Trade, Financial Dealings with Iran after Attack

Tuesday's announcement is the latest measure against Iran by the UAE after it recalled its ambassador early in the conflict. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Tuesday's announcement is the latest measure against Iran by the UAE after it recalled its ambassador early in the conflict. (Asharq Al-Awsat)

The United Arab Emirates has said it is suspending all trade and financial dealings with Iran after reporting an Iranian missile attack directed at its ships.

The announcement comes after a period of relative calm in the UAE, with no Iranian missiles aimed at the country since May after it bore the brunt of attacks in the early weeks of the Middle East war.

Abu Dhabi has however accused Tehran of repeatedly targeting its tankers at sea in recent weeks.

"In light of regional escalations... all trade, commercial exchanges, and financial transactions with Iran have been halted until further notice," said UAE foreign ministry communications director Afra Al Hameli.

The UAE is home to a sizeable Iranian community and has been a major trading partner for US-sanctioned Iran, at least before the war.

Tuesday's announcement is the latest measure against Iran by the UAE after it recalled its ambassador early in the conflict.

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Abu Dhabi on Tuesday accused Iran of firing two ballistic missiles towards the country, the first such attack since May.

It later said the salvo was directed at shipping, but Tehran denied firing missiles at the UAE.

"UAE air defenses detected two ballistic missiles launched from Iran towards the country, with the first falling outside the country's territorial waters, while the second fell within the territorial waters," the UAE ministry said in a statement posted to social media.

A second statement released later said the missiles "were targeting maritime navigation and fell into the sea".

Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei "categorically rejected the United Arab Emirates' claim that Iran had launched a missile towards that country", calling it harmful to regional trust and security efforts.

The first UAE statement came nearly two hours after a phone alert that warned residents of a "potential missile threat".

It was the first such alert since a false alarm in June and an alert in July for an attack that ultimately did not enter UAE territory.

Before that, the last missile warning came in early May.

However, tankers belonging to the UAE's state-owned oil company ADNOC have been repeatedly targeted in the past few weeks.

When the Middle East war began on February 28, the UAE bore the brunt of Iran's attacks, with nearly 3,000 missiles and drones directed at the country -- more than anywhere else in the region.

After a memorandum of understanding between Iran and the United States came into effect in June, which has since collapsed, the UAE reported no attacks, unlike other Gulf states.


MWL, GCC Condemn Israeli Airstrikes on Syria’s Abu al-Duhur Military Airbase

A man rides a motorbike in the town of Abu al-Duhur, Syria, August 18, 2026. (Reuters)
A man rides a motorbike in the town of Abu al-Duhur, Syria, August 18, 2026. (Reuters)
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MWL, GCC Condemn Israeli Airstrikes on Syria’s Abu al-Duhur Military Airbase

A man rides a motorbike in the town of Abu al-Duhur, Syria, August 18, 2026. (Reuters)
A man rides a motorbike in the town of Abu al-Duhur, Syria, August 18, 2026. (Reuters)

The Muslim World League (MWL) strongly condemned on Tuesday the Israeli airstrikes targeting Syria’s Abu al-Duhur Military Airbase, saying they are a violation of all international laws and norms.

In a statement, MWL Secretary-General and Chairman of the Organization of Muslim Scholars Sheikh Dr. Mohammed bin Abdulkarim Al-Issa slammed “the aggression against the sovereignty and resources of Syria”, reiterating the league's “full solidarity” with the country in confronting threats to its security, sovereignty and people.

Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Jasem Albudaiwi also strongly condemned the attack.

“The brutal Israeli targeting of Syrian territory is an unacceptable violation of its sovereignty and territorial sanctity, contradicting international rules and norms that prohibit infringing upon state sovereignty,” he said.

Such continued practices raise tension and escalation and undermine regional and international efforts aimed at achieving security and stability in the region, he warned.

Albudaiwi called on the international community to assume its responsibilities, take a firm stance against these violations, and work to halt Israeli attacks on Syrian territory to safeguard its security and stability.

He reiterated the GCC states' solidarity with Syria, and support for its sovereignty and territorial integrity.


Saudi Arabia Condemns Israeli Airstrikes on Syria’s Abu al-Duhur Military Airport

The Abu al-Duhur base following the Israeli strikes, Syria, August 18, 2026. (Reuters)
The Abu al-Duhur base following the Israeli strikes, Syria, August 18, 2026. (Reuters)
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Saudi Arabia Condemns Israeli Airstrikes on Syria’s Abu al-Duhur Military Airport

The Abu al-Duhur base following the Israeli strikes, Syria, August 18, 2026. (Reuters)
The Abu al-Duhur base following the Israeli strikes, Syria, August 18, 2026. (Reuters)

Saudi Arabia strongly condemned on Tuesday Israeli airstrikes on Syria’s Abu al-Duhur Military Airport.

A Foreign Ministry statement said the Kingdom slammed the attack as a “flagrant violation of international law and Syria's sovereignty.”

“The Kingdom stresses its rejection of this blatant act of aggression and renews its call on the international community to put an end to Israel’s violations of international laws and norms,” it demanded.

It reiterated its solidarity with Syria and “support for all efforts aimed at safeguarding its sovereignty, preserving the integrity and unity of its territory, and achieving security and stability for the brotherly Syrian people.”