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Kuwait Joins UN Security Council in 2018

The United Nations Security Council. (Reuters)
The United Nations Security Council. (Reuters)
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Kuwait Joins UN Security Council in 2018

The United Nations Security Council. (Reuters)
The United Nations Security Council. (Reuters)

Kuwait will join the United Nations Security Council as a non-permanent member in January.

The Gulf state will also chair the council in February.

Kuwait won its place at the council after a vote. It now replaces Egypt as the only Arab member at the council.

Kuwait will be joined by the Ivory Coast, Equatorial Guinea, Peru and Poland, succeeding Japan, Egypt, Senegal, Ukraine and Uruguay after their two-year temporary membership expired.

The Security Council is made up of 10 non-permanent members elected to two-year terms and five permanent powers: Britain, China, France, Russia and the United States.

The elected countries -- all of which were put forward by their regional grouping -- will begin their term on January 1.

Kuwait first joined the UN in 1963 and was granted membership at the Security Council in 1978 and 1979.

While pursuing a seat at the council, Kuwait vowed to follow up on the implementation of resolutions related to the region. It will persuade the other members to avert conflict and rely instead on diplomacy.

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Gulf

Saudi Crown Prince Offers Phone Condolences to Emir of Qatar over Passing of Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa

(Right) Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz (SPA); (Left) Qatar's Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani (QNA).
(Right) Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz (SPA); (Left) Qatar's Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani (QNA).
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Saudi Crown Prince Offers Phone Condolences to Emir of Qatar over Passing of Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa

(Right) Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz (SPA); (Left) Qatar's Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani (QNA).
(Right) Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz (SPA); (Left) Qatar's Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani (QNA).

Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister, Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, held a phone call on Monday with Qatar's Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani and offered his condolences over the death of Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani.

The Crown Prince expressed sympathy to the emir praying for God's mercy and forgiveness upon the deceased.

The Qatari emir thanked the Saudi crown prince for his sincere fraternal condolences.

Gulf

Iranian Missile Strikes Target Bahrain, Kuwait and Jordan

Bahrain's capital, Manama (file photo)
Bahrain's capital, Manama (file photo)
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Iranian Missile Strikes Target Bahrain, Kuwait and Jordan

Bahrain's capital, Manama (file photo)
Bahrain's capital, Manama (file photo)

Iran's Revolutionary Guards on Monday claimed strikes against Jordan, Bahrain and Kuwait, saying they targeted US military facilities.

Iran's official IRNA news agency, citing a series of statements by the Revolutionary Guards, said Iran had launched attacks targeting Prince Hassan Air Base in Jordan, a US drone command center in Bahrain and other air bases, including Ali Al Salem Air Base in Kuwait.

Bahrain's Interior Ministry said on X that warning sirens had been activated, urging citizens and residents to remain calm, head to the nearest safe location and follow updates through official channels.

Kuwait's military also said its armed forces had intercepted hostile aerial targets within Kuwaiti airspace.

The military's General Staff said in a post on X, any explosions heard were the result of air defense systems intercepting hostile attacks and urged the public to follow safety instructions issued by the relevant authorities.

The Jordanian army said in a statement that its air defenses successfully intercepted four missiles launched from Iran, with no casualties or property damage reported.

The statement cited a military source as saying that the air defense systems intercepted and destroyed four missiles that entered Jordanian airspace from Iranian territory early on Monday, adding that the incident caused no injuries or material damage.

Gulf

Oman Says 23 Crew Members Rescued from Vessel Attacked off Musandam

Vessels at the Strait of Hormuz, as seen from Musandam, Oman, July 12, 2026. REUTERS/Stringer 
Vessels at the Strait of Hormuz, as seen from Musandam, Oman, July 12, 2026. REUTERS/Stringer 
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Oman Says 23 Crew Members Rescued from Vessel Attacked off Musandam

Vessels at the Strait of Hormuz, as seen from Musandam, Oman, July 12, 2026. REUTERS/Stringer 
Vessels at the Strait of Hormuz, as seen from Musandam, Oman, July 12, 2026. REUTERS/Stringer 

Oman said Sunday it had rescued 23 crew members from a commercial ship after the vessel was targeted off the coast of Musandam, while search operations remain underway for one missing crew member.
In a statement, Oman’s Maritime Security Center said it responded to a distress call from the Cypriot-flagged GFS Galaxy 4.4 nautical miles off the coast of Musandam Governorate.

“Twenty-three crew members were rescued and provided with necessary medical care. Search operations are continuing for one crew member who remains missing,” the statement said.

It gave no further information about the incident.

The incident comes amid heightened maritime tensions in the region, with authorities monitoring security threats affecting commercial shipping routes.

Earlier on Sunday, a Omani security source said drones targeted sites in the Musandam Governorate. The Sultanate of Oman condemned the attack and affirmed that it is taking all necessary measures to address these developments and safeguard the country and its residents.

The Sultanate added that security forces continue to monitor the area closely following this incident, as the country takes decisive steps to address these ongoing security developments.

The Musandam Governorate is located in the far north of the Sultanate and overlooks the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world's most critical maritime chokepoints, carrying around a quarter of global seaborne oil trade and significant volumes of liquefied natural gas and fertilizers.

The Strait serves as the gateway that links the Gulf to the Sea of Oman and the Indian Ocean.

Musandam includes four wilayats: Khasab, Dibba, Bukha, and Madha.

On Sunday, US Central Command said the Strait of Hormuz is ‌open to all vessels and US military forces are “positioned ⁠and prepared” to ensure freedom of navigation, a ‌day ⁠after US and Iranian forces exchanged fire and ⁠Iran said it had closed ⁠the vital waterway.