Saudi Arabia Implements Project to Link South, North of Yemen

Saudi Ambassador to Yemen Mohammed Al Jaber. SPA
Saudi Ambassador to Yemen Mohammed Al Jaber. SPA
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Saudi Arabia Implements Project to Link South, North of Yemen

Saudi Ambassador to Yemen Mohammed Al Jaber. SPA
Saudi Ambassador to Yemen Mohammed Al Jaber. SPA

Yemen Comprehensive Humanitarian Operations (YCHO) signed an agreement Wednesday to start a road rehabilitation project and develop its infrastructure in Yemen at a cost of 18.75 million riyals (five million dollars) and a length of 84 kilometers to link the northern Yemeni provinces with the southern ones.

Saudi Ambassador to Yemen Mohammed Al Jaber and Yemeni Minister of Public Works Maeen Abdulmalik signed the agreement with the YCHO.

Al Jaber, who is also the director of YCHO, explained during a press conference in Riyadh that the project comes within the comprehensive relief plan in Yemen, which was recently launched by reopening of al-Kahadraa border crossing, and operating an air bridge from Saudi Arabia to Marib province.

He pointed out that the project includes repairing and rehabilitating a major road extending from the port of Aden to the provinces to facilitate the transfer of aid, promote trade movement and find jobs directly and indirectly.

He stressed importance of coordination with the Yemeni government to implement the project as soon as possible to deliver aid to all Yemeni areas.

“The cost of this YCHO project will be $5 million and is expected to be completed in 60 days,” tweeted Al Jaber.

“The project will start in a few weeks; the road will be of high quality, as it is the first infrastructure project in Yemen commissioned by the YCHO,” he added in his tweets.

“This initiative will create 15,000 new job opportunities for the people of Yemen, and it will link comprehensive humanitarian relief efforts from north to south,” said the ambassador.

For his part, Abdulmalik said “the importance of the road lies in its linkage from Aden to Dhamar, Dali, Lahj, Taaz, Ibb and al-Bayda. Transportation and connectivity will flourish once constructed.”

He said during the press conference that the road contributes to the transfer of the majority of goods, and it links the northern and southern governorates of Yemen.

In this context, YCHO delivered a new shipment of relief aids on Wednesday as part of the humanitarian operations launched and aimed at delivering aid to all Yemeni territories.



Saudi Ambassador Inaugurates 3rd Phase of Lebanese Land Exports to the Kingdom

Part of Thursday’s inauguration ceremony. SPA
Part of Thursday’s inauguration ceremony. SPA
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Saudi Ambassador Inaugurates 3rd Phase of Lebanese Land Exports to the Kingdom

Part of Thursday’s inauguration ceremony. SPA
Part of Thursday’s inauguration ceremony. SPA

Saudi Ambassador to Lebanon Fahd bin Abdulrahman Al-Dosari inaugurated on Thursday the third phase of Lebanese exports to the Kingdom.

Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman had ordered the resumption of Lebanese exports to the Kingdom.

The exports will pass through the Masnaa border crossing between Lebanon and Syria.

Thursday’s inauguration ceremony was attended by Lebanese Minister of Public Works and Transport Fayez Rasamny, representing the prime minister, along with several government officials.

Rasamny praised the Kingdom’s decision to resume imports of Lebanese products, describing it as a direct support for the national economy and a step that opens new opportunities for Lebanese producers.

The ceremony also included the activation of the scanner at Masnaa. This was followed by an inspection visit to the site designated for the establishment of a new land border crossing center.


Oman Says Lasting Security in Strait of Hormuz Requires Regional Peace

Vessels near the Strait of Hormuz, as seen from Musandam, Oman, August 17, 2026. REUTERS/Stringer
Vessels near the Strait of Hormuz, as seen from Musandam, Oman, August 17, 2026. REUTERS/Stringer
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Oman Says Lasting Security in Strait of Hormuz Requires Regional Peace

Vessels near the Strait of Hormuz, as seen from Musandam, Oman, August 17, 2026. REUTERS/Stringer
Vessels near the Strait of Hormuz, as seen from Musandam, Oman, August 17, 2026. REUTERS/Stringer

Oman said lasting security in the Strait of Hormuz required permanent peace in the region and rejected further escalation or conflict, its foreign minister told his Japanese counterpart on Thursday, Reuters reported.

Iran has said a deal with Oman on new shipping lanes through the strait was in its final stages.


Faisal bin Farhan Stresses Diplomacy to Ease Regional Tensions

Prince Faisal bin Farhan receives Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi in Riyadh on Wednesday (Saudi Foreign Ministry)
Prince Faisal bin Farhan receives Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi in Riyadh on Wednesday (Saudi Foreign Ministry)
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Faisal bin Farhan Stresses Diplomacy to Ease Regional Tensions

Prince Faisal bin Farhan receives Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi in Riyadh on Wednesday (Saudi Foreign Ministry)
Prince Faisal bin Farhan receives Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi in Riyadh on Wednesday (Saudi Foreign Ministry)

Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan on Wednesday reaffirmed the Kingdom’s commitment to reducing regional tensions and preventing renewed conflict through comprehensive, sustainable diplomatic solutions addressing the sources of instability in the Middle East.

“Diplomacy, dialogue and peaceful means remain our priorities,” Prince Faisal declared during the third Saudi-Japanese Strategic Dialogue with Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi in Riyadh.

Prince Faisal highlighted the decades-long relationship between Saudi Arabia and Japan, built on mutual trust and respect, and identified maritime security as a key shared priority.

He stressed the importance of safeguarding freedom of navigation in international waterways in accordance with international law, emphasizing that the Strait of Hormuz, Bab al-Mandab and other maritime passages must remain open, secure and free from threats.

The Saudi minister described Japan as an important economic partner and noted that Riyadh sought to expand cooperation in investment, energy, resources, supply chains, defense and technology, as well as the exchange of expertise and capabilities.

He reaffirmed that Saudi Arabia would remain a reliable partner for Japan, including in energy, while praising Tokyo’s efforts to strengthen economic resilience and stabilize global energy markets and trade.

Ahead of his visit to Riyadh and Muscat, Motegi noted that Saudi Arabia was playing a mediating role in talks between the United States and Iran and had seen its international influence expand significantly in recent years.

He pledged to deepen cooperation with the Kingdom as a strategic partner, particularly in ensuring stable energy supplies.

Toshihiro Kitamura, Japan’s assistant foreign minister and ministry spokesman, told Asharq Al-Awsat that cooperation between Riyadh and Tokyo was “strategic and encompasses all fields,” adding that future defense cooperation was possible.

Speaking at a news conference in Riyadh, Kitamura explained that Japan wanted to hear Saudi Arabia’s assessment of regional developments and strengthen coordination with Riyadh and Oman in support of peace and stability, particularly regarding Iran.

He noted that more than 95% of Japan’s crude oil imports passed through the Strait of Hormuz, underscoring its importance to global trade and the world economy.

Kitamura also expressed serious concern over Houthi attacks in Bab al-Mandab and indicated that Japan aimed to broaden bilateral cooperation beyond oil under the Saudi-Japan Vision 2030 framework, in line with Saudi Vision 2030.