Crown Prince Meets Sheikh al-Azhar in Cairo

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman meets Sheikh al-Azhar in Cairo. (SPA)
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman meets Sheikh al-Azhar in Cairo. (SPA)
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Crown Prince Meets Sheikh al-Azhar in Cairo

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman meets Sheikh al-Azhar in Cairo. (SPA)
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman meets Sheikh al-Azhar in Cairo. (SPA)

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense, held talks in Cairo on Monday with Sheikh al-Azhar Dr. Ahmed Tayeb.

The talks were held at the al-Azhar headquarters in Cairo, where the Crown Prince was received by a number of scholars.

Prince Mohammed and Sheikh Tayeb discussed cooperation between al-Azhar and Saudi Arabia in a number of issues of common interest.

The Crown Prince hailed the role of al-Azhar in spreading Islamic teachings and serving the Muslim nation.

The two officials stressed the importance of joint coordination in tackling challenges facing the Arab and Muslim worlds in order to preserve religious values, promote Islamic culture and highlight the principles of tolerance.

Sources from al-Azhar said: “The visit reflects the special ties between Egypt and Saudi Arabia and the constant coordination between them on all issues that concern the Islamic and Arab countries.”

“The ongoing coordination between Cairo and Riyadh supports efforts to counter terrorism and extremism,” they told Asharq Al-Awsat.

Al-Azhar announced that Prince Mohammed and Egyptian President Abdul Fattah al-Sisi will inaugurate on Tuesday the renovation work at the al-Azhar mosque in Cairo.

Saudi Arabia had in 2014 issued a royal decree to renovate the mosque.

Al-Azhar said on Monday that the renovation was possible through a grant by late Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz and sponsorship of King Salman bin Abdulaziz.



Saudi Arabia Urges Yemen’s STC to 'Urgently’ Withdraw from Hadhramaut and al-Mahra

Saudi Arabia Urges Yemen’s STC to 'Urgently’ Withdraw from Hadhramaut and al-Mahra
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Saudi Arabia Urges Yemen’s STC to 'Urgently’ Withdraw from Hadhramaut and al-Mahra

Saudi Arabia Urges Yemen’s STC to 'Urgently’ Withdraw from Hadhramaut and al-Mahra

The Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement on Thursday expressing concern over the recent military movements witnessed in the governorates of Hadhramaut and al-Mahra.

It noted that “the actions carried out by the Southern Transitional Council were taken unilaterally, without the approval of the Presidential Leadership Council or coordination with the coalition leadership”.

The Kingdom described the moves as an “unjustified escalation” that has harmed the interests of the Yemeni people across all segments of society, undermined the Southern cause, and weakened the coalition’s efforts.

The Kingdom further emphasized that, in recent months, it has focused on maintaining unity and has undertaken intensive efforts to reach peaceful solutions to address the situation in the two governorates, as part of its ongoing endeavors to restore stability.

The statement added that these efforts were “coordinated with the brethren United Arab Emirates, the Chairman of the Presidential Leadership Council, and the Yemeni government to contain the situation”.

It said that a “joint Saudi–Emirati military team was dispatched to coordinate with the Southern Transitional Council in Aden, ensuring the withdrawal of its forces from the two governorates and the handover of camps to the National Shield Forces and local authorities under the coalition’s supervision”.

The Foreign Ministry stressed that efforts are still underway to restore the situation to its previous state, expressing the Kingdom’s hope that the public interest will prevail and that the Southern Transitional Council will take the initiative to de-escalate tensions and urgently and peacefully withdraw its forces from the two governorates.

Saudi Arabia also underscored the importance of cooperation among all Yemeni forces and components, exercising restraint, and avoiding actions that could undermine security and stability.

The Kingdom reiterated its position that the “Southern cause is a just issue with historical and social dimensions and can only be resolved through dialogue that brings all Yemeni parties together at one table, within a comprehensive political process that ensures a lasting solution in Yemen”.

The statement concluded by affirming the Kingdom’s “support for the Chairman and members of the Presidential Leadership Council and the Yemeni government, in a manner that achieves security, stability, development, and peace in the sisterly Republic of Yemen”.


MWL Condemns Attack Targeting Pakistani Police

The Muslim World League (MWL) logo
The Muslim World League (MWL) logo
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MWL Condemns Attack Targeting Pakistani Police

The Muslim World League (MWL) logo
The Muslim World League (MWL) logo

The Muslim World League (MWL) strongly condemned the attack targeting police personnel in Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Thursday.

In a statement issued by its General Secretariat, MWL Secretary-General and Chairman of the Organization of Muslim Scholars, Sheikh Mohammed Al-Issa, affirmed the League’s solidarity with the Islamic Republic of Pakistan in the face of all threats to its security and stability. He reiterated the MWL’s firm rejection and condemnation of violence and terrorism in all their forms and under any pretext.

He also extended his sincere condolences and sympathies to the families of the victims and to the Pakistani people.


Sultan of Oman Awards Military Order to Royal Saudi Air Force Commander

Commander of the Royal Saudi Air Force (RSAF) Lieutenant General Prince Turki bin Bandar bin Abdulaziz receives the Military Order of Oman (Second Class). (SPA)
Commander of the Royal Saudi Air Force (RSAF) Lieutenant General Prince Turki bin Bandar bin Abdulaziz receives the Military Order of Oman (Second Class). (SPA)
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Sultan of Oman Awards Military Order to Royal Saudi Air Force Commander

Commander of the Royal Saudi Air Force (RSAF) Lieutenant General Prince Turki bin Bandar bin Abdulaziz receives the Military Order of Oman (Second Class). (SPA)
Commander of the Royal Saudi Air Force (RSAF) Lieutenant General Prince Turki bin Bandar bin Abdulaziz receives the Military Order of Oman (Second Class). (SPA)

Oman’s Sultan Haitham bin Tarik awarded on Wednesday the Military Order of Oman (Second Class) to Commander of the Royal Saudi Air Force (RSAF) Lieutenant General Prince Turki bin Bandar bin Abdulaziz in recognition of his efforts and contributions to strengthening military cooperation between the two countries.

The order was presented to the RSAF commander by Omani Deputy Prime Minister for Defense Affairs Shihab bin Tarik Al Said, in the presence of Commander of the Royal Air Force of Oman (RAFO) Air Vice Marshal Khamis Al Ghafri, Saudi Ambassador to Oman Ibrahim bin Saad bin Bishan, and the accompanying delegation.

During the visit, the RSAF commander also met with Minister of the Royal Office of Oman General Sultan bin Mohammed Al Nomani for talks on issues of mutual interest.

Prince Turki bin Bandar bin Abdulaziz arrived in Oman on Tuesday on an official visit during which he met with the commander of RAFO. The discussions addressed issues of common interest, particularly in the field of joint training and exercises.

The visit included a tour of the Air Center for Specialized Training, where the delegation reviewed the advanced capabilities on display, reflecting the level of development achieved by the Royal Air Force of Oman.