Pentagon: Operation in Al-Udeid Air Base Continues

Al-Udeid Air Base
Al-Udeid Air Base
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Pentagon: Operation in Al-Udeid Air Base Continues

Al-Udeid Air Base
Al-Udeid Air Base

The Pentagon announced on Tuesday that it is not considering moving its Central Command (CENTCOM) operation based at al-Udeid Air Base in Qatar.

Pentagon Spokeswoman for CENTCOM Rebecca Rebarich said in a statement that US forces will continue using this base in the future and will expand CENTCOM’s operational range, specifically the US Air Force in the region.

This is part of a strategy to increase the command's ability to have air control throughout its area of, she said.

Rebarich’s remarks follow media reports indicating that the US Air Force has temporarily moved its Middle East command and control center from Qatar to South Carolina as part of a training.

The Washington Post quoted air force commanders as saying that “moving functions to a different base was a long-held ambition enabled by new technology, but it comes amid renewed tension with Iran.”

The air power of the United States and its allies was being controlled by teams at Shaw Air Force Base in South Carolina, more than 7,000 miles away.

Though the move was only temporary — al-Udeid took back control after 24 hours.



Saudi Arabia Showcases Progress in Women's Economic Participation at High-Level Regional Dialogue

Saudi Flag / File/Reuters
Saudi Flag / File/Reuters
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Saudi Arabia Showcases Progress in Women's Economic Participation at High-Level Regional Dialogue

Saudi Flag / File/Reuters
Saudi Flag / File/Reuters

Saudi Arabia participated in a high-level regional dialogue focused on enhancing women's economic participation alongside government representatives from Gulf states, including the UAE and Bahrain.

The event, held in Dubai on June 17–18, was organized by the UAE Gender Balance Council in cooperation with the World Bank.

The sessions and workshops featured the exchange of expertise and successful policy models to advance gender equality in the workforce.

Representing the Kingdom, Female Enablement General Director at the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development Dr. Hanadi Al-Hokair joined a panel alongside her counterparts from the UAE and Bahrain. She presented the Kingdom's practical strategies to boost women's engagement in the labor market and highlighted recent policy reforms and milestones in Saudi Arabia's economic empowerment of women.

Interactive sessions led by World Bank experts explored childcare policies that support women's employment, global best practices for integrating women into the digital economy, and reforms that facilitate women's entry into non-traditional sectors such as technology and the green economy.

Participants also reviewed global legal frameworks and successful case studies from Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Bahrain.

A dedicated session addressed the methodology of the World Bank's Women, Business and the Law Index, a key global benchmark for assessing gender-related regulatory progress.

The Kingdom's efforts have yielded significant achievements, with women's labor force participation increasing from 17% in 2017 to over 36% in 2025, surpassing the original targets of Vision 2030. The ministry's participation in the event reaffirms Saudi Arabia's commitment to empowering women and elevating their role across all sectors in line with the Vision 2030.