From Israel, Bahrain’s Foreign Ministry Undersecretary Criticizes Iran Nuclear Deal

Sheikh Abdulla meets with the president of Israel. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Sheikh Abdulla meets with the president of Israel. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
TT

From Israel, Bahrain’s Foreign Ministry Undersecretary Criticizes Iran Nuclear Deal

Sheikh Abdulla meets with the president of Israel. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Sheikh Abdulla meets with the president of Israel. (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Bahrain’s Undersecretary for International Relations at the Foreign Ministry, Sheikh Abdulla bin Ahmed Al Khalifa, criticized on Monday the West and United States’ efforts to return to the nuclear deal with Iran.

Speaking from Israel, he said: “What did we achieve from the deal?”

The official is on a four-day visit to Israel.

Speaking to reporters, Khalifa said the 2015 pact between the world powers and Tehran has not yielded any positive results.

He revealed that Bahrain’s King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa had sent a message of congratulations to then Iranian president Rouhani the day the nuclear accord was signed.

“However, two days later, we foiled a Iranian attempt to smuggle arms and explosives to Bahrain,” said Sheikh Abdulla.

He stressed that Bahrain wants to see a stable, secure, prosperous and responsible Iran that acts as a responsible member of the international community.

“But we haven’t,” he said, “What we see is continuous interference in domestic affairs in my country.”

The Bahraini official had arrived in Tel Aviv on Sunday.

He met with Israeli President Isaac Herzog, Foreign Minister Yair Lapid, and he attended a meeting of the Joint Coordination Committee between Bahrain and Israel.

He revealed that preparations are underway to commemorate the signing of the Abraham Accords, with the participation of all signatory countries, Bahrain, the UAE, the US and Israel.

“The event will be held on September 15,” he added.

Official diplomatic relations between Israel and Bahrain were announced on September 11, 2020.

The Bahraini official also revealed that Lapid is expected to visit Manama in the near future and that direct flights between Manama and Tel Aviv should begin soon.



Heavy Israeli Strikes Shake Beirut’s Southern Suburbs

Flames rise after an Israeli airstrike in the southern suburbs of Beirut, Lebanon, Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024. (AP Photo/Hussein Malla)
Flames rise after an Israeli airstrike in the southern suburbs of Beirut, Lebanon, Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024. (AP Photo/Hussein Malla)
TT

Heavy Israeli Strikes Shake Beirut’s Southern Suburbs

Flames rise after an Israeli airstrike in the southern suburbs of Beirut, Lebanon, Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024. (AP Photo/Hussein Malla)
Flames rise after an Israeli airstrike in the southern suburbs of Beirut, Lebanon, Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024. (AP Photo/Hussein Malla)

Strong explosions in Beirut's southern suburbs began near midnight and continued into Sunday after Israel's military urged residents to evacuate areas in Dahiyeh.

Photos and video showed the blasts illuminating the southern suburbs, and sparking flashes of red and white visible from several kilometers away. They followed a day of sporadic strikes and the nearly continuous buzz of reconnaissance drones.

Israel's military confirmed it was striking targets near Beirut and said about 30 projectiles had crossed

from Lebanon into Israeli territory, with some intercepted.

The strikes reportedly targeted a building near a road leading to Rafik Hariri International Airport, and another building formerly used by the Hezbollah-run broadcaster Al-Manar. Social media reports claimed that one of the strikes hit an oxygen tank storage facility, but this was later denied by the owner of the company Khaled Kaddouha.

Shortly thereafter, Hezbollah claimed in a statement that it successfully targeted a group of Israeli soldiers near the Manara settlement in northern Israel “with a large rocket salvo, hitting them accurately.”

Israeli military spokesperson Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari said on Saturday that Israel had killed 440 Hezbollah fighters in its ground operations in southern Lebanon and destroyed 2,000 Hezbollah targets. Hezbollah has not released death tolls.

Israel says it stepped up its assault on Hezbollah to enable the safe return of tens of thousands of citizens to homes in northern Israel, bombarded by the group since last Oct. 8.

Israeli authorities said on Saturday that nine Israeli soldiers had been killed in southern Lebanon so far.