Saudi Defenses Intercept Houthi Missiles...Two Children Wounded, 14 Houses Lightly Damaged

Coalition spokesman Brigadier General Turki al-Malki  (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Coalition spokesman Brigadier General Turki al-Malki (Asharq Al-Awsat)
TT

Saudi Defenses Intercept Houthi Missiles...Two Children Wounded, 14 Houses Lightly Damaged

Coalition spokesman Brigadier General Turki al-Malki  (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Coalition spokesman Brigadier General Turki al-Malki (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Coalition spokesman Brigadier General Turki al-Malki affirmed that the Saudi air defenses shot down on Saturday three armed drones fired by the terrorist Iran-backed Houthi militias in Yemen towards the Kingdom, noting that scattered shrapnel injured two Saudi children and caused damage to 14 houses.

"Houthi attempts to target civilians and civilian objects is not only hostile and barbaric, but also "incompatible with heavenly values ​​and humanitarian principles," Al-Maliki said.

He explained that the Saudi defenses intercepted the attacks at 21:32 on Saturday evening. He stated that the Houthis launched the attacks from Sanaa.

Al-Maliki added that the interception operation caused shrapnel to scatter over the neighborhood in Dammam, which resulted in the injury of a Saudi boy and girl, and damaged 14 residential houses.

He stressed that the Ministry of Defense will take necessary measures to protect its territory and stop hostile and cross-border attacks.



UAE Delegation Meets French Officials to Strengthen Cooperation

Photo by WAM
Photo by WAM
TT

UAE Delegation Meets French Officials to Strengthen Cooperation

Photo by WAM
Photo by WAM

A high-level delegation from the United Arab Emirates, led by the General Secretariat of the National Anti-Money Laundering and Combating the Financing of Terrorism and Illegal Organizations Committee (NAMLCFTC), visited Paris to discuss ways to enhance cooperation between the UAE and France in combating financial and organised crimes and strengthening international economic security, state news agency WAM reported.

The mission aimed to present the UAE’s National Strategy 2024–2027 in combating financial crimes, reflecting the UAE’s proactive efforts to strengthen international partnerships and exchange expertise in this field. The visit highlights the UAE’s commitment to activating effective communication channels to reduce financial crimes in alignment with its strategic goals and global AML/CFT standards.

Hamid Saif AlZaabi, Secretary-General of the General Secretariat and Vice Chairman of NAMLCFTC, emphasized the importance of enhancing international cooperation in tackling financial crime, stating, “France is one of the UAE’s largest trade partners, and likewise, the UAE is France’s primary trade partner in the region. This necessitates strengthening our partnership to address illicit global financial flows. This visit is part of our commitment to and belief in the importance of fostering international cooperation and exchanging expertise.

"Discussions focused on enhancing partnerships across various areas and with several partners, including the Ministries of Treasury, Justice, and Interior, the Financial Intelligence Unit, and others. We look forward to continuing our work with French partners, especially on priority issues such as global organised crime, combating drug trafficking, and mitigating shared risks between our countries.”

According to WAM, Fahad Saeed Al Raqbani, UAE Ambassador to the French Republic, commended the close bilateral relations between the UAE and the French Republic, saying: “This visit marks a significant milestone to enhance the strategic and enduring partnership between the UAE and France, rooted in close cooperation and our shared commitment to global economic security and the fight against international financial crime. Through strengthened collaboration and the exchange of expertise, we aim to advance international efforts to confront financial security challenges.”

He added: “The delegation, led by the General Secretariat of the National Anti-Money Laundering and Combatting Financing of Terrorism and Financing of Illegal Organizations, discussed the comprehensive approach adopted by the UAE in addressing financial crimes. Furthermore, the delegation participated in technical discussions on key priority issues with our French partners. We look forward to further deepening sustainable cooperation between the UAE and France, to reinforce regional and global frameworks to combat illicit financial activities.”