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Yemenis, Int’l Parties Welcome GCC Initiative for Intra-Yemeni Talks

Students after completing final school exams in Sanaa on Saturday. (EPA)
Students after completing final school exams in Sanaa on Saturday. (EPA)
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Yemenis, Int’l Parties Welcome GCC Initiative for Intra-Yemeni Talks

Students after completing final school exams in Sanaa on Saturday. (EPA)
Students after completing final school exams in Sanaa on Saturday. (EPA)

The Gulf Cooperation Council’s invitation for holding intra-Yemeni consultations was welcomed by international and Yemeni parties. In an official statement, the Yemeni presidency urged everyone to participate actively and positively.

Yemenis are looking forward to the consultations leading to results that will turn the page of the conflict and help chart a clear path to peace.

The Yemeni presidency welcomed on Friday the GCC’s announcement that it will host Yemeni consultations at the headquarters of the General Secretariat in Riyadh, from March 29 to April 7.

It praised in a statement the GCC and Saudi-led Arab coalition’s sincere efforts to restore security and stability and achieve peace in Yemen, based on the Gulf initiative, its executive mechanism, outcomes of the national dialogue and relevant UN resolutions, mainly resolution 2216.

The presidency called on all Yemeni components to participate effectively and positively in the upcoming talks and join efforts to resolve the crises, end the suffering of Yemenis and start building the future of the next generations.

The United Nations also welcomed the initiative.

“I can tell you that the UN appreciates all initiatives to reach an inclusive negotiated political settlement to the conflict in Yemen,” said Spokesman for the UN Secretary-General, Stephane Dujarric.

“In that context, we welcome the Gulf Cooperation Council’s initiative to hold consultations among the parties to the conflict in Yemen in the coming weeks in support of the UN’s own efforts,” he added.

The General Secretariat of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) also welcomed the initiative announced by the GCC, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Saturday.

The OIC’s General Secretariat had called for supporting a political solution to the Yemeni crisis and encouraged dialogue between all Yemeni parties and the implementation of the Riyadh Agreement, and appreciated all efforts, especially efforts of UN and Saudi Arabia for a ceasefire and advancing the political process.

OIC Secretary General, Hissein Brahim Taha praised the GCC initiative, which would bridge the rift between Yemeni brothers.

He called on all Yemeni parties to engage in this very important initiative to stop the bleeding of Yemeni blood and reach a political solution to end the conflict and advance the interests of the Yemeni people and in support of security and stability in the region.

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Gulf

Saudi Arabia Condemns Attack on Pakistani Police

Pakistani security officials stand guard at a checkpoint on the eve of Christmas in Peshawar, Pakistan, 24 December 2025. (EPA)
Pakistani security officials stand guard at a checkpoint on the eve of Christmas in Peshawar, Pakistan, 24 December 2025. (EPA)
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Saudi Arabia Condemns Attack on Pakistani Police

Pakistani security officials stand guard at a checkpoint on the eve of Christmas in Peshawar, Pakistan, 24 December 2025. (EPA)
Pakistani security officials stand guard at a checkpoint on the eve of Christmas in Peshawar, Pakistan, 24 December 2025. (EPA)

Saudi Arabia condemned on Wednesday the attack against Pakistani police in the Karak area in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province.

A Foreign Ministry statement, said the Kingdom “categorically rejects of all forms of terrorism and extremism,” condemning “attempts to undermine the security and stability of Pakistan and its people.”

It extended its sincere condolences to the families of the victims, and to the government and people of Pakistan over the attack.

Suspected militants opened fire on a police vehicle in northwest Pakistan on Tuesday, killing five officers before fleeing, officials said, part of a surge in violence in the region bordering Afghanistan.

No group immediately claimed responsibility, but suspicion is likely to fall on the Pakistani Taliban, or TTP, which is separate from but aligned with Afghanistan’s Taliban government and has been blamed by authorities for previous attacks.

Pakistan has seen a steady rise in militant violence, which has strained relations with Afghanistan.

Gulf

Sultan of Oman, Saudi FM Discuss Regional, International Developments

Oman’s Sultan Haitham bin Tarik and Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah meet in Muscat on Tuesday. (SPA)
Oman’s Sultan Haitham bin Tarik and Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah meet in Muscat on Tuesday. (SPA)
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Sultan of Oman, Saudi FM Discuss Regional, International Developments

Oman’s Sultan Haitham bin Tarik and Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah meet in Muscat on Tuesday. (SPA)
Oman’s Sultan Haitham bin Tarik and Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah meet in Muscat on Tuesday. (SPA)

Oman’s Sultan Haitham bin Tarik received in Muscat on Tuesday Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah.

Prince Faisal conveyed the greetings of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, as well as their hopes for continued progress and prosperity to the Sultan and the Omani people.

Sultan Haitham sent his greetings and appreciation to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques and the Crown Prince, along with his wishes for further progress and prosperity for the government and people of the Kingdom.

Sultan Haitham and Prince Faisal reviewed the fraternal relations between their countries and discussed the latest regional and international developments.

Gulf

Saudi Arabia Hails Yemen Prisoner Swap Agreement in Muscat

Officials are seen at the announcement of the prisoner exchange agreement in Muscat on Tuesday. (Saudi Ambassador to Yemen on X)
Officials are seen at the announcement of the prisoner exchange agreement in Muscat on Tuesday. (Saudi Ambassador to Yemen on X)
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Saudi Arabia Hails Yemen Prisoner Swap Agreement in Muscat

Officials are seen at the announcement of the prisoner exchange agreement in Muscat on Tuesday. (Saudi Ambassador to Yemen on X)
Officials are seen at the announcement of the prisoner exchange agreement in Muscat on Tuesday. (Saudi Ambassador to Yemen on X)

Saudi Arabia’s ambassador to Yemen Mohammed al-Jaber welcomed on Tuesday an agreement reached by Yemen’s warring parties to exchange detainees, describing it as a step that would bolster de-escalation efforts and confidence-building in the country.

In a post on X, al-Jaber praised the work of the negotiating teams from both sides, stating that the deal between the legitimate government and Iran-backed Houthi militants addressed an issue with a clear humanitarian dimension and would allow all detainees to return to their families.

He expressed appreciation for the guidance of the Saudi leadership, the follow-up by the defense minister, the cooperation of the Yemeni government, and what he described as Oman’s sincere mediation efforts.

A Yemeni government delegation and the Houthis announced on Tuesday that they had reached an agreement to exchange 2,900 detainees and prisoners.

Under the deal, 1,700 Houthi prisoners would be released in exchange for 1,200 detainees held by the government, including seven Saudis and 23 Sudanese members of the Saudi-led coalition forces in Yemen.

The International Committee of the Red Cross welcomed the preliminary agreement to release, transfer and repatriate the detainees, urging all parties to turn their commitments into concrete action on the ground.

Christine Cipolla, the ICRC’s head of delegation in Yemen, said the organization is “ready and determined to carry out the release, transfer and repatriation of detainees so that people separated from their families can be reunited in a safe and dignified manner”.

Britain’s Ambassador to Yemen Abda Sharif welcomed the efforts of the ICRC and Oman, stressing that continued cooperation by all parties was vital to making progress toward the release of detainees.

Oman’s foreign ministry said it welcomed the agreement and praised the positive spirit that prevailed during negotiations held from December 9 to 23.

It highlighted the role of Saudi Arabia, the efforts of the UN special envoy’s office for Yemen, the ICRC, and all parties involved in the success of what it described as a humanitarian endeavor.

Humanitarian step, expectations

In a statement, Yemen’s information minister Moammar al-Eryani welcomed the agreement, which he said included prominent political figures such as Mohammed Qahtan.

He described it as “an important and long-awaited humanitarian step that would ease the suffering of thousands of Yemeni families and mark tangible progress in one of the most painful humanitarian crises.”

Al-Eryani said the agreement was the result of directives and close follow-up by the political leadership of the Presidential Leadership Council, headed by Dr. Rashad al-Alimi, and reflected the government’s commitment to handling the detainee issue as a humanitarian and moral matter, free of political considerations or selectivity, to ensure the release of all without exception.

He praised Saudi Arabia’s pivotal role and its leadership’s efforts in pursuing the humanitarian file in cooperation with the Yemeni government, saying the Kingdom was keen to alleviate the suffering of the Yemeni people and strengthen prospects for de-escalation and confidence building.

Al-Eryani noted Oman’s role in hosting the negotiation rounds and creating an atmosphere conducive to reaching the agreement, expressing appreciation for international efforts and UN initiatives that helped bridge differences.

The Yemeni government will continue to implement the agreement responsibly to ensure the full release of all detainees, abductees and those forcibly disappeared, and to put an end to the suffering of thousands of Yemeni families who have waited years for this moment, he added.