Arab Coalition Foils Houthi Plan to Target Oil Tankers in the Red Sea

Royal Saudi Defense Forces (Archive-Asharq Al-Awsat)
Royal Saudi Defense Forces (Archive-Asharq Al-Awsat)
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Arab Coalition Foils Houthi Plan to Target Oil Tankers in the Red Sea

Royal Saudi Defense Forces (Archive-Asharq Al-Awsat)
Royal Saudi Defense Forces (Archive-Asharq Al-Awsat)

The Coalition to Restore Legitimacy in Yemen destroyed two explosive-laden Houthi boats on Wednesday thwarting an attack on giant oil tankers in the Red Sea.

The coalition said the attempt to launch the two boats was prepared from the Hodeidah governorate, and that the Houthi militia is escalating its hostile attacks to target energy sources.

The coalition also said that Saudi air defenses destroyed a Houthi ballistic missile that was launched to target Jazan.

The attacks come two days after the Royal Saudi Air Defense, and the Royal Saudi Air Force thwarted a ballistic missile launched to target Jazan, destroying and shooting down nine drones.

According to the Saudi-led coalition, drone strikes hit an Aramco petroleum products distribution terminal in Jeddah, leading to a fire in one of the tanks.

It said that the fire was controlled and did not result in any casualties.

“The terrorist, Iran-backed Houthi militia escalated its hostile, cross-border attacks towards the Kingdom last night and earlier this morning, targeting civilian objects and economic installations in a deliberate, systematic manner,” said the Official Spokesperson of the Coalition to Restore Legitimacy in Yemen Brigadier General Turki al-Malki.

Earlier, Saudi Arabia said it would not bear responsibility for any global oil supply shortages after attacks on its oil facilities by the Iran-aligned Houthis.

Riyadh warned that Houthi repeated attacks on its oil facilities threatened the security of oil supplies and called on the international community to stand firmly against the Houthis.

The Kingdom stressed the importance of the international community to realize the gravity of Iran’s continued behavior of equipping the terrorist Houthi militias with ballistic missiles technology and advanced UAVs with which they target the Kingdom’s oil, gas, and refined products production sites.

Oil prices are witnessing a significant increase three weeks after the Russian-Ukrainian war, which caused tension in energy markets.

Industrial countries sought to urge the oil-producing governments to amend their production policies linked to the “OPEC Plus” alliance.



Pilgrims Pray on Mount Arafat as Hajj Reaches Peak

The flow of pilgrims to Mina proceeded smoothly and easily, supported by all services (Photo: Ali Khamaj)
The flow of pilgrims to Mina proceeded smoothly and easily, supported by all services (Photo: Ali Khamaj)
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Pilgrims Pray on Mount Arafat as Hajj Reaches Peak

The flow of pilgrims to Mina proceeded smoothly and easily, supported by all services (Photo: Ali Khamaj)
The flow of pilgrims to Mina proceeded smoothly and easily, supported by all services (Photo: Ali Khamaj)

Huge numbers of Muslims prayed on Mount Arafat on Tuesday at the climax of the hajj pilgrimage.

From daybreak, thousands of white-robed worshippers recited Quranic verses on the 70-meter rocky hill near Makkah.

Law enforcement personnel and field teams managed crowd flows along vehicle and pedestrian routes, while comprehensive medical, ambulance, and logistical networks stood fully prepared to support the pilgrims.

After Mount Arafat, pilgrims will spend the night in Muzdalifah, where they will collect pebbles for the symbolic "stoning of the devil" ritual in Mina, starting on Wednesday.


Saudi Joint Chiefs of Staff Director Inspects Armed Forces Preparations for Hajj

Director of the Joint Chiefs of Staff of the Armed Forces Major General Pilot Hamid Al-Omari and other officials are seen during his inspection tour. (SPA)
Director of the Joint Chiefs of Staff of the Armed Forces Major General Pilot Hamid Al-Omari and other officials are seen during his inspection tour. (SPA)
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Saudi Joint Chiefs of Staff Director Inspects Armed Forces Preparations for Hajj

Director of the Joint Chiefs of Staff of the Armed Forces Major General Pilot Hamid Al-Omari and other officials are seen during his inspection tour. (SPA)
Director of the Joint Chiefs of Staff of the Armed Forces Major General Pilot Hamid Al-Omari and other officials are seen during his inspection tour. (SPA)

Director of the Joint Chiefs of Staff of the Armed Forces Major General Pilot Hamid Al-Omari, on behalf of Chief of the General Staff Lieutenant-General Fayyad Al-Ruwaili, inspected on Monday the readiness of Armed Forces units involved in this year’s Hajj across the holy sites to ensure support for security and government agencies serving pilgrims.

The tour included the air force detachment at Arafat Airport, Ministry of Defense camps, religious affairs facilities, military police operations at the Grand Mosque, Armed Forces headquarters in Al-Awali, and the Defense Ministry’s field hospital in Mina.

Al-Omari reviewed operational plans, awareness programs, crowd management efforts, and medical preparedness to support pilgrims throughout the Hajj season.

The Military Police of the Royal Saudi Land Forces is participating in the Ministry of Defense's comprehensive Hajj plan, coordinating with internal security forces to manage crowd movement in the Grand Mosque's courtyards, oversee the Grand Mosque's gates, and organize the flow of pilgrims arriving from Mina, ensuring smooth movement during peak times.

The participating force underwent intensive training and exercises simulating various scenarios to boost its capacity for effective response and crowd management in coordination with relevant security entities.


Saudi Arabia Condemns Terrorist Attack on Train in Pakistan’s Balochistan

People inspect the wreckage of vehicles the day after a deadly train blast, in Quetta, Pakistan, 25 May 2026. (EPA)
People inspect the wreckage of vehicles the day after a deadly train blast, in Quetta, Pakistan, 25 May 2026. (EPA)
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Saudi Arabia Condemns Terrorist Attack on Train in Pakistan’s Balochistan

People inspect the wreckage of vehicles the day after a deadly train blast, in Quetta, Pakistan, 25 May 2026. (EPA)
People inspect the wreckage of vehicles the day after a deadly train blast, in Quetta, Pakistan, 25 May 2026. (EPA)

Saudi Arabia condemned on Monday the “heinous terrorist” attack targeting a train in Pakistan’s Balochistan province.

In a statement, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the Kingdom reiterates its “complete rejection of all forms of terrorism and extremism and strongly condemns attempts to undermine the security and stability of Pakistan and its people.”

It expressed its condolences to the families of the victims, as well as to the government and people of Pakistan.

An explosion targeted a train in Balochistan's provincial capital, Quetta, on Sunday, killing at least 24 people and wounding more than 50 others, according to officials.